Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1843-10-26

! SOI'CEC uuLICSS all lnC SLuUcHlS "GtO uSSCII.
bled on the green, and the opportunity was
taken to offer Willet the proposed insult
The manner of beginning it, was merely to
.jOstle him so hard as to throw him over
This was, of course, observed by all, and Tho
two parties instantly became excited TO see
| the result.
| THAT was done on purpose +! cried one.
yes, it was; for saw it = said another.
KNOCK him down. exclaimed third.
| He's too much Of coward for that
Green said confronting him, and grinning
| in his face with malicious, angry grin.
Did you do it on purpose 2 asked Harvey.
in a calm tone of voice, looking the young
man steadily in the face.
Yes, did, was the reply. sAnd now
dare you to resent it,
But why did you do II, John have inju-
red you in any way, and refused 10 make
reparation!'
Il did it to see If YOU were man enough
to resent it, Green said, in sneering tone.
'That seems to me TO be very poor rea-
son. JOHN
knock him down, Harvey 7? cried out
one of the company. inerrupting Willet.
knock him down. exclaimed a third.
Hes afraid = burst out fourth, with a
provoking, contemptuous laugh.
Il dare you to resent it, Green repeated,
pushing his face almost into that of the in.
suited student.
Some who stood near saw the hand Of
WilIet clench suddenly, and his arm trem.
Bile, as if the impulse to strike the other
were flowing down intoit. But the struggle
in his mind was brief, and he controlled him.
self.
You are mean spirited, cowardly, pup
py!' Green now said, his face red with evil
and uncomfortable passions. And dis.
grace you before the whole callege.
And as he said this, he advanced toward
Willet with his hand extended, and an ex-
preston of determination on his face.
But his purpose, whatever it was, he did
not execute. There was something in the
stern, fixed, resolute countenance OF Willet's
eve, that he could not understand, and that
the real coward in his own heart dared not
encounter.
MEAN spirited coward! he contented
himself with saying. with his own face close
into that of Willets.
Let him alone, Green, he Is dlsgraced
enough several voices exclaimed.
yes let him alone,' passed through the
circle. Even those who had perceived the
true nature of the manly struggle in WiIlet's
mind, were too much under the power of the
opposing sphere into which they had been
drawn, to acknowledge il, even to them.
selves, much less to speak n word in favor
of one whose very truth Of principle had
subjected him 10 a base and unmanly perse-
cution. But as the excitement of their feel
ings died away, there were not n few to ad-
miro, secretly, and some TO venture an ex.
preston, of the dignitied frmness with
which Harvey had borne the wanton insults
which had been heaped upon him; even
while there was not a voice of encourage.
ment lifted, nor word uttered in his favor.
If Green had dared to lay his hands on
him, he would have found the lamb changed
into lion,' one ventured at length TO re.
mark.
Yes said another, '1saw by his eye, and
what Is more, Green saw it too, that it any
violence were offered to him, he would
have defended himself to the last
At is ccrtain,' another remarked, that in
all his department, Harvey is CONSISTENT
If he does not join us in our tricks to annoy
the faculty, he does not unmasked, become
an informer.'
Yes, but if he knew, and were asked, he
would not conceal the TRUTH broke in one,
with something of indignant warmth.
.And would you blame him for Itat?'
Certainly would from my very heart
despise an informer. would die before I
would become evidence against compan-
| ion.'
you andhe have learned your morals in
different schools was the reply. 'IIowev.
er might fail 10 act up to his high sense of
right and wrong, | cannot but admire his
fearless consistency Of conduct. There is
not another in the whole institution who
could have stood up rs he did when all were
opposed to him, and the infection Of corpo.
real punishment threatened TO be added 10
the disgrace that was thought to be in0ict.
ed
That's all very pretty. But I don't be-
lievc word of his moral courage. 1t was
mean timidity that prevented his joining us,
and sheer cowardice that kept him from
knocking John Green down. Why, would
have fought him until had died had he in
suited me as he did Harvey Willet.'
Thus there continued two parties. One
fully in The belief that Harvey was a COW.
ard and mean. spirited and The other more
than persuaded that the opposite was the
truth.
/: was about month after the exciting
event just recorded, that the inhabitants of
the quiet village where stood the literary in
stituiion to which Harvey was attached. were
aroused by the startling cry Of" fire." Ev.
cry student of course repaired to the scene
of destruction. The building which was on
fire was dwelling house. and large por-
ton of il was envelopcd in flames when the
great body of students arrived, among near
ly the first on the spot.
Just at this moment every heart was thrill
cd by the appearance Of a mother. with her
three ch ildren, emerging from the burning
house. The poor woman looked about her
with bewlldered air, her face deeply pale,
and terror sitting upon every lincament.
Where is janet she suddenly exclainl-
cd, as the sympathizing crowd without gath.