Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1832-07-25
E-SC5s-ssls-ANE SUS.
MY LAST PUPIL.
Author of the "Domanie's Legacy"
BY ANDREW PICKEN.

independent portIoner OF BalgoWnle brae, IN the
West of Scotland, and when l was nothing but
an obscure Dominic, although licensed minis
of the kirk of Scotland,l and earning my bit of
bread by communicating the rudiments of that
learning, which never was the making of my own
fortune, to young men for the making of theirs,
that the first part of my experience was obtained
in the ways of this wicked world
At that time, the obtaining of good and re-
spectacle pupil, who could pay the school wages
punctually at the quarters end, or even the half
year, was, as may be supposed, always pleas
ant and comforting event to me; and not only
labored diligently to prepare the minds of my
young friends for the world, with which they
were one day destined to grapple, but it was my
way to follow them, after l had dispensed them
from nv hands, with eyes of interest and affec-
ton, wherever could trace them throughout the
various properties and adversities which it is the
lot of man to encounter on this side of time. If
were to tell all the stories that could narrate
of nv pupis-and how the world tossed them to
and fro during my own life-and how some be-
came good, and others declined into evil, notwith
staining all the godly preceps that delivered to
theui-the world would be very much instructed
thereby Blu as he world cares little for instruc-
ton, but only for pleasure and amusement, will
withhold them all, excepting only the history of
likely hat no one will take half so much interest
as niYself
Well one long afternoon, when my head was
quite moidered with the weary din of the school,
was so confused and Supplied that l never so
much as heard the noise of carriage, which,
with prancing horses and real postIIlion, actual
~ stopped at my poor door Down went the steps,
with such a clatter that made ali my scholars run
10 the windows in spite of my utmost authority,
and out came fine lady, and an elderly gentle-
man; and after them smart lad hoped from the
coach, whom native sagacity at once led me to
appreheRd to be my own trusted pupil.
The preliminaries were settled between the pa
rents and myself in five minutes after we had all
been convened in my best apartment. But with
the mere pounds and particulars, my business was
not quite ended: and began to look in the face
of my pupil, and of those who accompanied him.
was not so ignorant Of this worlds vanity as
not to know that there must have been some 9TH
er reason besides the fame of my own character
and qualifications that should bring sHch grand
people to my country domicie. My surmise
was justified by further appearances. There is
something painful in all ncongruites. The la
dy Was not yet-more than five and twenty, and l
scarce had ever seen prettier woman. The gen.
tleman bordering on fifty, but his look indicated
a mixture of sensuality, Scottish breed, good ma
ture, and imbeeiiiiy. Yet though the lady was
pretty, even to fascination, | could not say that
she wholly commended herself to my approval
i knew not then whether it natural evitv
or a sort of broken hearted reck,essnes, that in
fuenced her, as if from the habitua conscious
ness OF having thrown away, by one ACT, all LIES
happiness, and most of IFS virtues; hut the man.
ner in which she handed over her child to nv
care, though atfectionate to extravaganza, was
not such as l should expect from staid and SEN
sible parent. With all this here was, even about
the carriage and the ady's habiliments, some
thing that bespoke the motives which had brought
them to an obscure seminary, and that without
indication of what ought to have accompanied
them. As for the boy, Henry, was not wrong
in Judging him to be the best of the groupe. He
was as pretty as his mother, and more manly than
his father. Why need dwell on particulars D.
he became my pride. and the pride of my school
How instructed my dear and interesting pu-
pill, Henry Fairly, for the several years that he
soiourned in my humble dwelling, g. how taught
him all manner of heather learning, as IS the fash
ion, and delivered to him many counsels regard
ing the affairs Of the world into which he was
about to enter, as is not the fashion-and how
talked with him in the field, and by the way, Of
all that men should aim at in the perplexities Of
this world, and all that they should eschew in the
midst of temptations--and now the thoughtful
youth hung upon my words and reciprocate1 m,
inferences--it is nnt(or me with any boasiing /.
detail. But before he had quite finished his me
with me, behold a letter came hastily to my hands.
ordering him home with all speed, for that ali
things here were in great disorder and his moth.
er in a diving state. saw that the time was nov
come when he was to go forth to the world, being
the real prop and hope of his family, and that a
my couusels were to be put to the proof VIII
need tell how we parted, or with what blessings
I blessed him at the little green end before m,
do'r9 My pupils have always been to me the
promised seed of my pains taking and my purpo-
ses, and even, may say, of the wishes of my
own heart-albeir, that ne'er had child of my
own. =
1t did not fall in my way to learn aught au.
chemically of Henry Fairly for some considera-
bic time. At length journeyed to the city
where he had gone to live, but the house towhich
\ had been directed was all shut up and altered
i could hear nothing regarding him such as
wanted to know, and just was stepping into
the coach to leave town, broken down looking
man, in deep mourning, passed me, leading tw
pale girls, in the same sombre dress, the former
of whom scarcely recognised as the gentleman
who. with wife by his side, had visited me in