Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-04-14

mind grasped with ease another OF equal
power would fail to comprehend
Hence because Jerry progressed rapidly
in his mathematical studies, and could
already survey Eiece of land of many
angles, he imagined that as Samuel
made no progress in the same branch he
was idle and careless, and so treated him
accordingly. He never candldiy con-
yersed with his Younger son, with a view
to ascertain the true bent Of his mind |;
but he had bis own standard of the pow
err of all minds, and he pertinaciously
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.
esting to him, and that he was scarcely
ever idle; nor did his father see, either,
that if he ever wished his boy to become
a mathematician, he was pursuing the
very course to prevent such result
Instead of endeayoring to make the study
interesting to the child, be making it OBJ
noxious.
The dinner hour came, and Samuel
bad not worked out the sum. His
father was angry. aud obliged the boy
to 90 without his dinner, at the same
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 length his mind seemed to pass from
the wrong he had suffered at the hand
OF his father, and his face lightened up.
There was large fire in the room be-
low his chamber, so that he was not very
cold; and, getting up, he went to a
| closet, and from beneath lot of old
clothes he took forth some long strips of
wood. He was evidently fashioning
some curious affair from these pieces of
wood. He had bits of wire, little
scraps of tin plate. pieces of Irvine. and
dozens of small wheels that ne made
himself: and he seemed TO be working to
pet the whole together after some pecu-
liar fashion of his own.
Half the afternoon had thus passed
away when his sister entered his cham
Der. She had her apron gathered up in
her hand. ard after closing the door soft
Iy 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
gry, and hesitated not to avail himself
of his sisters kind offer. He kissed
her as he took the cakes, ard thanked
her.
"Oh, what pretty thing is that you
are makingi" uttered Fanny, as she
gazed upon her brothers labor
" Won't you give it to me after it is
done 2"
mot this one, sister," returned the
boy with q smile; "but L will make you
one 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 subject to Samuel's knife and
pincers were joined and grooyed together
! in curious manner.
The embryo philosopher set the ma
chinc-for it locked like machine
upon the floor, then gazed on it intently.
His eye cleaned with peculiar glow of
satisfaction; he looked proud and happy.
While he stood and gazed upon he child
of his labors, the door opened and his
father entered.
What! are you not studying?" ex-
claimed Mr.. Winthrop, as he noticed
tie boy standing in the middle of The
! floor.
Samuel trembled when he heard his
fathers voice. and turned pale with fear
"Ha! what is this?" said his father,
as be caught sight of the curious con-
struction on the floor. "This is the Sc
cret of your idleness. Now l see how it
is you canrot master your studies
You spend your time in making them
fy-cages. I'll see whether you'll learn
to attend to your lessons or not
There"
As the father uttered this harsh eiacu-
lation, he put his foot upon the object
of his dispIeasure. The boy uttered a
quick cry, and sprang forward. but too
late. The curious construction was
crushed to atoms-the labor of long
weeks. Covering his face with his hands,
he burst into tears.
saint you ashamed 2" said Mr.. Win
throp. A great boy like you to spend
your time in making trap-claps, and then
cry about it because l choose that you
should attend to your studies! Now
go to the barn and help Jerry with the
corn"
The boy was too full of grief to make
any explanation, and without word
he left the chamber; but for long days
afterwards he was weary and down
hearted.
Samnel," said Mr.. Winthrop, one
day after the spring had opened,
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 you can do is to learn the
blacksmith's trade. l have given up all
hopes of ever making surveyor out of
you, and if yoa had farm you would
not know how to measure it, or lay it
| out. Jerry will now soon be able to