The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1870-03-31

unuetstauu MIN.
4 Samuel was a bright boy. and un
$ commonly intelligent Tor ono Of hi
, age. Mr.. Winthrop wNs thorough
Z Z mathematician; he hardly ever cam,
{ across a problem he could not solve
and he desired that his boys should b,
like him he considered that the acm,
of educational perfection lay in tn,
power Of conqueriog Euclid aud h,
often expressed his opinion that. wcr,
; Euclid living then, he could give tn,
old gcometrician q bard tusslo." III,
seemed not TO comprehend that differ
cnt minds we're made with different
capacities. aud what one mind grasped
with ease another ofequal power failed
o comprehend. Hence because Jerr,
progressed rapidly in his mathemo,i.
cal studies, and could already surve;
a piece Of land of many angles he inn
agincd that as Simucl made no prog
res' in the same branch he was idle
and careless, and so treated him accor.
dingly. lie never candidly convcrsed
with his younger son, with view Ia
ascertain the true bent Of his mind
but he had his own standard of the
power Of all minds, aud be pertinlcious
ly adhere to il.
There was another thins that Mr..
Winthrop could no, see, and that was
that Samuel was continually pondcring
upon such profitable m,tter as was n-
tercsting to him, aud that he was
scarcely ever idle nor did his father
see, eiihci, that il he ever wished his
boy To become mathematician. he was
pursuing the very course TO preven
such result. IUstcal of cDdeavor-
ing to make the study interesting to
the child, he was making it obnoxious
The dinner hour came, anl Samuel
had not worked out the sum. His fa-
ther was angry, aud obliged the boy
to 20 without his dinner, at the same
time telling him that he was an idle,
lazy lad.
Poor Samuel left the kitchen for his
own room. and there he sat and cried.
At lengthshis mind seemed TO pass
rom the wrong he had suffered at the
hand OF his father, aud his face light
ened up. There was large fire in
he room below his chamber, 50 that
he was not very cold and, getting
mp. he went TO closet, aud from be-
meath a lot OF old clothes he took forth
some long strips of wood. He was cv
deutly fashioring some curious affair
Ilom these pieces of wool. lie had
hts of wire, little scraps of tin plate
pieces of twiue. and dozens of smal
wheels that he made himself and he
seemed TO be working to get the whole
together after some particular fashion
Of.hiS own.
Half tn, afternoon had thus passed
away when his sister entered his cham
Der. She had her apron gathered upl
in her hand, and after closing the door
softly behind her, she approached the
spot where her brother sat.
Here Sammy see, have brought
you something to eat. | know you
must be hungry"
AS she spoke, she opened her apron
and took out four cakes. piece of pie,
and some cheese. The boy was hun
cry, and hcsitaiea not to avail himself
of his sisters kind offer. lIc kissed
her as he took the cakes, and thanked
her.
"Oh. what pretty thing is that you
are makingY uttered Fanny as she
gazed upon her brothers. labor Won't
you give it to me after 1t is done p
Not this one, sister," returned the
boy with smile ; "but will make
you enc equally as pretty"
Fanny thanked her brother. and
soon left the room, while the boy went
on with his work.
Before long, the various materials
that had been suhjc TO Samuel's knie
and pincers were joined and
sr1oved together in acuribus manner
The embryo philosopher set the ma.
chine for it looked like machine
upon the floor, then gazed on il intent.
". HE eye CLEANED with a peculiar
gov Of satisfaction he looked proud
and happy. While he stood and gag
I'd uwon the child of his labors the ,
door opened and hi' father entered. !
What are you not studying !" cX-
,laimed Mr.. Winthrop, as he noticed {
he boy standing in the middle Of the
floor.
Samuel trembled when he heard his
'ather's voice, and turned pale with
fear.
Ha [! what is this ?" said his faith
,r, as he caught sight Of the curious |
on the floor. "This is the
secret of your idleness. Now | SEQ ,
now it is you cannot master your stud. .
es. You spend your time in making q
hem fy-cages. III see whether you'll
earn to attend to your lesson or not
rhere!"
As the father uttered this harsh ejac. /
llstion. he put his foot upon the OBJ
ect Of his displeasure. The boy ut.
ered q quick cry, and spraog forward, $
mt to, late. The curious construction
,ss crush ed TO stoms-the labor Of b
Dua weeks. Covering his face with {
is hands, be burst into tears. J
saint you ashamed ~ said Mr., |
Winthrop. "A great boy like you, to
pend your time 10 making trac-elaPs, !
I'D then cry about 1t because ] choose
hat you should attend to your stud-
ssi Now 20 10 the barn and help II
err with the uorn.h