The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-06-26
A FATHERS ERROR.
By j. NJ. X,

Mr.. Solomon Winthrop was a plain
old farmer-an austere, precise man,
who did everything by established
rules, and could see no reason why peo-
pie should grasp anything beyond what
had been reached by their great-grand-
father. He had three children, two
boys and girl. There was jeremiah
seventeen years old; Samuel fifteen
Fanny thirteen.
1t was a cold winters day. Samuel
was in the kitchen, reading book, and
so interested was he that he did not no
tice the entrance of his father. Jerry
was in the opposite corner, engaged in
ciphering out a sum which he had found
in his arithmetic. 4t--J -.
"Sam," said his father, "haye you
worked that sum out ,yet?'
''No, father" answered the boy hest
tatingly.
Didn't I tell you to stick to your
arithmetic till you had done it ?' said
Mr.. Winthrop in a severe tone. a
Samuel hung down his head and look
Ell quite troubled. '. sf S'.'a-s
"Why haven't you done it?" contin-
ued his father. 80 os1 III isuaH
81 can't do it, father" tremblingly
answered Samuel. nj. cr...si,iEu ssr-
"Can't do it! And why not? Look
at Jerry there, with his slate and pen
Gil. He had ciphered further than you
have long before he was old as you are. -
':Jerry was always fond of sums and
problems, father. They have no inter
est at all for me.''
s:That is because you do not try to feel
an interest in your studies. What book
is that you are reading?'' 800 "'i,' 81
cts work on philosophy, fathers
:" 4 work on ffddlesticks! CO put it
away, this instant, and then get your
slate; and don't you let me see you
away from your arithmetic until you
can work out those roots. Do you UNI.
derstanda3f ssga,.a .aaI3y ..1
4 Samuel made no answer, but silently
he put away his philosophy; and then
he got his slate and sat down in the
chimney CORNER. His lips trembled and
his eyes moisteped, for he was very I'M
happy. His father had been harsh to-
ward him, and he felt that it was with
out cause. '''
"sam, said Jerry, as soon as their
father had gone out OF the room, ssTn
do that sum for you" -.-." .'@ 5..-
~ ono, Jerry" replied the youngest
brother, with a gratefullook s'that will
be deeeiving father. I'n try to do the
sum, but l fear that shall not succeed"
Samuel worked very hard, but to no
purpose. His mind was not on the sub
ject before him. The roots and squares,
the bases and perpendiculars,, though
comparatively simple in themselves,
were to him mass of incomprehensible
things; and the more he tried, the more
he became perplexed and bothered
The truth was, his father did not under
stand him. '-'''I
Samuel was bright boy, and uncom-
monty intelligentsfcr one of his age.
MIR. Winthrop was thorough .mathe-
he hardly ever came across a
problem he could not solve, and he de-
sired that his boy should be like him.
He considered that the acme of educa-
tiOnal perfection lay in the power of
conquering Euslid; and he often ex-
pressed the opinion that, were Euclid
living then, he could ''give the old ge-
a hard tussle."
He seemed not to understand that diff
ferent minds We're made with different
and what one mind grasped
with ease another with equal power
would fail to comprehend. Hence, be-
cause Jerry progressed rapidly with his
studies, and could already
survey piece of land of many angles,
he imagined that us Samuel made no
progress in the same branch, he was
idle and careless, and so treated him ac-
cordingly. He never candidly convers-
ed 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 adj
hcTed to it,