Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-05-04
"Sulfer Little Children"

Mr. Solomon Winthrop was a plain old
farmer-an austere, precise man, who did
every thing by established rules, and could
see no reason why people should grasp at
things beyond what had been reached by their
great grandiathers lie had three children,
two boys and girl. There was Jeremiah,
seventeen years old Samuel, fifteen and
Fanny, fourteen.
1t was cold winters day. Samuel was
in the kitchen reading a hook, and so inter-
ested was he that he did not notice the en-
trance Of his father. Jerry was in an oppo.
site corner, engaged in ciphering out sum
which he had found in his arithmetic.
Sam, said the father to his youngest boy,
" have you worked out that sum yet?'
" No, father" answered the boy, hesitat-
ingly.
Didn't tell you to stick to your arth-
metic till you had done it2" said Mr. Win
throp in a severe tone.
Samuel hung down his head, and looked
troubled.
"Why haven't you done it2' continued
the father.
' can't do it, father - tremblingly said
Samuel.
Can't do it? And why not Look at
Jerry, there, with his slate and pencil He
had ciphered further than you have long be-
fore he was as old as you arc"
Jerry was always fond of sums and prob
lems father. They have no interest for me- ~
That's because you don't try to feel an
interest in your studies. What book is that
you are readng2"
1t is a work on philosophy, father"
"A work on fddle-sticks Go, put it
away this instant, and then get your slate
and don't let me see you away from your
arithmetic until you can work out those roots
Do you understand me ?"
Samuel made no answer, but silently he put
away his philosophy; and then he got his
slate, and sat down in the chimney-corncr.-
His lip trembled, and his eyes moistened, for
he was unhappy His father had been harsh
towards him, and he felt that it was without
cause.
SAM" said Jerry as soon as their father
had gone, I'll do that sum for you"
No, jerry" replied the younger brother
with grateful look that will be deceiv.
ing father. I'll try to do the sum, but fear
| can't succeed"
Samuel worked very hard, but all to nc
purpose His mind was not on the subject
before him. The roots and squares, the base:
and perpendiculars, though comparatively
simple in themselves, were to him mass o.
incomprehensible things and the more he
tried, the more he became perplexed and
bothered
The truth was, his father did not under
stand him.
Samuel was bright boy, and uncommon
ly intelligent for one of his age. Mr.. Win
throp was thorough mathematician h,
hardly ever came across problem he coulC
not solve, and he desired that his boys SHOULD
be like him he considered that the acme o.
educational perfection lay in the power o.
conquerug Euclid ; and he often expresseC
his opinion that, were Euclid living then, h,
could give the old geometrican a hart
tussle" He seemed not to comprehend tha
different minds were made with different ca
pacities, and what one mind grasped viii
ease another of equal power would fail t
comprehend. Hence because Jerry progress
cd rapidly in his mathematical studies, an
could already survey piece OF land of man
angles, he imagined that as Samuel made n
progress in the same branch he was idle an
, careless, and so treated him accordingly. ii
, never candidly conversed with his younge
son, with view 10 ascertain the true bent {
his mind but he had his own standard q
the power of all minds, and he pertinaciousl
adhered to it.
There was another thing that Mr.. Wine
throp could not see and that was that San
/, uel was continually pondcring upon such pro
table matter as was interesting to him, an
that he was scarcely ever idle nor did h
father see either, that if he wished his bo
to become mathematician, he was pursuin
the very course TO prevent such a result. Ii
stead of endeayoring to make the study il
teresting to the child, he was making it ol
noxious.
The dinner hour came, and Samuel had n,
worked out the sum. His father was angr
I ! and obliged the boy to 60 without his Dime
! ! at the same time telling him that he was q
idle, lazy lad.
{, Poor Samuel left the kitchen for his oW
room, and there he sat and cried. At lengt
his mind seemed to pass from the wrong /
? had suffered at the hand of his father, and h
: face lighted up. There was a large fire
9 the room below his chamber, so that be WI
not very cold and, getting up, he went to
closet, and from beneath lot of old cloth
! he took forth some long strips Of wood. 1
was evidently iashioning some curious aiia
y from these pieces of wood. He had bits
: wire, little scraps Of tin plate, pieces Of twin
U and dozens of small wheels that he made hin
. self; and he seemed to be woking to get Il
whole together after some paticular fashion
= his own.
= Half the afternoon had thus passed ava
81 when his sister entered his chamber. Sh
. had her apron gathered up in her hand, an
? after closing the door softly behind her, 81
approached the spot where her brother sat.
-" Here, Sammy see have brought yc
y , something to eat, know you must be hui
!. cry"
" As she spoke, she opened her apron al
u took out four cakes, piece Of pie, and son
n cheese The boy was hungry and hesitate
D. not to avail himself Of his sisters kind otle
}, He kissed he., as he took the cakes, al
y :, thanked her.
y "Oh, what pretty thing is that you a
. making ?" uttered Fanny, as she gazed upC
u her brothers labor. "Won't you give it
>, mo after il is donef"
a "Not this one sister," returned the b,
q with a smile; "but | will make you OIL
y equally az pretty"
y Fanny thanked her brother, and soon le
'i the room, while the boy went on with b
work.
Before long the various materials that ha
a. haan srbiaot to Somuolia Lnifa and ninccl