Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1852-04-10
CHAPTER II.

ties OF life, ! had learned TO place a iuster
estimate upon wisdom and human folly. l
had learned, too, TO withhold censure upon
human weaknesses and errors, from the
conviction that perfection is not one of the
attributes Of our mortality. | had learned
that the splendid visions of youth were new
pr fully realized that was not TO find hu-
man nature as perfect as had anticipated :
and ] had also learned TO draw the veil of
charity over the common errors of men, TO
bear patiently with their faiIings and their
folIes, and TO strive TO make them better.
Years had elapsed, have said, since the
morning of our parting in the old college
yard, aud our next meeting was upon the
steps Of the hall OF entrance into the medi-
cal department OF the University of Penn
sylvania. il was by strange coincidence
that it so happened. | had gone there to
attend the lectures Of the distinguished men
who conduct that renowned institution, for
The purpose of better qualifying myself 10
discharge the duties OF new position TO
which bad been raised while LaIor came
from the sunny South, and far away,
whittier had been his residence. From the
day Of our parting until that day, neither
had heard Of the other; and, but for the
remarkable shape Of his chin, which pro-
jeCted forwards Ike an advanced guard to
his nose, and the peculiar step, which could
scarce ba imitated-for the foot came flat
upon the ground, and, in progression, was
gradually Y raised from the heel 10 the Toe,
presenting "A resemblance TO the -ising and
falling Of an approachlngs wave ; bat for
these pecuilaritles, he might have passed
me- unrecognized, so changed was he. The
ruddy hue OF health had departed from his
face, and tie white hairs mingling with the
black, as they slrayed over his hollow tenn
pies, indicated middle age yet his form
was upright as ever, and his tall, command
ing person, his broad and full forehead and
eagle eye, would cause him TO be observed
among the distinguished young men who
yearly throng the halls Of the first medical
school in America.
Arm in arm, we entered the lecture
room. The celebrated Professor Chairman
was lecturiuy on the diseases of the brain
and nervous system. As he proceeded TO
unfold his subject, and dwelt upon the d.
agnosis and prognosis, detailing the treat
ment OF mental diseases when there is hope
of restoration, the rapt attention. the eager
gaze, the hali-open mouth of nv conpan-
ion evinced how carefully he was trcasur-
ing up every word. But, when the lectu-
rer laid down the indications which shut
out hope, which determine that the light
OF the intellect has gone out forever, and
'ha' oarNneSS envelopes the SOUL LaiorS
coontthahce oeca'ne pare as ufa.n' ana ne
tle'l c ''eu iihe an aspen 'eal ~" = { was
liAeu, a"o n'S vacant stare "ou!d make one
Greau 'ha' MS own NINA was aHTcted oy
ueIsnS7IneH'' Ia, 4" nth 'ne nonr nau cap
seu' "e was eViuen',y u"ao'e 10 a''eI'u '''e
ieI'utf ol Tue neN' r'ptFSSoF' ana we went
u"' 'or S'roI' upon ChtS'hut 9'rcet ana
Gown ic, 10 '''e D1Ia"are' EVeh Tue ir' 81 air
oiu ho' revive nlin; ana the ouSy throngs'
dS '"eS nUt''eu d'o"S' 80 d""oEeu "'''' mat
a'ler Wa!"inS iva or t''ree squares we re, re-
lu'ns" 10 ms ooi'O''S,tDuS9' ne was ''l'
""u 10 my inquiry -" "a| was ,"e MAJ
!e' : lie merely reP''Pu, u VIII De oet'eT
''-'norto"' ana tHTH / nave Ihuch 10 yen
y you o' nay HE since IaIt you saw me- Oh
oDI''4u''' "U"'n 10 uou nau io'lo"gI ",
your aoEice now ihuCn OF misery "ouia
l nave O'eh spared bu' II Is now 100
ia'e ana cIaSP'hg ms hahdS over MS
eyes lie "'P' Ike d CHIC
Next day | went early to see him; he
was better able 10 relate to Inc the follow
Ing -
"When." said he II parted forever from
our dear, dear old mountain home, I return
ed to nv fathers house. I soon became
aware that | must hew out my own path
way through life. and that, too, without a
hope that one h .lping hand would be
extended to nv aid, when the heat Of the
day or the toll might oppress me. / de-
parted thence without Bidding my father
gooI-by but. as | left the old homestead,
and stood upon the summit Of the last hill
where | m,gh, OBTAIN the fare well view
o III, abode of my childhood, the mem
ories of nv youth opened the heart that
had been scared against my father, and
while the tears filled my eyes, I turned
them from that scene heavtnward 10 the
happy dwelIing-place OF my departed mo-
tber. and prav.d to her TO watch anc
direct the loo,seps of her more than or.
phaned son. Had Providence spared bel
! -. .l:G,,r. ,,o,,ll boyo boa, ~,