The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-03-20
Q, no,
MerriIY O.

~. no!
I'll leave it so,
For the sake of the oriole whose care
In the summer weather hung it there!"
And he shouted louder than ever !" Ho +"
With his puffed-out cheek and feather Of snow
And he started out again to blow.
The Boy Without Genius.
When was little girl, years ago, there was
one book enjoyed exceedingly. It was called
Evenings at Home" by Mrs. Barvauld 1t con-
sisted OF miscellaneous pieces for the amuse-
ment and instruction Of the young, and there
was one chapter, perhaps more than any other.
that made an indelible impression upon my
mind, and I think has been of great value
through life The chapter was called. .The
Boy Without Genius, and the motto that has
helped me thus far over the perplexties of life
this: Whatever man has done man may do" con-
sequently | never like to give up anything that
[ undertake. Suppose, Mr.. Editor we copy
verbatim the story; it may be help to the lit
tie folks especially those that are classed by
parents and teachers as dull scholars. Remem-
Der, children, that this little book of mine is
over 40 years old. I have had it that long. and
the date of publishing is not in it. so | do not
know how old it really u.s. And now. chill
dren, here is the boy without genius
Mr.. Wlseman, the schoolmaster, at the end of
the vacation, received new scholar with the
following letter:
SIR: This will be delivered to you by nv
son Samuel, whom I beg leave to commit to
your care hoping that by your well-known
skill and attention you will be able to make
something of him; which, I am sorry to say,
none OF his masters have hitherto done He is
now Ii, and yet can do nothing but read his
mother tongue, and that indifferently. We
sent him at z to a grammar school III our neigh
bornood, but his master soon found that his
genius was not turned to learning languages.
He was then put to writing, but he set about it
so awkwardly that he made nothing of it. He
was tried at accounts, but it appeared that he
had no genius for that either He could do moth
ing in the way of geography for want of memory.
In short, if he has any genius at ALL it does not
see tit to show itself But trust to your ex-
perience in cases of this nature to discover
what he is fit for, and to instruct him according
ly. beg to be favored with your opinion
shortly, and remain, sir,
Your most obedient servant
"HUMPHREY ACRES"
When Mr.. Wiseman had read this letter, he
shook his head and said to his assistants:
"A pretty subject they haze sent us here!-
lad that has great genius for nothing at all.
But perhaps my friend Mr.. Acres expects that
a boy should show genius for thing before
he knows anything about it, No uncommon
error! Let us see, however, what the youth
looks like. suppose, at least he is a human
being"
Master Samuel Acres was now called in. He
came, hanging down his head, looking as if he
was going to be logged.
Come hither, my dear!" said Mr. Wisenan
Stand by me and do not be afraid. Nobody
will hurt you. How old are you?"
ELEVEN, last May, sir"
"A we'll grown boy of your age, indeed You
love play, I dare say
eyes, sir"
What! are you good hand at marbles?''
"Pretty good, sir"
"And can spin top and drive hoop, sup
pose?"
"Yes, sir"
"Then you have the full use of your hands
and ingers?"
eyes, sir
"Can you write, Samuel?"
81 learned little, but left it off again"
Sand why so?'
Because [ could not make the letters"
No! Why, how do you think other boys
do? Have they more fingers than you?"
"No, sir"
Are you not able to hold pen as well as
marble?"
Samuel was silent
"Let me look at your hands"
Samuel held up both his paws like dancing
bear.
Il see nothing here to hinder you from
writing as well as any boy in the school. You
can read, SUPPOSE"
eyes, sir. +"
school-room door"
Samuel, with some hesitation, said:
Whatever man has done man may do"
"Pray how did you learn to read? Was it
not with taking pains?"
"Yes, sir"
WELL taking more pains Win enable you to
read better. Do you know anything of the
Latin grammar"
"No sir"
Have you never learned it,"
u tried, sir, but could not get it by heart
Why, you say some things by heart l dare
say you know the names of the days of the
week"
"Yes sir, know them"
" And the months in the year ?"
"Yes sir"
Sand the names of your parents, and broth
ers and sisters, and neighbors?"
"Yes sir"
well, is hic, haze, hoe, more difficult to re-
member than these?"
Samuel was silent
Have you learned anything of accounts?"
Il went into addition, sir, but did not go on
with it"
why SOP"
81 could not do it. SIR"
: How many marbles can you buy for a
penny"
I Twelve new ones, Sir.
| And how many for half penny"
six, sir" @@
And how many for two pence?"
twenty
If you were to have a penny day, what
would that make in q week."
Seven pence.
But if you paid two pence out of that, what
would you have left?"
Samuel studied while, and then said, Five
pence"
Right-why, here you have been practising
the four great rules of arithmetic addition
subtraction, multiplication, and division
learning accounts is no more than this. Here
Samuel shall set you about writing, but
what you are able to do; but observe, you
mast do tive can have no can't here"
! Samuel was glad this examination was over
and went among his school-fellows with more
confidence in his powers than ever before.
The next day he began business. Going
ress. He had already joined his letters, got his
j raa,.fcantl5r