Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-11-10


spit upon, and had looked on passively.-
Now, was determined, if they abused him,
they should abuse me-if they insulted him,
they should insult me.
1t was not many days until had an OPP
portunity of testifying my devotion. One
morning as entered the door Of the school
room, / was greeted by half dozen voices
with-"A fight! A fghtp p "Who 2?
Where 2" were among my first exclama-
tions; But | had already guessed at the
cause Of the excitement. Attracted to the
spot by the crowd, | beheld Tom Jones,
towering with clenched fists over poor
Frank, who, pale as death, was standing
with folded arms and quivering lip, vainly
attempting to apologize for the injury done
to the slate. But the scamp would receive
no apology.
"Why did you break it." hegrowled with
an oath.
Il could not help it" Frank protested,
a will pay you"
"Pay me-" roared the bully. 81 will
take my pay out Of your bones You broke
it on purpose, you rogue p
''But | did not found it on my desk
and went to remove it-and it fell" And
the color mounted to his cheek.
knew he was innocent of this unrea-
sonable accusation, but before / could
speak, the bully shouted, " liar !" and
struck him in the face.
The blood spouted, as he reeled across
the floor. Co,Cord" shouted the excl
ted crowd of black guards. My blood
burned in my temples. l can't tell you
how felt. At any rate l felt very strong
strong enough to whip legion of Tom
Joness, | thought. was glad that it was
he that had struck him, for / cordially ha-
ted him before, and now thought the ex-
cuse for thrashing him was pretty fair
And was confident that could do it !;
for | knew he was coward at heart.
Now, nature had endowed me at seven
teen, with a considerable amount of bone
and muscle and tolerable share of cour-
age; and as quick as thought | threw my
self in the braggart's way and hurled him
from his victim. He turned as if he would
have struck me, but as he met my quick,
keen glance he turned away, muttering
something about people minding their own
business. Kissed "Coward! poltroon!
scoundrelw through my teeth, into his
face. But he was cowed.
After that they never scoffed at the pale,
diligent student any more. Whether it
was because he had found friend, or be-
cause his kind, gentle manner had moved
their rough boyish hearts to pity, | cannot
say. But at any rate, his form seemed to
J grow more fragile; and his eye to grow
more languid and his cheek to grow more
pale, day by day. He was ever grateful
r for my friendship and poured forth many
tale of sorrow into my sympathising ear
: Often we would walk tin the still Autumn
n evening and watch the slanting rays of the
: setting sun as they came trembling through
t the trees. At such times he would appea
r more sad. And he would ssy "Thi
v world is beautiful There are many hoI,
d places where the yulg gar never tread wher
is the low, deep curse of hate, and the Sian,
e of debauchery are never heard. But ther
of is higher, holier, brighter sphere! /
G far off land where the sun is ever shining
l. A home for the weak and the weary An
a l am goingw
And then a purer ray of holy ligh
is would beam in his eye, and more peace
k ful smile would light up his wan countc
Ie nance.
o, / do not know whether he could hay
re received those who had beer his persec1
y, tors, as friends, but am sure that he ha
s. bored no evil thought against them
y, Once when the last days of Autumn
T. were drawing to close, and the sun WI
IN shining brightly upon the rich, variegate
of hues of the grove, he asked me to 60 wit
him once more to the old rock on the hill
as side, where l had first made him n
ng friend
ng Before we reached it, he complained
m being weary. He leaned upon my arr
m | supported him till we reached his oil
dy moss covered seat. He was so pale, til
I'D / was apprehensive that he might be u
on well. But he assured me that it was cat
Use ed by the fatigue of the ascent. | left hi
ow to muse as he liked, and walked over t
bis hill. When | returned he was there
lth seated myself by his side felt frightene
all | don't know why. | certainly did \
lad fear that he would die But there was
lie, air of strange and awful stiffness pervadi
eet the place. l touched his shoulder a
yht awakened him from his reveric.
sed spoke =
/ 81 am so glad you have come"
seemed so long. And after slight pau
Icy he continued =
SD "Did l ever tell you why l am sad
he why l love to steal away from the hau
fol of men why love this lofty rock 2"
ten "No;" replied, regarding him with
sor- terest; for wild light was in his eye.
ock "Well then," he proceeded, 81 will
ally you. am an orphan. have not alw
his been like | am now. ! was once as r
her and frolicksome as any one. | had m
lent as much progress in the way of sin, as
of my comrades. shudder now, to th
still how abandoned l was-how hated &C
ON ness-how disregarded every thing
stem was high and ennobling.
fall "My mother died Iono aoo Perl
he this was the reason why acted as dic
leers If she had lived to guide Alright the fal
emn ing steps Of her wayward boy if she
Ma been near, to have pressed his fevered b
and soothed his troubled spirit, he W,
iring never have gone astray. But she left
n we / was alone 1t is true / was left
nong siderable estate; but that was not emo