The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-12-24
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TEE FHUNG PHILOSOPHER.

Mr. Solomon Winthrop was a plain old
farmer-an austere, precise man, who did
everything by established rules, and
could see no reason why people should
grasp at things beyond what had been
reached by their great granGfathcrS.-
lie had three children--two boys and Il
girl. There was jeremiah, seventeen
years old, Samuel fifteen, and Fanny,
fourteen.
1t was a cold winters day. Samuel
was in the kitchen reading book, and
so interested was he that he did not
notice the entrance of his father. Jerry
was in an opposite corner, engaged in
ciphcring out Il sum which he lad found
in his arithmetic.
"Sani," said the father to his young
est boy, " have you worked out that sum
yet %
"No, sir" returned the boy, hest
tatingly.
"Didn't I tell you to sticl, to your
arithmetic till you have done it -
uttered MIR. Winthrop, in Il severe tone.
Samue! hung down his head and
looked troubled.
"Why hayn't you done it - continued
the father.
81 can't do it, sir,'' he trcmblingly
returned.
"Can't do it and why not look at
Jerry there, with his slate and pencil.
He had cirhcred further than you have,
long before he was as old as you are"
"Jcwy was always fond Of mcthenlati-
cal problems, sir, but | cannot fastcn INV
mind on them. They have no interest
for me-"
"That's because you don't try to feel
an interest i'll your studies. What book
Is that you are reading 70
sit is a work on philosophy, sir"
CA work on f!ddlc-stcl,s Go put it
away, this instant, and then get youl
slate, and don't let me see YOU away
from your arithmetic until you work out
those roots. Do you understand me %
Samuel made no answer, but silently
put away his philosophy, and then he
got his slate and sat down in the chin
ney corner. His neither lip trcmbled
and his eyes moistcncd, for he wa,
unhappy. His father had been harsh
toward him, and he felt that it was
without u cause.
SAM" said Jerry, as soon as thci,
father had gone, 81 will do that sun
for you"
{" No, Jenny" returned the younger
brother, but with Il grateful look, c: that
will be decciving father. | will try tc
do the sum, but fear | shall not succeed.
Samuel worked very hard, but all lc
no purpose. His mind was not on the
subject before him. The roots and
squares, the bases, hypothcnuses and
perpendculars, though comparatively
simple in themselves, were to him 4
mingled mass Of incomprehensib things,
and the more he tried the more he be-
cane perplexed and bothered.
The trath was, his father did not
understand him.
Samuel was bright boy, and uncom-
monty intelligent for one of his arc
Mr.. Winthrop was a thorough mathema-
tician-hc never yet came across a
problem he could not solve, and he desired
that his boys should be like him, for he
considered that the acme of educational
perfection lay i'll the power of conqucring
Euclid, and he often expressed bis
opinion that, we're Enclid living then,
he could "giye the old goomctrician /,
hard tussle." lie seemed not to COM
prehend that different minds were made
with different capacities, ard what Que
mind graspcd with case, another, OF
equal power, would fail to comprehend.
Hence, because Jeremiah progressed
rapidly in his mathematical studies, and
could already survey piece Of land OF
many angles, he imagined that because
samuel made no progress in the same
branch, he was idle and careless, and he