It was a great education, I can tell you! What skill I have
at surgery I attribute largely to that early training. Now we'll set
right to work to remedy this lack in you, son. I'll see your principal
to-day and arrange for you to begin sloyd when you go back to school."
Theo made a grimace at which his father laughed.
"If you don't like it you can at least take it as a medicine,"
remarked the Doctor with a grin.
Dr. Swift was as good as his word, for when Theo returned to school
the following day he found that in addition to his other work he was
expected to spend an hour each morning in the carpenter's shop, a
realm toward which he had always maintained the keenest scorn. It
seemed such a foolish thing to learn to saw and drive nails! What was
the use of taking lessons? When a board was to be cut what was there
to do but take the saw and cut it? It was easy enough. As for driving
nails--that feat required no teaching.
But to Theo's amazement it needed only the first lesson to demonstrate
to him that these superficial conclusions were quite wrong. It was one
thing to cut a board haphazard; but quite another matter to cut it
evenly, and on a ruled line.
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