Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-10-25
Jack DOane.

Jack Doane had always been considered
dali boy by his teachers, by the neighbors,
and even by his father. He was seventeen,
and James, younger brother, was fifteen,
and remarkably bright boy. His father
destined him for the law, but Jack was to
settle down on the farm. He was only fit
for a farmer. The farm was situated half
mile out from Olean, where the boys at
tended school. They had completed their
studies in the public schools and were now
ready for the academy.
Jack was dull, every one said so-that is,
every one except his mother. She seemed
to understand Jack and to have confidence
in him. She knew that he was slow, but
she had learned that he could be depended
upon. Farmer Doane had determined that
Jack should go to work on the farm. But
Jack possessed logged determination. He
had decided to go through the academy,
and he enlisted his mother on his side, and
between them they prevailed, and the open
ing of our story sees both boys beginning a
three years course-James at the head of
the class and great favorite, Jack at the
foot and regarded as very dull, to say the
least.
Jack excelled in one thing-mathemat
He was slow, to be sure, but he mastered
bored under one great difficulty in school,
and clearly. But he could work out the
most intricate problems, give him time. He
never gave up. Once he worked two weeks
on test problem given to the class, and he
solved it. But he never made it known.
Jack never got the credit he deserved.
Often he would come home with his teach
er's harsh words ringing in his ears and his
schoolmates' sneers ranking in his heart,
and found consolation in a mothers hope
full words.
Never mind, jack" said she "you will
come out all right. The race is not always
to the swift nor the battle to the strong.
You have perseverance and determination.
You are steady, sober and earnest, and these
qualities will bring you through. Remem-
Der the fable of the hare aud the tortoise"
And then she would tell him of eminent
ounces, such as Sir Isaac Newton, Sheridan,
Goldsmith, Scott, Dean Swift, Gibbon, Dry
den, Shakespeare, Milton, and Daniel Web.
ster. These were all dull boys in school.
They could not be crammed with knowledge,
they had TO reason and think out their con-
illusions.
And Jack would be comforted, and go
out from his mothers presence with lifted
head and brave heart, resolved that he
would not disappoint her in any particular.
And so he plodded on through the three
years, studying hard and faithfully, and
never leaving lesson until it was mastered.
He was never content to leave anything
until he fairly understood it, and this, more
than anything else, caused him to fall be-
hind his class, so that at the end of the
course he failed to pass.
1t was observed in the final examination
that he was perfect up to the last year, not
missing question, but beyond this he stood
low. His brother James graduated with
great eclat, however, and went into the
office of Briggs & Morton to study law.
and graduated, and then came the trial of
his life.
The day after his graduation he requested
his father to send him TO the - Scientific
Institute. Mr.. Doane was astonished.
al won't do it |" he exclaimed, in anger.
You are only fit to be farmer, and you
have education enough for that. I've spent
all the money for your education that | in
tend to, and you might as well settle down
on the farm and go to work. III give you
good chance"
But this was not Jacks plan. He had
determined his course, and nothing could
divert him from it. He acquainted his
mother with his intentions, quietly packed
his clothes that night, and the next morning
left home before anyof the family were stir
ring. His disappearance caused a nine
days talk, and then the matter dropped.
Mr.. Doane made no effort to find him, say
ing, "He'll be glad enough to come back of
his own accord" His mother kept her own
counsel, and Jack thought of her with a
lump in his throat, for he knew that the $3.50
he had in his pocket represented the accu-
mulated savings of twenty years of her life.
.
Five years had passed away, and not a
word had been heard from Jack. James had
been admitted to the bar, had settled down
to small practice in Olean, was jolly
good fellow, favorite with the ladies' and
society generally, but the staider citizens
began to whisper that he was getting too
fond of the glass. 1t was only whisper,
and most of the people resented the insinu-
alton. He was still the most brilliant, fas-
cinating member of the bar, and the pride
of Farmer Doane in particular.
The railroad boom had reached Olean,
and citizens plunged recklessly into specula-
ton. Farmer Doane had taken $4,000