Year: 1859

|
his boy to become a mathematician
he was pursuing the very course tc
prevent such Il result Instead of en-
deavoring to make the study interest
ing to the child, he was making it ob.
nOxious.


The dinner hour came, and Samuel
had not worked out the sum. His IA
ther was angry, and obliged the boy
to go without his dinner, at the same
time telling him that he was an idle,
lazy child.


Poor Samuel left the kitchen, and
there he sat and cried At length his
mind seened to pass from the wrong
he had suffered at the hand of his pa
rent, and took another turn, and the
marks Of grief left his face. There
was large fire in the room below his
chamber, so that he was not very
cold, and getting up he went to a
small closet, and from beneath lot of
old clothes he took forth some long
strips Of wood and commenced whit
| ting. 1t was not for mere past time
| that he whitfield, for he was fashioning
some curious affair from those pieces
of wood. lie had bits of wire, little
scraps of tin plate, pieces of twine,
and dozens of small wheels that he
made himself, and he seemed to be
working to get them together after
some peculiar fashion of his own.


Half the afternoon had thus passed
away, when his sister entered his
chamber. She had her anron gathered
up in her hand, and after closing the
door softly behind her, she approached
the spot where her brother sat


Here, Sammy-scc, have brought
you something to cat. | know you
must be hungry"


As she spoke, she opened her apron
and took out four cakes, a large piece
of pie and some cheese. The boy
was hungry, and he hcstatcd not to
avail himself Of his sisters kind Of
fer He kissed her as he took the
cakes, and thanked her.


"Oh, what pretty thing that is
you are making 2" uttered Fanny. as
She gazcd upon the result of her broth
er's labor. Wont you give it to me
after it is done -


" Not this one, sister," returned the
boy, with Il smile, "but as soon as |
get time | will make you one equally
as pretty"


Fanny thanked her brother, and
shortly afterwards left the room, while
the boy went on with his work.


Before long, the various materials
that had been subject to Samucl's jack
knife and pincers had assumed form
and comcliness, and they were joined
and grooved together in curious
manner.


The embryo philosopher set the ma,
chnc-tor it looked like machine
upon the floor and then stood off aand
gazed on it. His eye CLEANED with a
peculiar show of satisfaction, and he
looked proud and happy. While he
stood and gazed upon the child OF his
labors, the door of his chamber opened
and his father entered.


What-are you not studying ?"
exclaimed Mr.. Winthrop, as he noticed
the boy standing in the middle of the
floor.


Samuel trembled when he heard his
fathers voice and turned pale with
fear


Ha, what is this ?" said Mr.. Win
throp, as he caught sight of the curl
Gus construction on the floor. " This
is the secret of your idleness Now |
see how it is you cannot master your
studies. You spend your time in
making play.houses and fly-peus. I'll
sec whether you will learn to attend
to your lesson OF not. There !"


AS the father uttered this common
injunction, he placed his foot upon the
object of his displeasure The boy
uttered quick cry, and sprang for.
ward, but too late. The curious con-
struction was crushed to atoms-the
labor of long weeks. Looking at the
mass of ruins, and then covering his
face with his hands, he burst into
tears.


"Ain't you ashamed ?" said Mr.
Winthrop, "a great boy like you to
spend your time in making clap traps,
and then cry about it, because choose
that you should attend to your studies.
Now go to the barn and help Jerry
shell corn


The boy was too full Of grief to
make any explanation, and without Il
word he left his chamber, but for long
days he was weary and down-hcarted


Samuel" said Mr.. Winthrop, one
day, after the spring had opened, Il
have seen Mr. Young and he is will
ling to take you as an apprentice.
Jerry and can get along on the farm,
and | think that the best thing you
can do is to learn the blacksmitll's
trade. | have given up all hopes of
ever making a surveyor out of you,
and if you had farm you would not
know how 10 measure or lay it out.
Jerry will now soon be able to take
my place as surveyor, and | have al
ready made arrangements for having
him sworn and taking his commits
sion. But your trade is good one
however. and have no doubt you will
be able TO make a good living at it,"
Mr.. Young was a blacksmith in q
neighboring town, and he carried on
quite an extensive business. More
over, he had the reputation of being a
very fine man. Samuel was delighted
with his fathers proposal, and when
he learned that Mr.. Young also carried
on quite . large machine shop he was
in ecstacics. His trunk was packed
"a good supply of clothes having
been provided and after kissing his
mother and sister, and shaking hands
with his father and brother. mounted
the stage and set off for his new des-
tination.


He found Mr.. Young all he could
wish, and went into his business with
AL assiduity that surprised his mas
ter.