Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1872-01-11
asI istel laueatis.
THE FATHERS ERROR.

Mr.. Solomon Winthrop was plain old
farmer-an austere, precise man, who did
everything by established rules, and
could see no reason why people should
grasp at anyth ing beyond what had been
reached by their great grandfathers. He
had three children-two boys and girl.
There was Jeremi ah, seventeen years old;
Samuel, fifteen; Fanny, fourteen.
It was cold winters day. Samuel
was in the kitchen, reading book, and
so interested was he, that he did not no
ticc the entrance of his father. Jerry WIGS
in the opposite corner, engaged in cy-
phering out sum which he had found in
the arithmetic.
Sam" said his father, 'bave you
worked that sum out p
mo, Father" answered the boy hes
itatingly.
Didn't tell you to stick to your
arithmetic till you had done it 2" said
Mr.. Winthrop in severe tone.
Samuel hung down his head and look
ed troubled.
"Why haven't you done it," continued
the father.
Il can't do it, father tremblingly
said Samuel.
Cant do it, ard why net ? Look at
Jerry, with his slate and pencil. He had
cyphered further than you have long be-
fore he was as old as you are"
Jerry was always fond of sums and
problems. father: They have no interest
at all for me-"
"That's because you don't try to feel an
interest in your studies. What book is
that you are reading?
"It's work On philosophy, father.
ga work on 6ddlesticks Go 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 understand p
Samuel made no answer. but silently
he put away bis philosophy, and then he
got his slate and sat down iu the CHI imney
corner. His lip trembled, and his eyes
moistened, for he was very unhappy. His
ia her had been harsh towards him, and
felt that it was ithout cause.
"Sam." said Jerry, as soon as their
father had gone out of the room, ''Il do
that sum for you.
mo, jerry" replied the younger
brother. with a grateful look; that will be
deceiving father. I'll try to do the sum,
but | fear that I shall not succeed"
Samuel worked very hard, but to no
purpose. His mind was not on the sub
iect before him The roots and squares.
the bases, and perpendculars, though
comparatively simple in themselves, were
to him mass of incomprehensible things;
and the more he tried, the more be be-
came perplexed and bothered.
The truth was his father did not IN
derstand him.
Samuel was bright boy, and uncom-
monty intelligent for one of his age.
Mr.. Winthrop was thorough mathemati-
clan he hardly ever came across prob
lem he could ret solve. and he desired
that his boy should be like him; he con-
sidered that the acme of educational per-
lection lay in the power of conquering
Euclid, and often expressed the opinion
that, we're Euclid living then. he could
give the old geometrician hard tussel
He seemed not to understand that differ
ent minds were made with different ca
pacities, and what one mind grasped
with ease. another of equal power would
fail to comprehend. Hence, because Jer-
ry progressed rapidly with his mathemat-
| ical studies, and could already survey a
piece OF land of many angles, he imagined
that as Samuel made no progress in the
same branch he was idle and careless, and
treated him accordingly. He never car
aidly conversed with bis younger son,
/ with a view to ascertain the true bent of
his mind; but he had his own standard Of
the power of all minds and he pertina-
ciously adhered to it.
| There was another thing that MIR. Win