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What An Apprentice May Become

What An Apprentice May Become image
Parent Issue
Day
19
Month
December
Year
1846
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

What an Apprentice may Become. George Wilson. - A few years since, as the Rev. Mr. Gillaudet was walking in the streets of Hartford there came running to him a poor boy, of very ordinary first sight appearance, but whose fine intelligent eye fixed the gentleman's attention, as the boy inquired, "Sir, can you tell me of a man who would like a boy to work for him and learn how to read?" "Whose boy are you, and where do you live ?" "I have no parents," was the reply, "and have just run away from the work-house because they will not teach me to read." The reverend gentleman made arrangements with the authorities of the town, and look the boy into his family. There he learned to read. Nor was this all. He soon acquired the confidence of his new associates, by his faithfulness and honesty. - He was allowed the use of his friend's library, and made rapid progress in the acquisition of knowledge. It became necessary after awhile that George should leave Mr. Gallaudet, and he became apprenticed to a cabinet-maker in the neighborhood. There the same integrity won for him the favor of his new associates. To gratify his inclination for study, his master had a little room finished for him in the upper part of the shop, where he devoted his leisure time to his favorite pursuits. Here he made large attainments in the mathematics, in the French language and other branches. After being in this situation a few years, as he sat at tea with the family, one evening, he all at once remarked that he wanted to go to France. 'Go to France?' said his master surprised that the apparently contended and happy youth had thus suddenly become dissatisfied with his situation 'for what?' - Ask Mr. Gallaudet to tea this evening,' continued George, 'and l will explain.' His reverend friend was invited accordingly, and at tea time the apprentice presented himself with his manuscripts in English and French, and explained his singular intention to go to France. 'In the time of Napoleon,' said he, 'a prize was offered by the French government, for the simplest rule for measuring plain surfaces of whatever outline. The prize has never been awarded, and that method I have discovered.' He then demonstrated his problem to the surprise and gratification of his friends, who immediately furnished him with the means of defraying his expenses, and with letters of introduction to Hon. Lewis Cass, then our Minister at the Court of France. He was introduced to Louis Phillippe, and in the presence of king, nobles, and plenipotentiaries, the American youth demonstrated his problem, and received the plaudits of the court. He received the prize which he had so clearly won, besides valuable presents from the king. He then took letters of introduction, and proceeded to the Court of St. James, where he took up a similar prize of offered by some Royal Society, and returned to the United States. Here he was preparing to secure the benefit of his discovery, by patent, when he received a letter from the Emperor Nicholas himself, one of whose ministers had witnessed his demonstration at St. James, inviting him to make his residence at the Russian Court, and furnishing him with ample means for his outfit. He complied with the invitation, repaired to St. Petersburg, and is now Professor of Mathematics in the Royal College, under the special protection of the Autocrat of all the Russias! This narrative the writer has never seen published; but the gentleman who related to him the circumstances, attributed the singular success of young Wilson to his integrity ad faithfulness. - N. E. Puritan.