Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-01-24

he bore. They were never weary OF
praising him for his unusual "clever-
ness" and seemed to forget that other
could not discern the brilliant elementl
of his character.
Time passed ON until the "future
statesman" came to the mature age OF
five years. His father was a farmer,
and procured an agricultural machine,
which was propelled by steam power.
The boy was allowed to tamper with it,
and when his parents were warned of
the danger, they insisted he had more
sense than half the men in the neigh
borhood, and there was nothing to fear.
What was the result? In an unguard-
ed moment, the child was left in sole
charge of the machine; his right hand
became entangled in the cogs, and had
to be amputated; and he is consequent
" cripple for life.
Had the poor boys parents entertain
ed the sensible opinion that, like other
children of his age, he required to be
kept aloof from danger, this sad calam-
ity would not have happened.
We have painted picture drawn
from actual fact, Of the dire results Of
parental folly in thinking their chill
dren uncommonly "clever." We now
beg the readers indulgence while we
sketch another, where an equally inju-
dicious course was pursued.
In another neighborhood in which
the writer was visiting, lived man to
whom the kind Father had given a
daughter. He was a person of ordinary
abilities and fair requirements. His
fellow Pensioners elevated him to Off
ces of trust, which he filled with credit
and ability. Believing his daughter to
be more than ordinarily endowed with
abilities, he was anxious to have her
become qualified for the responsible and
honorable profession of school teacher.
The truth was, nature had not designed
her for scholar. While this was true,
had less harsh and more reasonable
and judicious course been pursued, the
result might have been less terrible
than it was, although his hopes might
not have been fully realized.
Anxious to comply with her parents
wishes, but yet conscious that she had
no natural capacity for the vocation
chosen, she applied herself with ASST
DUTY, and overtaxed her feeble powers
in order TO qualify herself for the station
selected for her. Often she would re-
turn from school, disheartened and dis
couraged from the fact that, strive as
hard and diligently as she might, she
fell behind the more highly gifted. In
stead of meeting with encouragement
and assistance, she WAS met with re-
Dukes and the severest reprimands.
"You are nothing but blockhead, and
never will know anything" This is but
a specimen of the TRADES of harsh and
unfeeling language 1--WE can call it by
no softer name) that fell upon her ears.
Now mark the consequence.
Instead of giving up, she overtaxed
her powers; and the girl who might
have been a respectable member of So
ciety, has for years, in consequence of
the arrangement finer nervous system.
produced by overtaxing a mind not
naturally over-brilliant, been the victim
of terrible fits and spasms-is perfect
mental imbecile.
We have been induced to write these
statements of facts, hoping that other
paren Is may use them as lessons, and
shun such injudicious courses in the
education of the precious lambs COM
mitted to their care.