The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1858-11-03
The Student and Stranger
"Mary, viii you wait three years, then:

"Mary, will you wait three years, then9"
six. Charles, so that we are married at last. -
answered the soft-eyed girl whom the young
student of divinity addressed
''In three years | shall be ordained and have
charge of parish, and then can support YOU
Much as | would wish to make YOU nv wife
now, love you too fondly to wed YOU 10 the
privations and poverty which would now have
to struggle with
cit is such pity Charles, you did not read
law Father would then, as he says, have
taken you into his office and made you his junior
partner, and you would SO soon become rich
He does not dislike you, but he wished our en-
gagement broken off, because he says we shall
always be poor, as but few clergymen are sup
ported as they ought to be-
Il would not abandon my studies and nv
hopes in the ministry for untold gold, Mary IS
answered the young man, his fine dark ewes
lightning up with the brilliancy of inspiration
Il know my friends say l have sacrificed
myself and my hopes BY becoming candidate
for orders; but it is no sacrifice have made in
my own view. But if, with being disinherited
by my father, l lose you also, dear Mary, it
will then become, indeed, sacrifce!''
Il will be true to you, Charles" answered
Mary
''This believe, because know you SO well
Then, now We part, and our engagement termi-
for SO unyielding are their regulations, that
they receive no one therein who is bound by
any matrimonial engagement. If one thus
bound enters there, he must break off his en-
gagement.'
'But only outwardlE Charles, will we be
disengaged. In heart we are still betrothed!''
'Jn heart, yes, but not in word. With this
embrace We release each otherfrom our mutua
vows!''
There was a moments silence. The voice
of Mary was first heard, trembling with emo
ton:
"You will write to me, Charles?"
"No, Mary. There is permitted no CORES
pondence with any one but relatives, sisters Or
mother. We part for three years!"
The young man who thus parted from the
daughter of the honorable Mr.. Carey was the
son of a wealthy and avaricious merchant, who
intended his only son, Charles, should have
made sensation in the fashionable world as a
millionaire, and marry advantageously. He
heard of his prediction for the church with
disgust and anger. But after many arguments
and long continued efforts to change his mind,
he disinherited him, hoping thereby to bring
him to his senses. But the resolute and con-
scientious Charles remained firm. At Nasho-
tab, Wisconsin, he could be received. and pur-
sue his studies without expense. His greatest
grief was the necessity of giving up his engage
ment, and holding no correspondence with
Mary Carey for three years.
At Nashotah he Jared hard with the poorest
He suffered every privation, and the students
there are trained in privatIons, while the church
they are preparing to serve rolls in luxury.
Charles wardrobe wore out the first year, and
he found that the livery of patches and thread
bare cloth which had excited his smile when
he first behed the students 60 about in it, had
to be worn by himself At one time, among
thrty-six divinity students, there was but one
decent coat, and when any one had to go to the
next town to buy stationery or necessaries, this
was worn by him, until nearly every student
had worn it through the year!
The necessities of this noble band somehow
(not by their own handy got bruited into a
secular paper, and came before the eyes o
Mary. The next week a trunk was despatched
all the way from Philadelphia where she resi-
ded to Nashotah, directed in feigned hand, to
Mr.. Charles Eardley."
It safely reached him, but he had not money
to pay for its carriage from Milwaukee, forty
miles to the college. Not all the spare money
of the students clubbed together could reach
the amount of the carriers bill, three dollars
and quarter! In such school were trained
the ministry of the church in the west. Sc
they had books and bread and fish, they rejoiced
that they had the opportunity to prepare fol
the preaching of the gospel, even at such sac
ritices.
When the trunk was unlocked by Charles,
the whole crowd Of his fellow students stood
around with Curiosity, for when had trunk
ever come to Nashotah before?
Att multfarious contents, they set up gen
eral shout. There were new suits of clothes,
shirts, vests, warm stockings fannels, gay
dress gown and every variety Of clothing, with
little jars Of jelly, fruit, and large iced cake
There were, BESIDES books rare and needful
Never had Nashotah bel,eld such sight before
sThe young men were fairly excited into de-
gree of hilarious amazement that made them
for the nonce forget the gravity of theological
students.
Charles, bewildered, wondered from whom
it came, unpacked the whole trunk, and lei
every one handle and see for himself.
"a new coat and pants!' said waggisl
fellow. CHOW speak for wearing this nex
after Eardley, for want to 60 down to Milwau.
kie, and our college coat is not only out at the
elbows. but has lost half its buttons!''
Charles was puzzled. No letter gave him
any clue as to the donor. A card simply con
tanned ga Present." in carefully pen-printed
letters.
.Who could think of him to do this?'
MARY alone" whispered a secret voice IL
his heart.
We need not say that the contents of the
trunk, especially the clothing, were shared
equally among bis fellow students, and ever
by his generosity, the good professor rejoiced
in a pair of thick woollen hose; for the profess.
ors were as poor as the students. At. length
our young student graduated with eminent
honors. and received the diploma Of B. D., OIL
Bachelor of Divinity.
He was now permitted to revisit Philadel.
nbia, after which he was to be sent by the
bishop 10 the frontier, to carry the gospel to the
Indians.
On the lake boat 10 Buffalo { for he had kept
school in his vacation to get money to travel