Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-10-27
CHAPTER SECOND

CHAPTER SECOND.
"Ah! who can tell how hard it is to climb
The steep, where Fane's proud temple shine
afar. : s':t M nEat,gs-I - sssih . /
All! who can tell how many q soul sublime, 9gs
Has felt the influence of malignant star, >,
And waged with Fortune an eternal warF' g.
Every apartment in the Academy was
brilliantly illuminated. Bright lamps and
bright eyes were blended. Bright girls,
robed in flowing white, fitted gaily round,
or stood thoughtiully leaning against coll
umn, or conyersed togeiher. earnestly and
low. Young men and lads mingled in the
sisfo1g, while hope and fear and red and
paic, seemed struggling for the mastery.
Gayest among them ell, was Harry Mel
vile. Elegant and costly apparel set off
his fine figure; his cheek was flushed with
anticipated triumph, and with a smile for
one, and a word or q Jest for another, he
passed around, the entire circle, and the
eyes Of many q girl and less successful
comrade followed him admiringly. But
there WIS one there, clad in the neat but
worn habiliments of a poor student, bit of
blue ribbon, the badge of the society to
which he belonged, Auttering from a but
tonhoIe Of his coat, tied there in true love-
knot, by the fingers Of mother; partly
hidden by n ncolumn, he sat by table, his
head resting upon his hand. It was the
widows son. Pale almost Us the pillar
that rose beside him, he seemed lost in
thought, and unconscious Of the gay scene
that revolved like fairy waltz around him.
sL'll ask him at oil events; there can be no
harm in that. Charles! Charles Brooks!
wake up--you are wanted. 1t was the
voice Of Harry Melville, and there was
IN air of contempt, sort Of assumed supe-
riority in the tone, that cannot be descri-
bed; .ah! you'd it could not be felt! A
bright. spot glowed for on instant on the
cheek of the widows son, as he heard, his
name thus ,rudely and almost exultingly
called by flisrival. Harry late, had con-
ceoled, his fear Of Charles under SEM
blance of naughty coldness or sort of
lofty, patronizing air, that required oil the
consciousness Of worth that poor Charles
could command to enable him to treat his
ungenerous competitor with quiet dignity.
Rising from the seat he had occupied,
Charles advanced into the middle Of the
room, where stood Harry surrounded by a
group Of friends. "Here he comes," cried
one, and Harry moving step or two,
caught glimpse of the ribbon and ex-
claimed. .sho! no! a badge already and q
fancy knot tool Who tied it, pray? Your
grandmother! and the heartless being laugh
ed, and the thougbtless listeners laughed
too, all but Frances, and she looked grave
almost sad. "My mother tied it, Harry
Charles quietly replied; sit is the best can
afford, for you know, | am Widows SON."
His voice trembled very little, and but
for heightened color he was perfectly
calm. The laugh was hushed in a mo-
ment, but Harry nothing daunted, with a
perseverance worthy Of q better cause con-
tinued; swell, my badge here" holding out
q splendid ribbon of blue satin, with silver
| star appended to it, ssis not yet adjusted,
and the question arose as to who should DO
it. Nv awkward fingers can't, that's Ger.
tain, and just at this juncture, the happy
thought suggested itselfso some one, that a
lady might do it; in fact that Miss Brooks
might do the thing gracefully, and as only
one little doubt remained, we have called
upon you to solve it,
"What is it?" asked Charles.
ssOnly' this" answered his tormentor
laughing, 'swhether you have aught to say
why the said Frances should not adjust this
bit of silk upon the breast of its worthy
owners coat-one star upon another 0y the
fingers of an angel" and having concluded
this rude and altogether cruel speech, a
waited the reply.
81 do not know why should be subjected
to insult Harry, have | ever injured you
Have returned taunt for taunt? True
am guilty Of a crime, a foul crime'-tht
auditors were startled at the manner ant
the words of the youthful speaker; every
eye turned towards him-"God has made
me poor. This is a grispoas stain upor
nay reputation, in the sight of christian
world, but thank God, the stain touches
not my heart: 1t beats as free and full a
though its owner were the possessor Of
J off, Nv oodland Height was upon hi
} lips, but he said it not, ''of millions; an'
poor as am, with none in the wide wor
10 care for me but an aged mother, yet
am not poor in feeling nor poor in hope
hope, not that may be among the caress
} ed and honored of the world, but that shall
one day see my mother in a quiet; little
home of her own, procured by the exer
: tons of her son-if can do this, | shall
bear patiently, yes, almost joyfully, tn
: contempt of those who are my suPeriors IL
f all things save the po,rer 10 suffer-" i
tear trembled in his eye, and not in his only
, for other cheeks were wet, TO their homo
, be it said, and turning towards Frances h
, added, tsto you Iappeal-to you ! comm
: nv cause. You have sometimes brighten
J, ed the being of the widows son, with
. smile; it might have been a careless ont
a but it was pure and welcome rs the light
3 heaven; it has come to me amid the sneer
9 and the SCOTS of the many, and here in thl
I last hour Of our school-days, l thank yo
!. for those smiles. and words of kindnes:
It Wherever you are, the prayer of the fail
0 erless shall be with you." He ceased on
It leaving the group resumedehis seat by tn
. table. Even Harry was covered as in tn
;, presence of superior being. The le
IS died upon his lips; he had been humbled
n the midst of his piory and from that m