Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1871-02-03
DoDGEvnLE, WISCONSIN, FRIDAY FEBRUARY s. is

"Why, dividing and subtracting and
the rest i'll my head-think 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 visiby-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 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 inaitation-this was illus
trated i'll 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 darkey 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 a liberal slice of bread
and butter, and holding it temptingly
even with my mouth, / said;
Jim, amt you hungry" ?"
"No, mot much" He wrlggled
closer against the wall, too proud to
own it, although l could see the hunger
in his face" .'
"Don't you think you could go this
nice hunk of bread and butter now,
Jim, if you tried hard p
81 guess | could" His mouth fairly
watered.
Well, go in, then" l tossed him
the slice, and he did go in with a will.
" And don't you think you could
worry down this jolly big apple p said
Tom, giving him a great red apple.
jim readily undertook the feat, the
grateful tears slowly filing the large
eyes, to the imminent peril of being alb
sorbed by the fast vanishing bread and
butter.
cts mighty hard to be called mig
10 ht1t
YOU do sums after this" said poor Jim,
in burst of gratitude.
Tom became more benevolent, as well
as complimentary.
Here is rousing doughnut; don't
want it. You are 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 a white father-the
mother slave, the father one Of the
ablest men in the State, distinguished
for his scientific learning and great
| 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
a mere youth, is first-class book keeper
in large New England banking house,
at salary of $1,000 a year and, in these
latter degenerate days, | am not at all
ashamed to say that | went to the same
school as darkey Jim Marshall, or to ad-
NIT that through him was first led to
feel true sympathy for his race.-PhA
adezphia Press. .... ~ .....-