Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-09-07
THE Two scIoLARs.

tectlons are centered IN the dumo-Slrl.
THE Two SCHOLARS.
During the wars between Charles i
and tn. Parliament. and when the cause
of the latter was triumphins over that of
the royalist in every direction. Sir Pat
rick Newcastle was one of the magis-
trates specially commissioned to try. as
rebels. all prisoners taken with arms in
their hands.
He was a man of strict moral character,
and undertaking integrity. based on the
only stable fourdation. true religious prin-
ciples. 4 constitution naturally feeble
and sickly had not permitted him TO serve
in the army. but he powerfully aided the
Parliamentary cause by his great talent
and sound jud cement, and was not only
distinguished by Cromwell with peculiar
favor. but was generally respected and
esteemed as the most active. intelligent
and equitable magistrate in the country.
One evening party of friends were as
Sembled at his house in honor of his
birthday. and Sir Patrick was gayly sup
ping with them and his family. when a
body of soldiers. brought in a royalist
whom they had just taken prisoner. Ii
Was an officer. who, after the defeat OF the
kings troops was enleayoring to make
his way to the coast. in the hope of esca-
ping TO France. Sir Patrick ordered him
To be introduced into the room. and Il CO.
yer to be placed for him, courteously invi-
ting him 10 take his place with them at
the board.
This is my birthday" he said. land
must not have it's good cheer marred by
being obliged to act the part of n Judge.
Will you. sir, for few hours try and for
get you are not voluntary guest"
| And it seemed as ii the prisoner had
caught up the good knights tone. and
was willing to play his part both in the
good cheer on the board and the hilarity
around it. for he addressed himself To his
supper with appetite. and to his host and
the guests with cheerful courtesy.
| Sir Patrick now resumed the subject
! from which he had been diverted by the
interruption. As was saying. at If
teen l was such poor, puny creature.
that every one either despised my weak
ness or took advantage of it to trample
upon me. AT home, l was exposed 10
the barshest treatment from a relative
and. between my school fellows and a
severe master was little better off when
| went to Westminster school. Courage
in child is generally little more than
the consciousness of his strength, and my
I weakness rendered me coward, so that
literally lived in continual terror of the
brute force that in some form or other.
was perpctually assailing me. l became
daily more sensitive 10 psiE, and that TO
such degree that perhaps not one here
could conceive. The masters formida-
BILE rod had already twice left me almost
without power to use my hands. and SO
terrible was my recollection OF it that the
mere thought of being again exposed to
its chastiSement, made me tremble from
head to foot.
II told you was pupil Of Westmin-
ster. In my school room the classes were
divided merely by a curtain, which We
were positively forbidden TO touch. One
very hot summers day sleep completely
overpowered me while listening to lee
ture On some passages in Aristotle from
one of the masters. and was quietly do
zIng on the form, when a sudden move
ment in the class awakened me. l star
tied and was about TO fall forward, when
to save myself. caught at the curtain,
and. TO my great CONSERVATION. tore il
d1Wn the middle. For some moments
the teacher. and boys in the two classes
now no longer divided. stood gazing a
each other through the rent. Suspicion
at once fell upon me and another boy. a:
being nearest the curtain when the mis-
chief was done. but my confusion was
too evident TO allow any doubt as to the
culprit. and was angrily ordered to ths
middle of the room. and desired to hold
out my hand for dozen of slaps.
.'lstaggered forward as if l were drunk
with my knees knocking together. and tbs
drops of perspiraIiOn rolling down my
face. while terror so paralyzei my tongue
that. when 1 would have begged for par
don. could not get out word. Alrea
dy was the dreaded instrument of pu
nishment uplifted. when 1 heard the crI
of Hold. do not touch him |. cannO
let him bear the punishment Th'
speaker was the lad whose place in tn
class was at the other side Of the cur
tain. | knew not whether the maste
was indifferent as 10 the real culprit, pro
vided he had some one upon whom 10 In
fiiet Punishment, but certain il is. tha
my deliverer was brought mp and reeeiT
ed round dozen. Ny first impulse wa
to own all. and 10 arrest the unmerIIei
} punishment but my courage fai!ed me-