Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-01-12
Sele(t Gale.
A YOUNG PHILOSOPHER.

Mr. Solomon Winthrop was q plain old
farmer-an austier, precise man, who did
everything by established rules. and could
zee no reason why people should grasp at
things beyond what had been reached by their
great grandfathers. He had three children,
two boys and q girl There was jeremiah,
seventeen years old, Samuel fifteen, and
Fanny fourteen.
II was cold winters day. Samuel was
in the kitchen reading book. and so interest.
ed was be that he did not notice the entrance
OF his father. Jerry was in au opposite cor
ner engaged in cphering out sum which he
had found 10 bis arithmetic.
'Sam," said the father to bic youngest boy,
shave yon worked out that sum yet ?"
NO SIR" returned the boy, bestatingly.
'Did0t tell you to stick to your arithme-
tic till you had done it ?" uttered MIR. Win.
throp, in severe tone.
Samuel hung down his head, and looked
troubled
why haven't you done it ?" continued the
father.
81 can't do it. sir" tremblngly returned
Samuel
Cant do il ? and why not! Look at
Jerry there, with his slate and pencil lie
had ciphered further than you have long be.
fore he was old as you are"
Jerry was always fond Of mathematical
problems, sir. but | cannot fasten my mind
on them. They have no interest for me-"
That's because you don't try to feel an in.
terest 10 your studies. What book is that
you are reading?'
1T is work on philosophy. sir"
"A work on iddle.sticks 60, put it away
this instant, and then get your slate, and
cont let me see you away from your arithme.
tic until you can work out those roots. DO
you understand me p
Samuel made no answer, but silently he
put away his philosophy. and then be got bis
slate and sat down in the chimney corner.-
His neither lip trem5led. snd his eyes mois.
tened for be was unhappy. HIS father had
been harsh toward him, and be felt that il
was without q cause.
sam" said Jerry, as soon as their father
had gone, 81 will do that sum for you"
mo, jerry" returend the youngest broth.
er, but grateful look, shat will be deceiv.
ing father. ! will try to do the sum, but
fear shall not succeed"
Samuel worked very hard, bot all to no
purpose. His mipd was not on the subject
before him. The roots and squares, the ba.
ses, bypothenuses and perpendculars, though
comparatively simple in themselves. were to
him mingled mass Of incomprehensible
things, and the more be tried the more he be.
came perplexed and bothered.
The truth was, his father did not under
stand him.
Samuel was bright boy, and uucommouly
Intelligent for one OF bis age. Mr.. Winthrop
was thorough mathematicisu-be never
yet came across problem be could not solve
and he desired that his boys should be like
him. for be considered that the acme Of edu-
caiional perfection lay in the power of con-
quering Euclid, and be often expressed his
opinion that. were Euclid living then. be
could ''eive the old gsometricisn . bard tus
sle." lie seemed not to comprehend that
different minds were made with different capa.
cities, aud what one mind grasped with ease,
apotber, OF equal power. would fail to CON-
prehend Hence, because Jeremiah progress
cd rapidly in hh mathematical studies, and
could already survey piece OF land Of many
angles. be imagined that because Samuel
made no progress 10 the same branch. he was
idle and careless. and treated him according.
ly. He never ssndidly convsrssd with bis
younger son with view to ascertain the true
bent Of bis mind but be bad bis own stand.
ard Of the power Of ell minds. and be peril.
naciously adhered to it.
There Was another thing that Mr.. Win.
tbrop could not see. and that was that Samuel
wos contiuuslly pondsring upon such profts.
n'''er as Was interesting TO him, and
,..p q" scarcely ever idle nor did his