Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-03-27
THE HARD PROBLEM.

II can never get this answer" said Lucy
Phillips, in tone of vexation, as she cast a
despairing glance over difficult example in
her algebra, being the extraction of the cube
root of polynomial. 81 have toiled, and
tried, till my head fairly aches, and it's of no
use! I can't do it!
"You are tired now, Lucy" said her SYM
pathizng mother. "Go out into the fresh
air; take ride on Willie's new sled, and
come back with your mind refreshed and
rested. Then take a new start with your
work; 60 over it carefully from the begin
ming, and perhaps the next trial will bring
you out all right"
"No, mother, have done my best, and l
don't believe there's girl in the class that
can get it. I hate the old thing, and I don't
want to look at it again." And the dis
heartened girl took up her history lesson in
no very amiable mood.
Lucy's experience is not an uncommon one,
as many despondent scholar can testify.
The student who never encounters difficulties
isa very rare parsonage indeed, and it becomes
matter of considerable Importance to know
how to meet them in the best way, and if pos
sible overcome them. AS an illustration of
another method of dealing with them, take
the case of Grace Ashton, one of Lucy's class
mates, who had to contend with the same
problem which had proved so sore trial to
Lucy's eauanimity.
Grace was not endowed with Lucy's quick
ness of comprehension, and in questions ad-
dressed to the class at large, requiring the
ready application of general principles to par
ticular cases, was almost invariably anticipa-
ted by Lucy's prompt replies. But in her
determination to persevere until she clearly
understood the subject of the recitation, she
possessed quality that far more than COM
pensated for her friends superior quickness of
perception. Grace had, moreover, learned
the value and the comfort of seeking help from
One who asks us to cast the burden of every
care on him.
"Mother," said Grace, II am afraid I will
not be prepared on this example tomorrow.
1t is so long, and there are so many fractions
in it, and the changes of the signs always
trouble me so much, that I fear will have
to give it up. have spent more than an hour
on this one example already"
"Then lay your algebra aside, my dear," )"
answered her mother, "get your other lessons
and 90 to bed. You are wearied now; in the
morning you will be in better spirits, and be.
fore school-time you can give it another trial. "
Grace col iplied with her mothers sugges.
ton; but both before retiring that night, and
again after rising in the morning, she prayed
earnestly that God would help her to dis
charge every duty that he had given her to
do. In this petition she included her school
duties why should she not? 1t is the priv
ilege of all Gods children to come to him,
as to a loving father, and to ask him for
wisdom and strength to do the work, however
humble or however important, he has assigned
to them. Applying herself with new resolu-
tion and careful attention to the formidable
example of the previous evening, her present
effort was rewarded with success, and she was
able at the recitation to explain clearly every
step of the process -,
But some schoolgirls and boys too, will
ask-ought we to pray that God would help
US in our lessons? The Bible answers the
question: "In all thy ways acknowledge him,
and he shall direct thy paths" prov. iii
g. In pursuing our studies, our great mo-
tive should be to glorify God; both to serve
hlm now Dy dOlng tne present "o[h he Has
allotted to US, and to prepare ourselves for
more efficient service in the future May we
not pray for Gods blessing upon our efforts
to honor him-efforts which without that
blessing, will be Observation-Disclosures
Banner.
A BEAUTIFUL REPLY-A pious old man
was one day walking to church, with New
Testament in his hand, when friend who met
him said
"Good morning, neighbor."
"Ah good morning" replied he, "Iam read
ing my Fathers will as [ walk along"
"Well, what has he left you ?" said his friend
"He has bequeathed me hundred-told more
in life and in the world to come life everlast'
ing" :. :.
circumstances of affiiction, but went home