The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1882-12-30
JACK DOANE.

liz was SSNtHtcel, anu JdIleS, 1Ouu-
ger brother, was fifteen, and a remark
ably 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 a mile u from 0iean, where the
boys attended school. They had COM
pleted 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
haye confidence in him. She knew he
was slow, but she had learned that he
could be depended upon. Farmer
Doane had determined that Jack
should 90 to work on the farm. But
Jack possessed e dogged determina-
ton. He had decided to go through
the academy and he enlisted his moth
er to his side, and between them they
prevailed, and the opening of our sto-
| ry sees both boys beginning 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 -mathe-
MATES. He was slow, to be sure, but
he mastered every principle as he went
along. He labored under one great
difficulty in school He could net ez-
plain the principles fluently and cleaI-
". But he could work out the most
intricate problems give him time. He
never gave up. Once he worked two
weeks on a test problem given to the
class, and he resolved it but he never
made it known. He never got the
credit he deserved Often he would
come home with the teachers harsh
words ringing in his ears and his
schoolmate's sneers ranking in his
heart, and found consolation in a
mothers hopeful words,
"Neyer 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 per-
severance and determination. You
are steady, sober, and earnest, and
/ these qualities will bring you through.
Remember the fable Of the hare and
| the tortoise"
And then she would tell him Of en-
inent ounces, such as Sir Isaac New
ton, Sheridan, Goldsmith, Scott, Dean
Swift, Gibbon, Dryden, Shakespeare,
Milton, and Daniel Webster These
were all dull boys in school. They
could not be crammed with knowl-
edge, they had to reason and think
out their conclusions.
And Jack would be comforted and
90 out from his mothers presence with
lifted head and brave heart, resolved
that he would not disappoint her in
anv particular. And SO he plodded
on through the three years, studying
hard and faithfully, and never leaving
lesson until he fairly understood it,
and this, more than anything else,
caused him to fall behind his class, so
that at the end of the course he failed
to pass.
1t was observed in the final examin-
alton that he was perfect up to the
last, not missing a question, but be-
yond this he stood low. His brother
James graduated with great eclat,
however, and went into the office Of
Briggs and Morton to study law. Jack
staid one year more at the academy,
end then graduated, and then came to
the trials of his life.
The day after his graduation he re-
quested his father to send him to the
scientific institute. Mr.. Doane
was astonished.
"I won't do it," he exclaimed, in
anger. You are only fit to be d
farmer, and you have education
enough for that I've spent all the
money [ intend to for four education,
and you might as well settle down on
the farm and go to work. III give
you a good chance"
But this was not Jacks plan. He
had determined his course, nothing
could divert him from it He acquaint-
ed the mother with his intentions,
quietly packed his clothes that night
and the next morning left his home
before any of the family were stirring.
His disappearance caused a nine-day's
talk and then the matter dropped.
Mr.. Doane made no effort to find him,
saying: :. He'll be glad enough to
come back of his own accord" His
mother kept her own counsel, and