He had two other resources.

In term-time he worked at his trade of carpenter as opportunity offered, and in the winter, as at Chester, he sought some country town where he could find employment as a teacher.
The names of the places where he taught are not known to me, though doubtless there is many an Ohio farmer, or mechanic, or, perchance, professional man, who is able to boast that he was partially educated by a President of the United States.
As characteristic of his coolness and firmness, I am tempted to record an incident which happened to him in one of his winter schools.
There were some scholars about as large as himself, to whom obedience to the rules of the school was not quite easy--who thought, in consideration of their age and size, that they might venture upon acts which would not be tolerated in younger pupils.
The school had commenced one morning, when the young teacher heard angry words and the noise of a struggle in the school-yard, which chanced to be inclosed.

The noise attracted the attention of the scholars, and interfered with the attention which the recitation required.
James Garfield stepped quietly outside of the door, and saw two of his oldest and largest pupils engaged in a wrestling match.

For convenience we will call them Brown and Jones.
"What are you about, boys ?" asked the teacher The two were so earnestly engaged in their conflict that neither returned an answer.
"This must be stopped immediately," said James, decisively.

"It is disrespectful to me, and disturbs the recitations." He might as well have spoken to the wind.