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her! Rising from hiVVeat, he deter
mined to prove himself innocent.—■
His face was very pdJe, when he
again met the stern look of the Pre
sident.
“ Sir,” said Walter firmly! “have
you ever known me to utter a false*
'hood?’'
“Never/’ was the answer, in the
President’s hollow voice.
“ Then, believe rhe when I tell you
I don’t know how that fruit came
here. Send for Ernest, it may be he
does, though I don’t believe it,” said v
Walter—his face coloring again.
Ernest was already in the hall, and
was as much surprised as Walter; to
hear the object of the visit of the in
truders. The President was satisfied
of their innocence, and enjoined se
crecy on all present, with a promise
that he would sift the matter tho
roughly. t He knew the offenders
would commit themselves; and re*,
solved to watch.
As Ernest was coming in from the
grove that morning, he saw and re*
cognized two of his classmates stand
ing on a back street, opposite his and
Walter’s room. After breakfast, he
and Walter were talking about the
unfortunate affair, and he spoke of
seeing the boys, calling their names.
“ You saw them there !” said Walter.
“1 know they are bitter enemies of
mine, but ——” Ho stoppod as if re
proaching himself for thinking they
could be guilty of so toW aw-act—Mj
“ they were only taking a walk.”
“ Taking a walk that early !” said
Ernest, “ and so far from their board
ing house —on that back street I Bes
they were not walking, but
f Standing still, looking toward our
room!”
“Let’s not think of that, Ernest, I.
have no idea that they knew any
thing about the fruit,” replied Walter.
“ But look there !”—pointing to the
clock —“’tistime we were preparing
for recitation.”
It was but two days after the fruit
was found in Walter’s room, that a
member of the College overheard the
two boys, who did steal the fruit,
confess to a third who was no better
than they, and also heard their foul
motive. They were reported, and
very soon summoned before the
President. After a faithful lecture
on man’s mutual duties and responsi
bilities, and the sin of theft. One of
the boys was dismissed ;, and the
good old man, closing the door again,
with a voice trembling with emotion
begun,
“ Mr. Harcourt, I am much pained
at your reckless course, since you
have been a member of this institu
tion. Why is it that you allow the
baser part of your„ nature to crush
out your nobler being? Why is it
that you spurn your better angel and
make yourself a reprobate ? Reflect
sir. Abuse your powers no more.—
THE. GEORGIA CuSSHH '
~ ~
Thin k va mng't. Few pos
sess srf®. .fajiier has wealth,
position aria Tbfljjefccq,. His hdftes
are centered on, ye%’ Shall I speak
orjgpr can attest her
wofth, and
affection for hq£ only son. Will you
breakAvour mothers t heart,
tt»yfc!rs of your
father ?^Wili' ydu trliVple under
foot the noble endowment given you
by God, debasing it grime, and
scofffngly .drive away inestimable
blessin JP an and ploas ur e s yc h ieh’w ou 1 and
acerue lo you from its peeper appro*
ciation and cultivation ?” Sfe ceased
Edwafd Harcourt gave»fio evi
dence that he heard this appeal, live
an emphatic humph L when his
parents were mentioned. §
The President reported the result
of the interview, and advised 'expul
sion ; as ho thought Harcourt jsoiit
terly hardened, that Neither he nor,
the institution woulff be benefitted by
bis remaining. After somo timo for
deliberation, the Faculty concluded
to request Mr. Harcourt to take Ed
ward home. Accordinglythe Secre
tary wrote to the father to come for
the son. ~
When r Walter heard it rdpßHed
throughout the College tkat Edw’krd
was to be expelled, he forgot his own
injuries, and pleaded with the Presi
dent in Edward’s bejhjdf. But while
the old gentleman admired Walter’s
magnanimity, he told him his pjga
could avail nothing; for the Faculty
bad already decided upon she best;
course. Edward met Walter on the
street, a day or two Inter, the oeo}||||
rences above mentioned, ana insulted
him grossly. Walter passed on qui
etly, without deigning to notice the
insult. Edward followed the manly
youth, and said to him menacingly
“Sir, it shall be Jkfc business of my
life to thwart you.”
“I entertain for your threats, no
fears; and for their author, no feel
ing but pity. My contempt can’t
reach you,” replied Walter calmly.
Edward was so enraged, that he
drew a pistol and fired. The ball en
tered Walter’s left arm, just above
the elbow, making a severe flesb
wound. The dastardly Edward, see
ing the blood flow freely, and not
knowing the nature of the wound,
turned and fled. Walter was accom
panied to his room by a
and several friends. His kind host
ess nursed him carefully, and he was
soon able to resume his studies.
Nothing elso occurred to disturb
the quiet routine of College life, until
the annual Commencement exercises.
[To be Continued .]
...Three things to pray for—Faith,
peace and purity of heart.
Three things to contend for—Hon
or, country and friends.
Three things to govern—Temper,
tongue and conduct.
