Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-07-29

sound minds for tbs post," he said,--@sOrry; Door
fellow; he would have been likely 10 succeed"
/ At supper; he recalled the young man TO the
recollection Of his family and mentioned the afact-
/ ing report conserving him. A very pleasant call
from him." was the family agreement; uncommon
iy intelligent; and is it really so ?"
l. $50 Brown says, direct from bis relatives, and
under such circumstances, Of course, I cannot use
my influences for him at the Latin school," aad
long as the cid merchant lived, he yet had g sigh
for every fresh blight upon the hopes of the young.
And this is Jane Treats friend not actually
engaged, believe? declare she ought to knOw
It, TOR Jane has great horror Of insanity; you
know how much they have had Of it in the Treat
family" and great talk followed among The Young
ladies' on all the interests involved in this aew Is
sue OF the case. Now country friend Of the fam
NY was present aud the little word which bad un-
sealed the fountain of their sympathies. he bore
away with him over railroad and waeon-road far
away iuto the Interior Of the State, where in lit
tie ion.he accidentally met an Old acquaintance,
and friendly inquiries of every sort fell thick and
fast
And who is preaching for you2 any minister
yet?' ..a.I1.- .. ...-
''We have young man. answered tie village
squire, 'wbo has preached several times for u.s. and
our people are nightly taken with him, and if he
would make up bis mind to settle we would settle
! him tomorrow
"Ah. indeed; good who is It ?"
"ITs name is Swan-Isaac swan" r
"Isaac swan, of the Tub5's Academy ?" asked
the Old merchant country friend in tone of con-
cern.
The very same; do you know him -
81 know Of him. aud behind the tone aud the
words there lay evidently unspoken bat uupleas-
ant truth, and it could not be concealed duty to
any parish required revelation Of the facts in
the case-~bul it must be in spells" said the re-
taller, "if you have not noticed it,"
Now think of it, PERHAPS he has sngularities
Of manner" said the squire, pausing On turning
the young man over and over in his mind, shut 1
never should have guessed it. Well, if that is the
case, it is an insupeFable bar to our having him;
you know cur parish troubles. am sorry, that's
aI"-and the squire FASTENED home TO tell the news
around, while poor Swan was left TO painful con-
lectures what the reason could be- after all the en-
coufagement given, that he was never asked to
preach in---again
And thHs the little word Travelled about, until at
gained loigm ut in Jane T'rea,' heart and friends
more eredulous than inquiring interfered. A stop
at all hazards must be put TO the intimacy, and
Jane was hurried to gay relatives at Pbiladel-
phia, leaving poor Isaac Swan TO loneliness and
disappointment, and bitter suspicion of woman as
trifer snd of household hospitalities misera-
bic shame Indeed the battling Of bright and bud
ding hopes in many quarters sharp and sore
discipline. DifIicuIties could be bravey surmount-
ed rebufs could be cheerfuIly met aud they had
been in bis college and seminary course, but now
that he was ready for action ard with strong
and earnest spirit painting to enter the list in the
in the great conflict Of life the neglect and disnp-
pointment which met him on the outset must have
bluned tie edge of his fine sensibites, and check
ed the enthusiasm of his generous nature; and to
mind with any less hold on the christian tith. it
would have done 50. As it waa be was chastened
but not cast down, tried but not fOrsaken grieved,
but not embttered, when he left the scene of his
first endeayOrs for the new world of the West
Swan, my dear fellow, is this you ?" broke
familiar voice upon him in the cars, one day, and
be turned round to hail college friend.
'And now are you now" inquired the friend
with kind socitude. Finely" answered Swan,
with something of bis old fire. "Whither boundG"
Il hardly know"
"Areyou alO7e' asked the friend
"No wife get" and Swan smiled with perhaps
a tender memory Of Jane College days were HY.
ed anew, and after lively account OF his friends
doing through the years since then "I've little to
relate" answered Isaac while his companion 3 fsce
we're ,gmpathizing expression, ION the threshold
of life every good seems within our grasp, but"
Swan stopped, 'you put out your Land and II is
not there" -.
"Just-so,' responded BIZ friend, "just so,"-del-
icacy forbade inquiry--just so, he repeated again.
for want Of something else 10 say.
Il have had some disaPpointmens," said Swan,
"but my motto is heart within and God DER head"
Meanwhile bis companion was hurriedly debating
in his own mind, whether it was not at once best
10 let him know that he well understood the true
posture Of his own affirs-it would put them up
on a freer footing, and cOncealments between old
frieTds were Od.0u<.
How long ave you been ont ?" he Immediate
ly asked, on this internal decision, with brorherIy
confidence and a lock as much as to say Il know
the facts, don't be afraid to speak out"
"Of the Acadeny ~ asked Swan. which his
friend took 10 be a whm that be did not mean to
hulnor him in. "Tbe Hospital said his friend
with cheerful, weiI-lnformed glance, which admit
ted Of no evasion.
Hospital 2" echoed Isaac, in a tone Of unfeign-
ed astonshment. and look not surely Ike a mad
man. ~ ] t., Inc insane Hospital 4 heard You
had been there year !! This the first imita-
tiOn poor Swan had received Of his own where
abouls. 1t certainly is bard 70 keep the run OF
ones self in these days" he said dryly, yet the
blood rushed to his face, tngled in his fngt rs and
a hot sUIf eating breath chOked IN his throat
The reports old not drive him there, but IL isa
strange and terrible thing low may be drifting
at the mercy Of go slipping, needless, incOnsider-
ate. uniOunded report. Let every body stop aud
consider what usefulness may be hindered what
prospects blightcd, what train Of painful conse-
ouehees never to be recalled may issue from the 1'
uterance Of a single uuguarded word.-[ [Indepen-
d. ut.
Diligence in reading the Scriptures.