Litchfield enquirer., 1837-06-29
LOUISA SIMONS,
OR THE ADVANTAGES OF APpLlcAT1o


 LOUISA SIMONS,
 OR THE ADVANTAGES OF APPLICATION. By Mrs. c. Gilman.
 Louisa Simons was bright, intelligent girl of fourteen, amiable and ambitious, the joy of her parents, and the pride of her teachers; and far advanced in all her stud- ies except arithmetic.
 'Oh, mother!' she exclaimed frequently, this is the day for the blackboard ]; U bLack day to me! hate arithmetic 1! There is not such an expressive verse in the world as the old one-
 Multiplication is vexaton;
 Division IS as bad;
 The Rule of Three doth puzzle me; <
 And Practice drives me mad"
 Mrs. Simons sometimes reproved her for vehemenee sometimes soothed, and some- times encouraged her but finding Der more and more excited, she addressed her one day, gravely and anxiously-
 My daughter, you make me unhappy by these expressions. am aware that many minds are SO constituted as to learn num- bers slowly; but that close attention and perseverance can conquer even natural de- fleets, has been often proved. Ifyou can pass over rule carelessly, and say you comprehend it, from want of energy to grasp it, you will mover learn, and your black days, when you become a woman, and have responsibilities, will increase.- speak feelngly on this subject, for had the same natural aversion to arthmeticBas yourself. Unfortuntely for me. school cho NNu dnSk we had no black. boards then, and she was kind. or unkind enough. to work ont my sums for me. The consequences Is, that I have suffered repeatedly in my purse and in my feelings from my ignorance. Even now am obliged to apply to your father in triAing calculations, and you must have sometimes noticed my modification under such circumstances
 Il look to you for assistance continued she affectionately to Louisa. You have every advantage; your mind is active, aud in other respects disciplined, and am sure your good heart will prompt you in aiding me-
 Louisa's eyes looked good resolution 1; she kissed her mother; and commenced her lessons with the right feelings. In- stead of being angry with her teacher and herself, because every thing was not plain, she tried to clear her brow, and attend 10 the subject calmly.
 Success crowned her. efforts, while, ad- ded to the pleasure of acquisition, she be- gan to experience the higher joy of sell conquest, and her mothers approbation.- She gave herself up for two years to dili- gent study, and conquered at length the higher branches of arithmetic. Louisa, the eldest of three children, had been born to the luxuries of wealth, and scarcely an ungratifed want had shaded her sunny brow. MT. s. was merchant of respectable connexions, but in the height of prosperity, one of those failures took place which occur in commerce, and his affairs became suddenly enveloped in the shock which is often felt in the mercantile chain. A nervous temperament and deli- cate system were soon sadly wrought upon by the misfortune, and his mind, perplex- ed and harrassed, seemed to lose it's clear ness in calculation, and its happy view of life. Louisa was at this period seventeen years of age her understanding clear and vigorous, her passions disciplined and her faculties resting, like young fawn, for sudden bound.
 It was a cold autumn evening; the chil. dren were beguiling themselves with gam- bols about the parlor; Mr. Simons sat leaning his head upon his hand, gazing on an accumulated pile of Iedgers and papers; Mrs. Simons was busily sewing, and Loui. sa, with her finger between the leaves of a closed book, sat anxiously regarding her father.
 Those children distract me- said Mr. SiMons, peevishly.
 Hush Robert, Come here, Margaret!' said Mrs. Si'nons, gently and taking one on her lap and another by her side, whis. pered little story, and pu. them lo bed.
 Whsn Mrs. SinIODs left lhe room, Loui. sn laid nsido her book, and stood by hes father.
 'DOnh disturb me, child, said he roughly. Then IecOllsellng himself. hs waved his hand gently ioF her m retire and continued. Do nOl feel hUri, dVar wilh my AbrUpinOsS. am p0tplsGed wiIh these complicated accounts.
 'Falhef. sald Louisa, hssllnliDE, sad blushing. think ! rOuld assist yOO, ' y0a w0Uld permit me-