Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-09-14
THE SECRET.

THE SECHHsV.
Roger Bacon was an English monk who taught
in the University of Oxford more than sixteen
hundred years ago. He was man of great
learning, skilled in Latin, Greek and Hebrew,
but especially fond of chemistry He used to-
spend many hours in each day in one secret
cell in the convent, engaged in some experiment.
While thus employed he had found that char
coal, sulpher and saltpetre, mingled together in
a certain way, would make new and strange
compound; indeed, so strange did this new
compound seem, that the monk himself was al
most afraid of it, and therefore told no one Of
his discovery.
Among the pupils was a youth, who was 50
fond Of study, and so prompt to obey his teach
ers, that he became favorite with all land Rog-
er Bacon would often ask his help in his labra-
tory--a large room where the students were in
structed in chemistry-but never allowed him
to enter his private cell. This youths name
was Herbert de Dreux.
| Sometimes, as Herbert sat studying, or mix
ing medicines in his room, he was startled with
sounds like thunder coming from his masters
private cell-sometimes bright light shone for
moment through the chlnks of the door, then
an unpleasant odor would almost suffocate him.
All these things excited his curiosity; but
whenever he knocked or stroye to enter, Roger
Bacon would sternly bid him attend to his own
affairs, and never interrupt him again. The
door was always kept locked, and every timeth
boy ventured to ask the cause, he was silenoed
by his teachers gruF words and severe looks.
Monthp siiaed away, aad still he eagerly
but vainly sought tolearn the secret At ngth
an opportunity was afforded. Bacon was wide
ly known as good physician and sur
geon. One cold November day he was called to
attend on Walter de Loscly, rich man in the
next town, who had been dangerously hurt
The monk gave all the necessary orders to Her.
bert, and bidding him be careful and put out
the fires and lock the door when he was done, he
set off on his errand of mercy.
Herbert soon finished his task, and was Just
bounding up tho oaken stairway, when an evil
thought came into his mind Roger Bacon is
gone; he will not be back for several hours l
can now find out what he keeps in that dark,
damp CELL" He looks around no one is near
and with. light step aud a beating heart, he
reached the forbidden room. The KEY is not
there, and so there is no hope Of entering; yet
perhaps he might sec something through the
keyhoe, and kneeling he presses his cheek against
the heavy door. 1t opens at his touch; for
Roger Bacon in his haste locked without clos
ing it, and thus the eager boy stands where for
months he had longed to be. In vain he looks
for anything new or strange, and with sad
face is turning away, when his eye falls upon
huge book, whose open page is still wet with
ink from his teachers pen. 1t is written in
Latin, but that is as plain to him as his own
English, and in another moment he has read the
secret 80 long hidden from him.
Now he must try for himself to see if the
mixture is indeed so wonderful. "Ahn' he ex-
claimed-"this yellow powder is the sulphur
this hard and clear substance is the saltpetre,and
this black powder must be the other. Here is
the very bottle my master has used Will mix
it in this and see The fire is not dead in the
furnace few sparks will give heat enough,
and then Herbert de Dreux is as wise as his wis
est teacher.
All the afternoon Roger Bacon had been ben
ding over the sick mans bed he had done all
he could to relieve his suferings; and as night
was coming on, he bade him good bye and set
out for homo. The wind whistled over the
bleak hills, and the monk wrapped his cloak
closer around him and hurried his horse towards
the convent's good shelter. As he .reached the
top of the last hill, Oxford lay before him with
lights twinkling here and there, and its tall
spires rising high. Suddenly q stream of flame
rose from his convent high on the darkened sky,
and in an instant roar loud as the heaviest
thunder burst on the still night, and distinctly
amid this feaIful sound was heard a sharp short
CRY of distress One moment and the whole
convent was on fire. The trembling monk dash.
, cd down the hillside to the scene Of woe. As he
sprung from his horse, q man drew forth from,
the ruins the lifeless form of Herbert de Dreux.
The terrified crowd believed that Roger b.
, con had been practicing witchcraft, and without
> listening to his defense threw him into gloomy
r dungeon, For many years he remained in psis
I on, but at last he was released, and at tho ag'
/. of eighty lay down in death. He wrote hi
' well kept secret in strange words in one Of hi
!, books, and wise men studied long before the,
II could read it, He had discovered how to mak'
gunpowder.
J The terrible explosion in Oxford IN isoz s0e @
not seem strange to us, for we know the wonue.
e faI power of gunpowder; but 20 the ps0pl' .a =
a, Of an evil spirit.--An.- MssseseT'