Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1871-11-16

ent capacities, and what one mind
grasped with ease another Of equal
power would fail TO comprehend.
Hence. because Jerry progressed rap
idly with his mathematical studies.
and could already survey piece of
land of many angles, he imagined that
as Samuel made no progress in the
same branch. he was idle and careless,
aud SO treated him accordingly. He
never candidly conversed with his
younger son, with view to ascertain
the true bent of his mind but he had
his own standard of the power of all
minds, and he pertinaciously adhered
to il.
There was another thing that Mr..
Winthrop could not sec. and that was
that Samuel was continually ponder
ing upon such profitable matter as was
interesting TO him, and that he was
/ scarcely ever idle ; nor did his father
see, either, that if he ever wished his
boy Ia become "A mathematician, he
was pursuing the very course TO pre-
vent sncn a result. Instead of endeav-
oring to make the study interesting TO
the child, he was making it obnox xious.
The dinner hour came, and Samuel
had not worked out the sum. His IA
thcr was angry, and obliged the boy to
20 without his dinner, at the same time
telling him that lie was an idle, lazy
lad.
Poor Samuel left the kitchen for his
own room, and there he sat aud cried.
At length his mind seemed TO pass
. from the wrong he had suffered at the
hand OF his father, and his face light
encd up. There was fire in the room
below his chamber. SO he was not very
cold E.; and getting up he went to clos
ct, and from under lot of old clothes
he took forth some long strips OF wood.
| lie was evidently fashlonlng some Curl
Gus affair from these pieces of wood.
/ He had bits Of wire, little scraps of
tin plate, pieces of twlne and dozens
of small wheels that he had made him
self. and he seemed 10 he working To
/ get the two together after some par
liculsr fashion OF his own.
Half the afternoon had thus passed
away when his sister entered his cham
bcr. She had her apron gathered up
in her hand, and after closing the door
softly behind her she approached the
I spot where her brother sat.
Here, Sammy, see. | have brought
you something TO eat. | know YOU
mus; be- hungry
As she spoke she opened her apron
and took out -four cakes, piece oil pie
and some cheese. The boy was hun
gry and hesita,ei not 10 avail himself
of his sisters kind offer. He kissed
her A. he took the cakes, and thanked
| her.
oh, what pretty thing is tha, You
are making uttered Fannie, as she
gazed upon her brothers labor. Won't
YOU give il 10 me after it Is done:
Not this one sister, returned the
boy with smile but will make YOU
one equally As pretty
Fannie Thanked her brother, and
soon after 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 pinchcrs were joined and grooved
together in curiods manner.
The embryo philosopher at the ma
| chine-for il looked like a machine
upon the floor. then gazed upon it in
tently. His eye cleaned with a pecu-
liar glow Of satisfaction he looked
proud and happy. While he stood
and gazed upon the child OF his labors,
the door opened and his father enter
ed.
What are you not studying" ex-
claimed Mr.. Winthrop, as lie noticed
the boy standing III the middle OF the
floor.
Samuel trembled when he heard his
fathers voice, and turned pale with
fear.
.Ha, what is this 2 said his father,
as he caught sight of the curious con-
struction on the floor. This Is the
secret of your likeness. Now see
how it is you cannot master your stud
les. You spend your time in making
them hy-cases. I'll see whether you'll
learn to attend to your lessons or not.
THERE
As the father uttered these harsh
calculations, he put his foot upon the
object Of his dispieasure. The boy ut
tered a quick cry and sprang forward,
but too late. The curious construction
WAS crushed to atoms-the labor OF
long weeks. Looking at the mass Of
RUNS and then covering his face with
his hands. he burst into tears.
Ant you ashamed? said Mr.. Win
throp a great boy like you to spend
your time in making 'clap-traps, and
then cry about it because choose you
should attend to your studies. Now
90 to the barn and help to shell the
corn.
The boy was to full of grief to make
any explanation, and without q word
he left his chamber. But for long, long
days afterwards he was weary and
down-hearted.
Samuel" said Mr.. Winthrop. one
day after the spring had opened. IL
have seen Mr.. Young and he is willing
to take you as an apprentice. Jerry
and can get along on the farm, and
think the best thing you can do is to
learn the blacksmith's trade. have
given up all hopes Of ever making a
surveyor out Of you, and if you had a
, farm you would not know how to meas.
ure it or lay it out. Jerry will soon bs
able 70 take my place IS surveyor, and
, l have alrssdy made arrangements fol
Z having him sworn and obtain his com
| mission. But your trade is good one
however, and l have no doubt you viii
. be able to make good living at it."
: Mr.. Young was a blacksmith in {
e neighboring town, and he carried OF
4 quite an extensive business. Moreovel
be had the reputation Of being a fint
: man. Samuel was delighted with hi
fathers proposal, and when he learnet
Ia l.