The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-02-10

ell can't, sir. | cipher as fast in
my head as / do with my fingers, and
always throw over half of the figures
away"
"And what do you mean by throwing
away figures p
"Why, dividing and subtracting and
the rest in my head-ttink it out, sir,
and put down only the amount that's
as near as | can tell you how / do it. -
Poor jim made bad work of attempt
ing to define the mental science of num-
bers, although so extraordinary gifted
in executing what he found it so diff
cult to explain. This Throwing away
of figures" accounted for the power he
used viSJhJ-the mind, as he said,
ciphering as fast as his fingers.
Once understood, and his system was
simple enough where one possessed his
immense genius for computation. his
mental powers appeared to be infinite,
and the rapidity with which he cast up
column Of figures three, and even five
rows at a time, made us drop our states
in despair, convinced that we were not
natural-born mathematicians, and could
never hope to rival Ciphering Jim. He
had but one talent beside, and that was
the talent of imitdhon-this was illus
trated in his writing. Jim had no es-
tablished hand of his own it varied
with the copy, and was always an exact
counterpart of what his eye was upon
even the slightest fault was faithfully
reproduced, and in week he wrote
precisely like Mr.. Stubs; and that
worthy gentleman declared that while
Jim lived he would have scruples about
swearing to his own autograph.
The little darlley was unanimously
voted wonder; and out of respect to
his genius we magnanimously concluded
to tolerate him. None of us had failed
to notice that jim had no dinner, and
that he stood shivering in the entry
while we were eating ours so at recess,
mine being not yet exhausted, took
from my basket liberal slice of bread
and butter, and holding it temptingly
even with my mouth, | said:
Jim, amt you hungry p
"No, mot much" He wriggled
closer against the wall, too proud to
own it, although | could see the hunger
in his face"
Don't you think you could 90 this
JIM if you tried hard ?'
81 guess | could" His mouth fairly
watered.
Well, 90 in, then" tossed him
the slice, and he did go in with will.
"And don't you think you could
worry down this jolly big apple p said
Tom, giving him great red apple.
jim readily undertook the feat, the
grateful tears slowly filling the large
eyes, to the imminent peril of being alb
sorbed by the fast vanishing bread and
butter.
It's mighty hard to be called mig
ger, if you are used to it; but I'll help
you do sums after this" said poor jim,
in burst of gratitude.
Tom became more benevolent, as well
as complimentary.
Here is a rousing doughnut; don't
want it. You are a right smart chap,
darkey or not, and we will call that quit
| square"
And after that, Ciphering jim met
| with no unkindness from the most anti
radical Of us.
He was born in Alabama, of quad
room mother and white father-the
mother a slave, the father one of the
ablest men in the State, distinguished
for his scientific learning and great men
tai powers. jim was sent North to be
educated There was father love enough
for that but the breaking out of the
war suspended remittances, and the
friendless child speedily came to rag,
and hunger. The people employed to
take charge of him returned South;
leaving him with poor colored familys
and in this manner he became thrown
alone upon the world, and, for the privi
lege of going to school, was willing to
endure any amount of hardship and
want. But they who strive, win; and
at the present, Ciphering jim, although
mere youth, is a first-class book keeper
in a large New England banking house,
at salary of $4,000 a year and, in these
latter degenerate days, am not at all
ashamed to say that | went to the same
school as darlley Jim Marshall, or to adj
NIT that through him | was first led to
feel true sympathy for his race.-PhA
aoelphia Press.