The Port Gibson reveille. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 185?-1857, 1854-08-09
The Secret.

than SIX hundred years ago. He was a man
Of great learning skilled in Latin. Greek and
Hebrew. but especially fond Of chemistry.
He used to spend many hours each day in
one Of the secret cells Of the convent. enga-
ged In some experiment. While thus en-
ployed, be had found that sulphur, charcoal
aud saltpetre, mingled together 10 a certain
way, would make q new and strange com.
pound indeed, so strange and dangerous did
this new compound seem. that the monk him
self was almost afraid Of it. and therefore told
no one of his discovery.
Among the pupils was q youth who was 50
fond cf study. and SO prompt TO obey his teach.
ers, that be became favorite with all, and
Roger Bacon would often ask bis help in his
labratory--a large room where the students
were instructed in chemistry but he never
allowed him 10 enter bis private cell. This
youths name was Hubert de Dreux.
Sometimes as Hubert sat reading or study.
ing. or making medicines in this larger room,
be was startled with sounds like thunder
coming from bis masters apartment; some.
times bright light shone for moment thro'
the chinks Of the door. then an unpleasant
odor would almost sufocate him.
All these things excited bis curiosity; but
whenever be knocked or strove 10 enter, Ro.
ger Bacon would sternly bid him TO attend
70 bis own Affairs. and never again interrupt
him. The door was always kept locked, and
every time the boy ventured TO ask the cause
be was silenced By his teachers gruff words
and severe looks.
Months glided away. and still he eagerly
but vainly sought to learn the secret. AZ
length an opportunity afforded. Roger Bacon
was widely known as physician and surgeon
One cold November day be was called TO at.
tend on Walter de Losely. rich man in the
next town, who had been dangerously hurt
The monk gave all the necessary orders tc
Hubert, and bidding him to be careful q
put out the fires and lock the door when be
vas done, be started on his errand Of mercy
Hubert soon finished bis task. and was just
bounding up the oaken stairway, when an
evil thought came into bis mind. Roger
Bacon is gone be will not be back for seve
sal hours; can now find what keeps him 50
much in that dark, damp CELL" He looks
anxiously around; no one is near. and with a
light step and beating heart, be reaches the
forbidden room. The key is not there. and
so there is no hope Of entering yet perhaps
be may see something through the key-hole
and kneeling, he presses bis cheek against
the heavy door. Il opens at bis touch, for
Roger Bacon. in bis haste, bad locked without
closing It, and thus the eager boy stands where
for months be had longed TO be. In vain he
looks for anything new or strange, and with .
sad face is turning away, when his eye tall:
on huge book. whose open page IS still wet
with ink from his teachers pen. IL Is writ
ten in Latin, but that is as plain TO him as his
own English, aud in another moment be had
read the secret so long hidden from him.
Now he must try it for himself, to see il
tie uixture is indeed so wonderful. "Ah y
he .xclsimed, "this yellow powder is the
phur; this hard, clear substance is the salt.
petre, and this black powder must be the
other. Here is the very bottle my master
has used; I will mix il in this and see. The
FIRE is not dead in the furnace few sparks
will give heat enough. and then Hubert de
Dreux is as wise as his wisest teacher" ;"
All that afternoon Roger Bacon had been
bending over the sick mans bed be bad
done all he could TO relieve bis suferings, and
as night was coming on. be babe him good
bye, and set out for home. The wind whis-
tied over the bleak hills. and the monk wrap
ped his cloak closer around him. and hurried
his horse toward the convent's good shelter.
As be reached the top Of the last bill, Oxford
lay before him with lights twinkling here and
there, and its tall spires rising high. Sud-
denly a stream Of fame 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 fear
ful sound was heard the short cry Of distress.
One moment and the whole convent was on
FIRE. The trembling monk dashed down the
hillside 10 the scene of woe. As he sprang
from his horse, a man drew forth from the
ruins the lifcless form Of Hubert.
The terrified crowd believed that Roger
Bacon bad been practising witchcrah, and
without listening TO bis defence. threw him
into a gloomy dungeon. For many years be
remained in prison, but at last be was releas.
"a and at the age ofeighty, lay down in death.
He wrote bis will, kept secret in strange words
in one Of bis books. and wise men studied long
before they could read it. lie had discovered
how to make gunpowder.
The terrible explosion 10 Oxford. in 1882,
does not seem strange to US, for we know the
wonderful power of gunpowder; but to the
people of England at that time, it appeared tc
h the work of an evil spirit. Thus, year
after year, the world advanced in knowledge
and the children Of 1854 are familiar with
many things which we're mysterious to learn,
ed men six hundred years ago. How grateful
we should be 10 God for all our privileges, and
how careful to improve them aright.-A"ier'
ican Messenger.