The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-04-12
Fretting or Trying.

Fretting or Trying.
cit is no use giving me sums to
do said peevish, fretful Harry to
the boy who sat next to him in school
one fine morning, ''for | can't make
them come right; plague it! l wish
there were no such things as sums in
the world, that do!'
ssWhy don't you try said Alfred
White, who was hard at work on his
own slate, and had already got six or
seven sums done and ready to show
the master.
cit is no use trying" said Harry,
almost with whine, ''they won't
come right, mine never will, not it I
try all day. l say, Alfred, let me copy
yours.
ssYour sums ere not the same as
mine,'' said Alfred; ''but you must
not talk to me, l am busy have
only about half done my work
should think you have done enough
and more than enough for one day.
continued Harry. "You might just as
we'll help me a bit;'' but Alfred was
deep in his calculations. and took no
notice. Harry employed himself in
munching an apple-of course he had
to do it slyly, and when the master
was not looking. This took up con-
siderable portion of his time; present
ly, however, seeing it was nearly
twelve O. clock, he again accOsted Al
fred: 81 will give you penny Alfred
to do my sums for me-" This was a
temptation to Alfred, whose parents
were not nearly so rich as Harry's, and
could not give him so much pocket
! money, but he hesitated for moment
II will give you penny and four sto
ny marbles if you will get these four
sums done for me. Say the word now
will you or will you not!-quick!'
Alfred took the slate. In a few
minutes the sums were done.
ssThank you," said Harry, CRATE
fully, sshere is the penny, and l will
give you the marbles when school is
over. Why can't do sums as well as
you, wonder -
"You don't try" said Alfrid.
"You don't try" How true this
was Harry did not try; he was a
spoilt boy his parents were we'll off
his father was to busy-for he had
large business-to look much after
him, and his mother INDUCED him ii
every whim. So he became fretfu
and peevish, withal very idle; hi
disliked trouble and hated school. IL
due time the master came to examine
his work.
"Pretty we'll for you,' said the mas
ter, considering how slow you are a
arithmetic" Harry said nothing, blu
smiled foolishly at Alfred.
Harry went home in rather bette
spirits than he was in when he came
He hated school and effort Of any sort
but he had found out one thing, AM
that was that Alfred's help was to b
bought. He would do his sums TO
money he had only, therefore, to be
. from his too indulgent mother, and b
/, would be saved great deal of trouble
As often as he could he would sta
, away, but when he had to go thi
would be his resource.
! So from time to time his mother
: who really believed her son to be yer
;. delicate, furnished him with notes
the master begging him to excuse he
sons absence from school on the pie
OF his being unweli. He had cold, {
a headache, or was feverish, and N;
), nv other things beside.
e One day his father became indigna1
) and took him by force to school, whe
g he cried so loudly and made such
}, piece of work that he really BEGAN
q i'll and unable to apply to anything;aI
in this way some of The most valuab
q or the years of his life passed-yea
in which, by diligent application
ID learning, he ought to have been pr
pairing himself for life, aud laying tt
5. foundation for future respectable
It And at length the time came for hi
to leave school, when it was four
I, that he could read and write certainl
but that was about all. He was mi
n cradle speller, and as for doing sur
he one in simple addition was quite II
much for him. Vexed and mOrtiie
f. his father employed some one to gi'
him a little instruction In arithmet
~ in the evening; but now, IS befoI
le Harry would not bend his mind to
Ell It was old and hated ground, and
ID tread over it again was most distasl
3, full to him.