Nat: &lij fond of solitude, I have
often»fip*fbred away tp read and to
think jidone. Before going to college,
I anywhere and everywhere
over i.“ Forest Farm.” But cn •
■ ! urffibgliomo at the heginingd my j
for «jj&nsteings a quiet retreat oo the'!
river y^plr ; %qtttid : -a'rou rid the South - I
n panfof the plariWtion. It was a
eharmwg spot, favored wit.
snrrojjjpihgs as made it peculiarly
attrajipd to a medi tativetni
' < />r .••st «~ ■„,aiT r
l>own near the banks of
tiful r&Cr was a large flat hidss-eov
ere<s-sck, resting on the verge of a
it lay gasped securely by
the fnpka of two large oaks. Below
was a deep ravine which conducted
thrattj|h its dark bod a crystal brook
let Went gurgling on to the
Around was a dense forest’of
allowed no ray of sunshine
to penetrate the perpetual shade that
lingmjpd there. One end of the rock
projected oyer the precipice; and to
romance to the place I
calh&f it u Lovers Leap,” and was ac
custhmed to append't&e story which
always accompanies that name.
After an early breakfast I took my
gun and a Yol. of Macaulay, thinking
as I picked up the Vol. that I would
hui^i a While on/tbe river am«l return
o my frivorite resort. Thqmorning
lysoftaouthem.
breeze scarcely rufifed YlnHblades of
till Ween corn; a few white clouds,
#e.| as the imagination of childhood
into the angelic forms
of departed dear ones, floated lightly
On the upper ass ; aiM farcin
tance, through the brightness of the
sunlight, the sky put on its deepest ?
cerulean blue. It was a morning to
elevate the spirits; the voice of bird,
the lowing of cattle, the song of plow
man, and the noise of failing waters
made up the medley of nature; and
I felt while strolling leisurely along
that I too was becoming unusually
cheerful.
But as I entered the dark roads
from the open field my eyes became
blinded and it seemed that a sudden
night came over me—not a night of
sorrow or disappointment, but a night
for beautiful dreams. For instead of
placing the book on the rock and
going down the river, as I had inten
ded, I sat down and began to dream
—looking away into the misty dis
tance and giving beautiful colors to
my high aims and youthful hopes.—
Involuntarily I laid down on tbo rock
and pillowed my head with the
book. Picture after picture had been
formed until the gathered group
formed a panoramic scene of my life.
Finally my mind as if weary with
its own creations, became dull and I
fell asleep.
How long I slept I do not know.
I T*1 p \
spring up whlb my presence ©f mind
reminded me—awfui thought !—that
bfco move was to die. The slimy ssqn-
Hpra&rtcd at md bis firy tongue, and
pfevated bis head as if preparin'g'td
strike ray bosom with his poisoned
fangs. I saw my imminent danger,
and with porfect-control of my nerves
remained motionless. He again
lowered his bead and rested it cold
% •
and deathlike upon my body.
If the chill of death had been on
me 1 could not have been "more
alarmed. Yet my reason did net
desert mo, and awajie to the impulse
which always arises when fear comes
I prayed most fervently. e
Without any visible mcafls of es
cape 1 remained almost breathless.—
I carried a revolver in my bosom and
my gun leaned within my reach on
the rock, but I dare not move a
muscle—what was I to do? My
whole life come crowding back in a
moment. The rush of blood to my
head quickened my memory and my
past history was spread out before
me—follies that I had forgotten, evil
thoughts, unguarded words and sins
that I little dreamed would be recor
ded against me, came back with my
abused powers and wasted time to
*tnake me utterly wretched. I saw the
naked defoymities and, uneoiiCai*j4B "
depravity of my own, heart as I
never viewed it before. And I
thought of the beautifSl hopes which
tyut a few hoprs dgo krigbiened' my
future. What*'mockeries did- they
|seemnow,l I vowed that if Ifeliv-
I would change my life. J
promised pay Maker that if He would
take mo from the coils of that dead
ly serpent I would pledge ray fife to
his service.
After that vow a change came pyj>r
me—a feeling of security began to .
dispell the gloom of despair Wmcb
liadjust fathered around me. I was
soon to be free. A rat ran along tne
edge of the rock and the hungry rep-
tile raised again his ugly head and
began to release my leg from hjs
painful clasp. My heart beat high
as 1 felt his cold touch pass off of my
body. I sprang to my feet and
seized my gun. The venomous mon
ster that had held me in such terri
ble awe threw himself into a coil,
and hissing vcnganco shook his rat*
ties in a most menacing manner, I
fired both barrels of my fowling
piece, and saw with inexpressible
delight the writhings of his mutila
ted body. Drawing the revolver
from ray bosom I discharged half its
contents and saw him die. Oh 1 ven
gance, -how sweet when wreaked
upon a deadly enemy !!
I did not forget my vow, kneeling
down 1 thanked God and renewed
the pledge to devote my life to his
service, in promoting the good of my
fellow man. li.
3