The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-02-09
MISCELLANE US.
THE YOUNG PHILOSOPHER.
A sKErcH FoR PARENTS.

Mr.. Solomon Winthrop was plain old
farmer, an austere, precise man, who did
everything by established rules, and could
see no reason why people should grasp a,
things beyond what had been done by their
great-grandia,hers. He had three children
Two boys and girl. There was Jeremi-
ah, II years old, Samuel, Is, and Fanny,
l3.
II was cold winters day. Samuel was
in the kitchen, reading book. and so inter-
es,ed was he, that he did no, notice the en-.
trance Of his father. Jeremiah was in an
opposite corner, engaged in cyphering on:
sum which he had found in his aTithme-
tic.
Samuel, said the farmer 10 his younges,
BOY, "haye you worked out that sum vet "
"No, sir" returned the boy in hesita,-
ing manner.
"Did nj tell you 10 suck 10 your ariih.
metic until you had done it!n uttered Mr..
Winthrop in severe tone.
Samuel hung down his head and looked
troubled.
"Why hav Mt you done ii'n continued
the father.
al cam, do it, SIR" ,remblingly returned
the boy.
"Can't do il, And why moi, Look Al
Jerry, there, with his slate and arithmetic
He had cyphered further than you have
long before he was as old as you are"
"Jerry was always fond Of mathematical
problems, sir, but cannot fasten my mind
upon them. They have no interest to
me.n
"Tha, Is because you don't Try 10 feel ar
interest in your studies. What book j:
that you are reading
at Is work on Philosophy, si,."
"A work on fiddle-sticks. Go put j
away this instant, and then se, your slate
and don't le, me see you away from you
arithmetic again until you can work on
these roots. Do you understand me !"
Samuel made no answer, but silenil,
put away his philosophy, and then got hi,
slate and sat down in the chimney corner
His neither lip ,rembled, and his eyes wer,
moisienel. His father had been harsh to
wards him, and he fel, ,ha, il was wi,hou
a cause.
"Sam," said Jerry, as soon as the ol,
man had gone, will do that sum 70
your
"No, Jerry" returned the younge
brother, bu, with grateful look, "iha
would be deceiying father. | will try Il
do the sum, though fear shall no, sue
ceed.n
Samuel worked very hard, bu, to no pur
pose. His mind was no, on the subject be
fore him. The roots and squares, the ba
SEES, hypoihenuses and perpendiculars
though comparatively simple in ihemselve.
were 10 him mingled mass OF incom
prehensible things, and the more he tried
the moro did he become perplexed an,
bothered. The truth was that his father die
no, understand him.
Samuel was bright boy, and uncom
monty Intelligent for one OF his aye. Mr.
Winthrop was thorough mathematician
he had never yet come across problem hI
could no, solve, and no desired that hi,
boys should be like him. Sor he conceived
that the namc OF educational perfection Ia,
in conquering Euclid, and he oi:en express
cd his opinion, that were Euclid living
then, be could "give the old gcome,ricau
a hard ,ussel. He seemed not TO compre
heud tha, different minds were made will
diiferen, capacities, and what one mint
gTasped with ease, another OF equal powe
would fail 10 comprehend. Hence, because
jeremiah progressed rapidly in his ma,he
maiicai studies, and could already survey
a piece OF land Of many angles, he imas
lned that because Samuel made no progress
IN The same branch be wa, idle and care