Tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1856, 1856-01-03


agreeable. After tea the family adjourned t.
the drawing-room. where Yrs. Burnett seating
herself in q large easy chair, began to expatiatt
in her languid, fretful tones, on all the troublt
she had endured in her step-daughter's mar
rage, and the subsequent consequences thereof
or. the dreadful things she underwent in getting
servants, and the still more dreadful things she
underwent in keeping them; how hard it was
FOR a woman to manage such family of boys-
how John seemed to have no influence with his
Younger brothers, and how he did not seem
! likely TO have; how Grey and Lewis were al
ways in dispute; and how, in conclusion, she
could not see what was to become of the family
| IN general. Fred seeing chess board and set
| ct men on a quartette, had challenged John to n
game. He had accepted and been very moch
| interested. until he happened to oyerhear what
his mother was saying to Merwyn, when he grew
sni|en again, made his moves carelessly, and
suffered his opponent to win the game without
any effort to gain the advantage. While mat
tiers were in this promising state, Lewis the
slate and algebra. He and Grey had gone TO the
library after tea to prepare their school, lessons
for the morrow
john, said Lewis. in despairing tone,
won't you help me with this--I can't under
! stand this any way--and Grey is busy and won t
| show me-so that can understand him, I
mean
I Aas tir LVuuc HuAf lCtuihcu tilS SiuNJ.
in no very affectionate tone. Not that he meant
to be unkind but he was worried aud discomfort
ed, and took no pains to conceal it.
This one, CAN'T do it,
Have you triedl'
'Of course / have'-returned Lewis, in an in
jured tone. You never think / do anything
right
We'll, don't begin that said John, i'm patient
ly. Let us see-let xedual the greater'-and
rapidly ciphering out the sum, he gave the slate
to his brother, saying, 'there-that's the way.
I don't understand returned the boy.
Dear mel calculated his brother moro en-
phatically than before, don't YOU see now listen
And he went over the process clearly enough,
but poor Lewis was always obtuse on mathemat-
zeal subjects. and Johns talent lying in that
precise direction, he could not understand how
anything which looked so clear to himselfc0
be Egyptian darkness to another, and besides
Lewis and Grey had been at work over the same
example for half an hour, that is to say they
had been trying different methods, and dspnt-
ing over every step, mode of proceeding not
tending to cearness of comprehension; and
when John finished, it was really just as much
of a mystery as when he began.
Il can't see,' repeated Lewis, doefully.
well, upon my word, sir, you are very stupid
or very perverse. returned the elder stcrnly,
What in the world is it you do not understand
'xll of it, said the younger. Just ready to cry.
Poor little fellow thought Fred, mo wonder ;
Il cant help you any more, said John coidly.
IF you won't understand it, it's impossible for
me to make you. Frederick it's your moye.'
Poor Lewis, hurt and indignant at being treat
ed In such manner before his cousin, was hur-
ryingou of the room, when he ran against the
little light stand on which Merwyn's work had
stood, and overturned the whole contents upon
the floor.
There now'-said his mother, see what you
have done, Lewis; Lewis, how very careless yon
are. l do not sec--I really cannot tell what is
TO become of YOU
Merwyn very considerably bored by her cous-
ms lamentations, hailed the overtursi as rather
a relief
Oh, there's no harm DONE she said lightly
Lewis please help nc to pick up these things.
Every individual spool rolled to the farthest
corner of the room, of course. There are my
scissors under that chair--whcre's the wax
! oh, here. thank you.' And with Lewis help
, the matter was ;s"nn re-arranged
Let me sec that SUM, please she said In q
low voice, as he was leaving the room. Lewis
| hesitated.
Don't trouble your cousin said his mother,
languidly.
'Oh, it's no trouble at ail-may he can help
you;' and she took the book and slate from his
hand as matter ofcourse.
DO you like agebra!' she asked as she turn
ed over the leaves.
| No, indeed Ican't bear it, and the tone was
was so intense that Merwyn laughed.
i understand she observed--'I used to hate
| it-perfectly. Have you studied it longl'
Yes, and the more | study it the less like it.
Oh, get so out of patience with it, and Grey and
and John are quick with it themselves. They
hav'nt minutes patience with me. Oh, Mer-
wyn, do you ever get in suchHpuzzie You could mt
understand whether twice two was four or hun
dred =
Many timc-and then used to get so vexed
at myself for my own stupidity, that it only made
the matter wore. Isn't it provoking
Il guess it is. Oh, it fairly makes my head
ache sometimes, really, you know
! Il can easily believe it,
Now, Latin and Greek, and such things, like,
you know-and history and Phiosophy-but
mathematics do detest-and now here's my les
son only half done, and this hateful thing won t
come right.
The problem was really difficult one, and
asking Lewis to look on, and correct her if she
made mistakes, Merwyn explained every step as
she proceeded and the operation was correctly
performed. Lewis was still not quite clear on
the subject. She succeeded in finding ont where
the difficulty lay, and at last in leading him to a
perfect understanding of the principles upon
which, not only that sum- but all the others in the
lesson were TO DC performed, and Lewis finishing
his task, without further trouble, put away his
book with much satisfaction. and began to tall
Merwyn all about his troubles in school hismoth-
or having gone TO superintcnd the putting to bed
of Miss Sophy. and as Grey opened the door, u
distant sound OF q domestieskirmish entered the
parlor.
You won't have your lesson Tomorrow were
the first words he addressed to Lewis.
Yes will said the younger triumphantly. i
found out all about it, land can do every sum 100
now .
Yes, when John showed you, with a snecr.
John didn't show me at all
Didn't hel' said Merwyn, in a gentle under
tone.
Yes; mean l. diaa't see how when lie show
cd me. Mcrwyn did
OH returned Grey, in peculiarly provoking
tone.
! 'She did, said Lewis angrily, 'and know al
about the rest OF them, too
we shall See Tomorrow said Grey in the
same contemptuous manner.
How can you like TO tease Lewis so p inter
+ posed John, with the best intentions and the
; worst consequences You are very wrong t,
speak in THAI style
Grey's unfortunate temper was reused in /:
moment.
when l ask you for orders, john, he said, col
oring, i will be obliged to you for them. and
til then viii thank you to reserve them for you
own use. don't choose 10 be dictated 20 in thi
way by you or any one else. ! have borne it lons
enough, and win bear no longer