Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-01-27
lFOR THE STAR.
LEAVES EROM lVYWALL.
By AVON DALE.

[Fos rHE starr
LEAVES ER0h lvYwALL.
BY AVON DALE.
The CoLONEL.-T went to school with
the Colonel. That was twenty-five years
ago.
These few, simple words, how they
bring back our teacher, in all the msjes-
ty of his little school-house JOYOUS
young companions
But | must not allow so wide q field
to memory. If begin to wander there.
stories will rise at every step, like the
small starry flowers on the green plains
of Spring.
The Colonel shall be the single portrait
[ will sketch to-day. lie was not al
ways "the Colonel" indeed he never
was, except in these latter days, for at
school we called him Jack Jones'" and
his military title, now, nobody knows
whence it came, nor anything more
about it than that it is universally given
him, to the exclusion of every other
name whatsoever.
Jack was a poor boy, but a bright one.
Nevertheless, our teacher used frequent
ly to say that Jack would never die of
hard study" Nor did he seem at all in
danger Of such a death, for his cheeks
were round and rosy, his eyes quick and
piercing; the whole outward boy was in
excellent condition of most un-student-
like heath, and the inner boy q perpet-
ual bonfire of fun. Yet who could learn
lesson sooner than Jack Jones ?--if he
chose! He didn't often choose, however;
and ifthe rod leaped out to enforce duty,
as sometimes happened-not a correct re-
citation from Jack for a week after He
was wonderful Jack for stubbornness.
Persuasion would help him along, but
persuasion was sorry truant In those
days, and hardly ever found at school.
Still, Jack being a good hearted, merry
lad, and a general favorite among his
mates, they assisted his recitations by
whispers at the important moment, and
further aided by careful readings from in
geHious inscriptions on his finger.nails,
he managed pretty well, after all.
In one part of school duty he was par
ticularly expert, namely, in obedience to
the order Lay by your books and
states :" And though, as we have con-
fessed, he was not the first boy in school,
he certainly was the first boy out of it,
with bound and . shout, too, that, by
their exuberance, endangered his being
brought back, to learn, in solitary con-
finement, that sublime lesson 'moder-
alton in pleasure
During "play time," Jack frequently
entertained himself, and the little ad-
miring crowd, by performing on the flute,
which he did daintily, though ignorant
of . signal note Of music. Every body
said he was q genius and Jack believed
everybody, and was proud of it. There
was his ambition: what were books to
Jack Jones!
That flute led him " on to fortune
and misfortune.
Tritiing circumstances often change
the current of human events, Just as a
stone, near the source of river, may
divert the course of all the mighty wa
terS.
Jack left school. He had finished his
4" book learning, for his fathers humble
means could assist him no longer-and,
in truth, the boys inclination precisely
agreed with the poverty of the parent.
Jack was sixteen years of age. Now he
went to work in earnest-not at the dull
task assigned him in the shop, but to
perfect his education-on the flute.
Many were the stolen hours devoted to
this darling object.
One day he was playing finely in an
obscure alley-theh happiest boy in town
surrounded by juvenile male and female
blacks, whose big, rolling eyes expressed
delightful appreciation- s. II
WHEN-(This must begin . sentence,
for here the wheel OF Fortune ''turns up
Jack")-a dignified gentleman, passing
along the neighboring pavement, stop.
Stopped long time, and listened with
evident pleasure.
Even the discord Of politics may not,
in some souls, fiighten away the delicate
spirits Of harmony which have once
found there congenial homes. Thus the
Honorable listener still owned the charms
OF music. Thus, he did not forget to
speak Of the aute-boy, that day, at dia'