Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-10-24

with the classical writers, and displayed
extraordinary facility in the use of his
weapons; charging them home, and
treading his path through difficult pas
sages in Latin and Greek authors, among
which he tripped, stumbled, foundered,
when in is right sense.
[ have often thought since, with sur
prise, of the extraordinary change of
nature-for may call it tsuch---produced
in few short hours. The facility with
while he quoted difficult portions of the
classics, which he could not master when
sane, though curious phenomenon, did
!, not. inapHessznH SO much as his devilish1
| wickedness. Memory is a cabinet with
many hidden drawers. l doubt if we
ever actually lose anything. 1t may be
slowed away in some hole and corner
till an old association touches the hidden
, spring, or say, Open sesame p and
brings the forgotten treasure to light
DR.. Abercro mby, in his work on the
" Mental Powers" relates an anecdote
of a gentleman who had lost his knowl-
edge of Greek, which had been consid-
cradle, during fever, and had to begin
again with the alphabet and grammar
One day, while studying harder than
usual, all his former knowledge flashed
into his mind like the rays of the morn
l ing sun through the open shutters of a
| dark room. This is all very curious,
! but to me not 50 incomprehensible as to
, sec a man of naturally kind disposition
: chuckling, actually luxuriating, in the
imaginary torments of the damned.
This terrific excitement could not last
( long. In two or three days he calmed
: down and spoke to himself in whispers.
] He seemed unconscious of nay presence,
: though never left his bedside for half
t an hour together. thought his sight
was affected, for saw him beckoning to
a hat (Which lay on bed in another part
of the room, to come over to him and
a when it did not obey, holding up his fist
: in threatening manner.
y One morning, as he lay picking the
/ quilt, the lady of the house entered the
n room, and placed four letters in my hand.
I saying, He was in the habit of getting
e such letters every week.
e The intelligence which beamed in her
't kind face was but necessary to point my
suspicion to the source whence this cor
is respondence flowed. The letters were
q written in female hand, and bore the
y Coventry postmark. My friend came
l. from Coventry but he had neither
u mother nor sister. He was an only son,
q and both his parents were dead.
o sat examining the letters in silence
n one by one, and if the truth must be told
3 tear or two dropped on them as
for the fair writer.
AS l raised my head with sigh, ]
Is found my friend on his elbow in the bed
II devouring the letters with his eyes. ]
Is verify believe, had | attempted to pocket
7r them, he would have pounced upon me
u like tiger, or taken me by the throa
N for thief. / followed the impulse o
is the moment, and handed them to him.
He snatched them like hungry dog
l. and hid them beneath the bedclothes
40 watching to see if / had my eye upol
= him. By-and-by, he drew out one, brok
10 the seal, and began, as / thought, to reat
it. Taking an oportunity of approaching
his bed on tiptoe, and looking over hi
iu' shoulder, found he had the letter upsid
i'9 down. He opened the second, the thirc
and the fourth, and turned them abou
in all directions, but could make nothin
|. of them, and left them on the quilt
r. "Well,'' inquired, what news?'
~ He looked perplexed, but though
more rational, or less insane.
Did you read them ?"
00 "No."
= = "Why not?"
They are written in the unknow
" tongue"
hs Give them to me to keep for you"
eii He snatched at them again, and ca
ip' ried them beneath the bedclothes. II
me fell asleep with the letters crumpled
II his thin fingers.
the 1t was scarcely day the next mornir
ore when i heard timid zap at the doc
by As my friend was still asleep cross,
the room in my stockings and opened
ur- and encountered face as pale as il W
lay beautiful. / almost started. "The WI
ter ter of the letter'' mentally calculated
to e How is hep was whispered in n
md ear, while, the frame Of the fair girl trel
he bled like an aspen leaf.
He % Better" said !. still standing in 4