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

adhered to it.
There was another thing that Mr..
Winthrop could not see, and that was
that Samuel was continually bordering
upon such profitable matter as was inter-
csting to him, and that he surely was
scarcely ever idle nor did his father
see, either, that if be ever wished his
boy to become mathematician, he was
pursuing the very course to prevent such
Il result. Instead Of cndeavoring to
make tue study interesting to the child,
he was making it obnoxious.
The dinner hour came and Samuel
had not worked out the sum. His
father was angry, and Obliged the boy
to 90 without his dinner, at the same
telling Lin thai he was an idle, lazy
child.
Poor Samuel left the kitchen, and
there he sat and cried. AT length his
mind seemed to pass from the wrong he
had suffered at the hand Of his parent,
and took another turn, and the marks Of
grief left his face. There was a large
fire i'll the room below his chamber, so
that he was not very cold, and getting
up he went to small closet, and from
beneath lot Of old clothes he took forth
some long strips of wood, and COM
menccd whiting. 1t was not for mere
pastme that he Whitfield, for he was
tash.oning some curious affair from
those pieces Of wood. lie had bits of
wire, little scraps Of tin plate, pieces of
Irvine, and some dozens of small wheels
that he made himself, and he seemed to
be working 10 get them together after
some peculiar fashion Of his own.
Half the afternoon had thus passed
away, when his little sister enter his
chamber. She had her apron gathered
up III her hand, and after closing the
door softly behind her, She approached
the spot where her brother sat.
" Here, Sammy--scc, | have brought
you something to eat. | know you must
be hungry"
As she spoke, she opened her apron
and took out four cakes, Il piece Of pic,
and some cheese. The boy was hungry
and he hesitoted not to avail himself Of
his sisters kind offer. He kissed her
and took the cakes and thanked her.
Oh, what Il pretty thing that is you
are making" uttered Fanny, as she
ca Zcd upon the result Of her brothers.
labor. " Won't you give it to lie after
/, is done 20
Not this one, sister," returned the
boy, with smile, {" but as soon as [ get
time will make yea one equally as
pretty"
Fanny thanked her brother, and
shortly afterwards left the room, while
the boy went on with his work.
Before long the various materials that
had been subject to Samuers jack knife
and pinccrs had assumed form and COM
illness, and they were joined and grooycd
III Il curious manner.
The embryo philosopher set the ma
chinc-for it looked very much like u
machinc-upon the floor, and then stood
eff and ga2cd tn it. His eye CLEANED
with a peculiar glow of satisfaction, and
he looked proud and happy. While he
stood and gazed upon the child Of his
labors, the door Of his chamber opened,
aud his father entered.
" " hat-are you not studying % OK
claincd MIR. Winthrop, as he noticed the
boy standing in the middle Of the floor.
Samuel trcmblcd when he heard his
fathers voice, and turned pale with fear.
" La, what is this" said 1lr. Vim
throp, as he caught sight Of the curious
construction on the floor. "whis is the
secret fyour iG!oness. Now | sec how
1t is you cannot master your studies.--
You spend your time in making play
houses and fy-pcns. I'll see whether
you'll learn to attend to your lessons or
not. There :"
AS the father uttered this common
injunction, he placed his foot upon the
object of his displeasure. The boy
uttered quick cry, and sprang forward,
but too late. The curious construction
was crushed to atoms-the labor of long
weeks. Looking at the mass of ruins,
and then covering his face with his
hands, he burst into tears.
"Aint you ashamed :" said Mr.. Win
throp, ca great boy like you, to spend
your time in making clap-traps, and
then cry about it, because | choose that
you should attend to your studics.-
Now 60 to the barn and help Jerry shell
corn"
The boy was too full of grief to make
any explanation, and without word he
left his chamber, but for long days after
wards he was weary and down hearted.
Samuel" said Mr.. Winthrop, one
day, after the spring had opened, 81
have seen Mr.. Young, and he is willing
to take you as an apprentice. Jerry
and can get along on the farm, and
think that the best thing you can DO is
to learn the blacksmith's trade. | have
given up all hopes of ever making a
surveyor out of you, and if you had
farm you would not know how to inca.
sure it or lay it out. Jerry will now
soon be able to take my place as sur
vcyor, and | have already made arrange
ments for having him sworn and obtain
lug his commission. But your trade is
good one, however, and | have no
doubt you will be able to make GOOD
living at it,"
MIR. Young was blacksmith in a
nclghborlng town. and he carried on
quite an extensive business. Moreover,
he had The remit, ion ne h.ip,r , ,-o,,