The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-03-04

PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE UNDER
DIFFICULTIES.
Inthe year 1920 an academy was found
ed in the village of c., in the State
of New York. A number of students
were attracted to it from distance, by
the reputation of the teacher. Some Of
them boarded in the families of the far
mers in the vicinity of the village.
Three young men boarded with Mr..
F., who lived about two miles from
the village. Mr.. P had boy living
with him who cut the fire wood for the
young men, and carried it to their rooms.
He was the son of a very poor man. He
had not been sent to school except for a
very short season. He could read little,
but that was the extent of his attainments.
No one suspected him of having any de-
sire for learning. He was rough look
ing, awkward boy, and the young men
were disposed to make sport of him when
he was bringing in the wood and perform
ing other offices for them in their rooms.
He did not seem to mind it; but one of
them suspected that the language addres
sed to him gave him pain. Partly in con-
sequence of this suspicion, he one day
asked the lad in pleasant tone, having
no object but to please him for a moment,
show he was getting along?"
"Not very we'll, was the reply.
"Why, do you have to work too hard?''
81 don't mind hard work, or didn't
Ine 10 hof,ro x,o,, n, ,ro lo,o
81 hope have not made you lazy?"
"Nc, sir, am not lazy; but want to
study"
"You think studying geasier than work
inss -
mo, sir, but want to study"
"What for?"
II want to know something
"You would soon get tired of study, and
would be glad to go to work again"
81 should like to try it.
How long since this desire of study
has been felt?'
"Ever since you came, and I heard you
talk with Mr.. F-.n
The young man turned to his books,
and for some time took no more notice Of
the lad He thought the desire for study
to be fancy, notion, which would soon
leave him. But it was not So. A real
desire for knowledge had been awakened
in the lads mind. When such desire
exists, it will lead to something valuable.
Sam-for that was the only name that
the lad was called by, employed every
spare hour during the week after the
above conversation in collecting pine knots
from the wood, and storing them in safe
place. He then borrowed book of the
student who had showed some sympathy
for him, and studied it by the light fur.
nished by the pine knots as they blazed
in the kitchen FIRE. Candles were beyond
his reach. AS the pine knots were his
own he was allowed to sit up as long as
he pleased, provided he rose early in the
morning. Before spring he had read quite
number of books. He read at night
and thought over what he had read while
at work during the day. By this means
he profted by all that he read Many
read and never think over what they read
and hence derive no benefit from read
ing. s5
When spring came, Sam by some means
got possession of Latin grammar, and
!. asked his friend, the student, to tell him
what parts of the book he should commit
1 to memory. The student told him he
would be wasting his time if he attempt
ed to study the grammar, and offered hin
an amusing book to read. Sam declined
the offer. He had made up his mind t.
60 to college. In what way it was to b
accomplished, he knew not; but he hat
resolved it should be done. He told NJ
one Of his resolutions, for he knew ht
would be laughed at.
/ He began to study his Latin grammar
Not knowing what parts to learn, he re
solved to make sure work of it by learn
ing the whole. Every spare moment h
could get he gave to study. He took hi
book to the field with him blowing, ant
studied it when sitting on the plow- share
when the oxen were resting. He>took
!, with him when he went into the eornsfelt
to hoe corn. He would place it open OIL
the stone wall, and would look at it whel
in hoeing his row, he came to the wall
Thus he went on till he had COMMITTEES
nearly the whole grammar to memory.
\ One day student saw him with hi
book and asked him few questions.
81 say, fellows" said he to the boarders
s;Sam knows more about the Latin gram
mar than any of u.s.
4 This was treated as absurd, till tn
student called Sam in and made him re
peat page after page of the grammar. TIL
young men were astonished and resolve,
, that Sam should have chance to learn
They made an arrangement with Mr.. +
by which Sam was permitted to study
few. hours daily. They furnished hlr
with books, and took their turns in teach
E ing him. He had not very quick mind
but he had industry and perseverance. j
about year he ventured to undertake t
teach small district school in retire.
part of the township. He kept on study
,, ing when he could, working by the mont
on farm in the summer, and teachin
school in the winter, for nearly seye
years. By that time he was prepared fo
college, and had funds enough to suppol
him for year or more.
With great effort. and at the cost