Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-12-16
TT YOUNG PHILOSOPHERS.

grasp at things beyond what had been
reached by their great grandfathers. He
had three children, two boys and girl
There was Jeremiah, seventeen y ears
old, Samuel, fifteen, and Fanny, four
teen.
It was cold winters day. Samuel
was in the kitchen reading book, and
so interested was he that he did not no.
tice the entrance of his father. jerry
was in an opposite corner. engaged in
ciphering out sum which he had found
in his arithmetic.
Sam, said the father to his youngest
boy, have you worked out that sum
yet?
No, SIR returned the boy hesitsting-
ly.
Didn't I tell you to stick to your
arithmetic till you had done it ? uttered
Mr.. Winthrop, in a severe tone.
Samuel hung down his head, and look
ed troubled.
Why haven't you done it ? contin-
ued the father.
I can't do it SIR tremblingly return
ed Samuel.
Can't do it g.? and why not? Look
at Jerry, there, with his slate and pencil.
He had ciphered further than you have,
long before he was old as you are
Jerry was always fond of mathema-
tical problems, sir, but cannot fasten
my mind on them. They have no inter
est for me-
That's because you don't try to feel
an interest in your studies, What book
is that you sre readingT
1T is a work on philosophy, SIR
a work on iddle-sticks! Go, put it
away this instant, and then get your slate,
and don't let NE see you away from your
arithmetic until you can work out those
roots. Do you understand me7'
Samuel made no answer, but silently
he put away his philosophy, and then he
got his slate and sat down in the chin
ney corner. His neither lip trembled,
and his eyes moiStened, for he was IN
happy. His father had been harsh to-
ward him, aud he felt that it was with
out cause.
Sam said Jerry, as soon as their
father had gone, l will do that sum ioI
you
No, Jerry, returned the youngest
brother. but with grateful look, tha
will be deceiving father. will try tC
do the sum, but l fear l shall not sue
ceed'
Samuel worked very hard, but sll t
no purpose. His mind was not on tn,
subject before him. The roots anc
squares, the bases, hypothenuses and per
pendiculars, though com paratively sim
pie in themselves, were to him a mingled
mass Of incomprehensible things, and tn
more he tried the more he became per
picked and bothered.
The truth was, bis father did not IN
derstand him.
Samuel was q bright boy, and uncom
monty intelligent for one Of his age. Nj
Winthrop was thorough mathematics
he never yet came across d probler
he could not solve, and he desired ths
his boys should be like him, for he cor
sidered that the acme Of educational pei
fection lay in the power Of conquerin
Euclid, and be often expressed his oPin
on that, were Euclid living then, he coul
give the old geometrician a hard tussie
He seemed not to comprehend that di
capacities, and what ons mind graspe
with ease, another, of equal power, wouI
fail to comprehend. Hence, becaus
Jeremiah progressed rapidly in his natl
ernatical studies, and could already su
vey piece of land of many angles,
imagined that because Samuel made I
progress in the same branch, he was id
and careless, and treated him according
IL. He never candidly conversed wi
bis younger son, with a view to asce
tain the true bent Of his mind, but
had his own standard of the power
all minds, and be pertinaciously adher,
It.
There was another thing that N
Winthrop could not see, and that W
that Samuel Was continually ponderiI
upon such profitable matter as was inte
esting to him, and that he vas scarce
ever idle; nor did his father see, eith'
that il he ever wished his boy to becor
a mathematician, he was pursuing {
very course to prevent such result.
stead Of endeavoring to make the stn
interesting to the child he was making
obnoriouz