Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1868-05-29
NO. 10. PARIS. MAINE. FRIDAY.

Just an IDIOT.
h,nneih's mother, however. could not
give mp her darling for lost. and insisted
there was in him that wad max n man
vet"
/ When at last he rose in unkirklike re-
beilion against parental authority, and de-
clarcd he would do anything II they bid him
abroad in the world. but lie would no, be
farmer. the mortified father took him 10 n
neighboring town and apprentice him to n
CABINET maker, who soon grew very
sick Ct las bargain. The boy spoiled oycry
thing he attempted. and At last got tho
name OF "SPull the wood" (spoil the wood
and he made as sad havoc among the tools
and materials a. he did before among the
sheep and grain.
But his day came at last. \ ship bad
come in needing some little repairs. which
any man who could handle hammer could
make. So our poor wol olkman was dispatched
on the business. Once on boar. he spird
compass. the 6rst he had ever seen. He
leaned over 1t IN rapt delight for hours.
and suffered the repIirs 20 take care OF
themselves. lie forgot what he hal been
sent for. and returned home without his
tools, and his head full OF compasses.
Provoked by his heedessness. the honest
cabinet maker tried TO throw him back As
bad bargain OH his fathers hands; but the
old man two shrcwd for him, and would
not take the burden ba ek till forced to do
SO by the expiration of the time mentioned
in the indcniures.
But their abnsc of him and q iarrels about
hi'n were scarcely heard by Kenneth. He
thought o! compasscs. OF ships aud mechan.
ics IN general. and he whistled At the advice
Of his friends aud the sco,n of foes.
A'soon a. his apprenticeship was over
he lcft to" region where he was born. and
for years he was heard OF only pcrrhancc
by some fellow ,ownsmen elng him in
extreme poverty.
Bot by and by the world heard that "a
certain ingenious Sco;chman. a very scicn-
''ic man, bad invented compass. which
was to mark 4 new era il navigation" Ii
was on every tongue. Prince William
Henry. aflorward William the ", was at
that time commanding man. OF war, and
he tried the Scotchman's compass lie was
charmed with il and the lad who trod the
clay tloor OF the poor Ihatched cottage with
barrel chimney, was appointed "compass
ma er to His Majesty" AMI Catherine.
czaT.uA Of Russia. heard of the wonder ful
invcntor, and frlt that she must have some
OF he results Of his genius. and she sent him
asa order for philosophical apparatus for 4
college being erected in 81. Petersburg.
lie was ready for the royal order. and
was equal to It's fuilmeut Money bccan
10 pour in upon him, and he became master
OF A fine house. aud was honorcd and re
spectei by the very men who when boys.
used to call him 'Spull wood and max
IA bread. in scorn.
All at once bis oil father found out that
Kcnncy had liver been wonderful lad,
and although be did let few worthless
sheep brak' their necks by falling over tie
edge OF the ravinc. alter them devouring
tine winters corn, who could expect a gc.
n.as - be looking alter poor Shepherds
work ?"
And the M mister. too, remembered hos
he used to balance one pin on another and
white out wee anchors during the last bali
OF the ,~o hours sermon. lie forgot how
, ever how he used TO threaten TO inform
, upon bin at home. or report him to the
elders for "mAist unsancfihed lad" and
now declared that although he conduct was
certainly disorderly for n lad fortunate
enough to lie born in the kirk Of Scotland.
he had no doubt that il vas the gcnics crop.
ping oat Of bin. instead OF total dcpravity.
: As be- then believed.
III, native town grew proud Of him. and
every man in it remembered some word or
! act worth repeating Of The boy Who. they
, once declared, "wad never earn a red her.
ring
TLerc was one who had always smiled on
; his water wheels and excused hi, careless.
ness "hcn The dead sheep wss found. QUO
3 who had called bin. tendcrly. bcr "ain
, dear bonnie laddis. 81 and who never would
, suffer any one TO call BIN fool unrebukcl
Iha, was his mother. lie bal aiHa,s been
hero 10 her loving eyes. and although she
! was rrjoiced. she never would init that
! she was surprised at his good fortune
f., Now, bad the honest Scotchman discerncd
, tho boys talents be might have saved him.
, self all the trouble and modification be- bad
{ zoe his unsuccessful effort, TO couycrr hin
y. into PIougbmtn OF shepherd. aud be
. might bAye saved him years Of toll and pow.
- criv. during which be was hourly stuug by
n ito MON .n..r. and a,rrnsrn. ~ lLn... n.