St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1859-05-19


less narratives Of dear Papa and
Mamma. During these rccitals her
bright eyes would often fill with tears,
but she never appealed to her hearers
for sympathy in her sorrow. in way
which is often oppressive to very
young people, who feel that they can
not, without hypocrisy, appear to en-
experienced, and therefore cannot real
ize. Helen spoke with the most child
like simplicity Of her parents, as liv-
ing in distant and happy land, where
she hoped to rcioin them. James be-
came very fond Of IIclcn's society, and
of listening to her little stories Of her
old home, and even |, though con-
sidcrcd myself as immcasurably Hell
cn's superior, felt a degree of interest
in her childish prattle, which | should
have been ashamed to acknowledge.
James and Helen were nearly the
same age, though Helen was rather
the Younger Of the two, and they soon
became great friends. The very dis
similaritics Of their disposition served
rs q bond Of union between them, yet
felt no dissatisfaction at their init
macy rs if was uuitc evident TO me
that Helen admired Cyusju NGrcrnon.
whom she would not for the world,
have called Al.ecrnop, very much. and
was gratilicd by any mark of atten-
tion he might coudcsccnl to pay her.
This seemed 5, natural and unavoila-
be, that should have accented her
admiration as a matter Of course, and
troubled NV head very little about the
Iikiurs and dislikiums. the SAVINGS
and doiu~s of a wirI Of her amc. had |
NOT bcnn niuurJ Lv the diaraTrrv that
| could not move iIclcn either hv ridi-
cuIc or ncrsuosirn ~ do anythin,- that
she tbonrht wronm and that wLcncv-
or majn any sIi%htjno. snrrch about
lanes She was aIwaVs ready 70 be
his chamnjon What made ITcIcn's
unncrsuataLiIitv moro nrnyokinc., was
the rcutIc and rood.humorcd manner
in which she pursued her own course,
which was continually misleading me
into the supposition that her deter
mination might be easily overcome by
my efforts aud influence. Though |
laborcd under many dclusious with re-
gard to my own gifts and attractions,
tostcrcd, alas, by my fond but mis-,
Judging mother, was not mistaken
in Believing that possessed rare per,
sonal attractions. a Gift of words, a
quickncss of mind, and retentiycncss
Of memory, which generally attracted
the admiration of strangers. 1t was
wonderful, therefore, that my little
cousin at twelve. should look up to a
tall, handsome youth of seventeen,
who never condcsccndcd to Join in
childish sports or amuscmcnts, as a
Great genius, one whom she had more
than once overheard my mother say
was destined to fill page in the
worlds history, and that she should
have felt incxprcssibly honorcd, when
/ | designed to read to her atale OF
sonnet of my own composing.
had cort,inIv however At This ne
rioJ of NV Iifn NOT bcmun to fulfil th,
glorious DESTINY which nv mother Sc
Confidently predicted for me. Uufor
tuDatcIy for the family. NV father had
entered upon extensive spcculations.
! which not ONLY cn~rosscd his thoughts
and attention, but which necessarily
/ causrd louu. and frcGucnt absences
from home all family cares Lryolvcd
upon my mother. and she had thus an
/ nnnor+uuitv If carrvino- ont her views
Win rpnorl n nv Irofber's cducatior
and mine Shc WAS contcnted 10 adopt
( ordinary methods Of education with
/ James, who, as she said, ploddcd qui
city along, and would make a good
practical man he certainly went on
surely, if slowly, and his teachers re-
ported his progress III learning as sat
isfactory, aud his conduct as eXempIa'
~. But my course was quite differ
ent-l was always changing masters
there was always something in their
manner Of teaching OF which my moth
er would frequently remark upon the
extreme difficulty Of finding teachers
who could dcvclopc the mind OF Il
/ genius, who did not rcprcss their lofty
aspirations, and attempt to bring al
down to the same school-boy standard
the bed of Procrustcs was a favor
ite simile with her, when speaking up
pom this subject. She frequently com
pared me to Pegasus IN hqrRess, while
James, she said, rcscmbled the work
horse, and |, pleased at her interprcta'
ton Of my shortcomings, was ready
enough to ascribe the effects of my
own impatiencc and inaccuracy tc
the uncomfortable impulses of Genius
The time at last came when it was
necessary that | should 90 to college
and thcn and there for the first time
the unpleasant discovery was forcct
mon me that nv acquaintance will
tho rI,ssirs was exceedingly inner
feet that NV horror of mathematics
arisino. from n noctic tempcramcnt
ovoilr1 me nothing with the crabbe,