Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-03-23
From the American Messenger.
The Secret.

Roger Bacon was an English monk who taught
in the University Of Oxford more than six hun
dred years ago. He was man of great learn
ing, skilled in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew but es-
peeially fond of chemistry. He used to spend
many hours each day in the secret cells of the
convent, engaged in various experiments. While
thus employed be had found that sulphur, char
coal, and saltpetre, mingled together in a certain
way, would make new and strange compound
indeed, so strange and dangerous did this new
mixture seem, that the monk himself was almost
afraid of it, and therefore told no one of his dis
coyery.
Among the pupils was youth who was so
fond of study and so prompt to obey his teachers,
that he became favorite with all, and Roger
Bacon would often ask his help in the laboratory
"a large room where the students were instruct
ed in chemistry-but he never allowed him to
entee his private cell. This youths name was
Hubert de Dreux.
Sometimes Hubert sat reading or studying
or mixing medicines in this larger room, he was
| startled by sounds like distant thunder coming
from his masters apartment; sometimes a bright
light shone for a momrnt through the chinks of
the door, and then unpleasant odor would al
most suffocate him. All these things excited his
curiosity but whonever he knocked or strove TO
enter, Roger Bacon would sternly bid him attend
to his own affairs, and again interrupt him.
The door was always kept locked, and every
time the boy ventured to ask the cause, he was
sieRced by his teachers gruf words and severe
looks.
Months glided away, and still he eagerly but
vainly sought to learn the secret. AT length an
opportunity offered. Roger Bacon was widely
known as physician and surgeon. One cold
November day he was called to attend on Walter
dc LoSely, rich man IN the next town, who
had been dangerously hurt The monk gave all
the Necessary orders to Hubert, and bidding him
be careful to put ont the fires and lock the door
when he was done, he started On his errand Of
mercy.
Hubert soon finished his task, and was just
bounding up the oaken stairway, when an evil
! thought came into his mind. Roger Bacon is
gone ; he will not be back for several hours
can now find out what keeps him much in
| that dark damp CELL" He looks anxiously a.
round no one is near, and with light step and
fast beating heart he reaches the forbidden room.
The key is not there and so there is no hope of
entering; yet perhaps he may see something
!
check against the heavy door. 1t opens at his
touch, for Roger Bacon in his haste had locked
without closing it, and thus the eager boy stands
where he had for months longed to be. In vain
| he looks for anything new or strange, and with
a sad face is turning away, when his eye falls on
a huge book whose open page is still wet with
the 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 so long hidden from him.
Now he must try it for himself, to see if the
mixture is indeed so wonderful. 90 All ~ he ex-
claims, - this yellow powder is the sulphur, this
hard clear substance is saltpetre and this black
powder must be the other. Here is the very bot
tie my mas .er has used will mix it In this,
and see. The fire is not yet dead in the furnace
a few sparks will give heat enough and then
Hubert de Dreux is as wise as his wisest teach
err
All that afternoon Roger Bacon had been ben
ding over the sick mans bed he had done al
he could TO relieve his sufferings, and as NIGH
was coming on he bade him goodbye and Sc
out for home. The wind whistled over the bleal
hills and the monk wrapped his cloak close
around him and hurried his horse towards tn
convent's good shelter AS he reached the to-
of the last hill, Oxford lay before him with light
twinkng here and there, and its tall spires risinl
high. Suddenly stream of flame rose from m
convent high on the darkened sky, and in an II
slant a roar loud as the heaviest thunder burs