Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-11-10
ORIGINAL PAPERS.
Written for the Spirit of the Age.
7 H E PERSECU TED
A STORY OF THE ACADEMY.
by oLIN oLNEY.

by oLIN oLNEY.
Kind reader, did you ever have friend
"a kind, devoted, confding friend? One
who could pardon your offences one who
could pass by your little inequalities one
who could look into the depths of your
soul and see what was written there
For my part, have never had many.
l have, well nigh, walked my life-path alone
People say am cold and distant. 1t may
be so. confess love the lone old rock
where used to play, and the ripple Of the
brook used to hear, better than | love
their companionship. But as | was going
to say, once had friend-yes one =
Away back through the dim vista of de-
parted years, seem to see him now.
A long time ago, used to go to the old
Academy, over in the grove on the other
side Of the village. was then Of naturally
a sober, taciturn disposition; and if | was
not considered as smart and apt to learn
as some Of my classmates, | believe | had
as warm heart as ever throbbed in stu
dents breast The cold selfish world had
not hardened it then.
Frank Howard was pale, slender youth,
with high intellectual forehead and over
his features was thrown an air Of sad
thoughtfulness, which became him greatly.
He spoke but little to any one. He often
wandered alone by the brook, with book
in hand, and sometimes seemed altogether
lost in thought. He might have been pop
ular with his companions, but for one thing
--he would not resent an injury and that
in the estimation of student is cowardice
itself
AT first, began to form an unfavorable
opinion Of him, when | saw him receiving
the insults of his overbearing companions
without resenting them. Sometimes, it is
true, the hot blood would mount to his tenn
Piles, and the flames Of passion would glow
moment in his eyes; but it was only for
moment The next he would be calm
and selfpossessed as before. But, by de-
grees was drawn towards him, partly in
admiration Of his talents, and partly be-
cause he was disliked by the greater part
Of his school-fellows. Some how or other
/ always like those whom others hate. Now
that had become more nearly acquainted
with him, and hid looked deeper into hi:
character, forg5ye his seeming cowardict
and repcnted that had, in moment 0
excitement, once joined the heartless throne
of his tormentors But still | did not ven
ture, through fear of ridicule, to utter {
word in his behalf.
For long time things continued in thi
manner. Each day, some cutting remark
would wound his feelings. Each day, tn,
pale, diligent student would come and 90
with the regularity of time. And he bor
every insult, every taunt, every injury
without altering a muscle of his features
He endured it all so bravely, so calmly
that one would have thought, from his MAJ
ble countenance, that no breath of passion
had ever swept across the silent chords {
his soul.
One sunny dav in Autumn, when | wa
rambling in the woods, found him sittin
by the side of huge rock, which overhun
little winding riyulet that gushed fror
It's fountain on the side Of hill, or moul
tain, It may be called, which rears its wood
summit nearly mile in the rear of the oI
Academy. When / saw him there upc
the lone old mountain, away from the moi
and hustle Of the town, with the yello
leaves Of Autumn falling around him-h
bible in his band, and his eyes filed wi
tears-then forgot that the boys had ca
ed him "coward = forgot how they hi
taunted him forgot my fear Of ridicu
and broke the silence by falling at his fe
and asking forgiveness for anything mig
have said or done, that could have caus
him sorrow. | sought his friendship.
gave him mine. We were friends.
This was the beginning of our intimac
| had Judged him harshly | had cons
cred him a coward. Now | saw why
Gid not fight. lie was a christian-a {
lower Of the meek and lowly Jesus. OF
before, when had seen him pale and s
rowful, had secretly longed to knC
loose few of the teeth Of that rasca
bully, Tom Jones, while he was shaking
fist 50 mcnacingly in his face. But hith
to had not been able to muster suffici
courage.
Then he told me why he sought the 81
ness Of the mountain top. It was to &C
mune with his own thoughts. To lis
TO the low, sweet voice Of nature-the
ling leaf, the signing wind. There
could flee away from the tannts and j
of his companions, and amid the sole
stiffness of the forest be happy with
ture, with his Bible and his God.
There is something grand and inspi
which takes possession Of the soul wher
walk in the Autumn time of year am
the fading leaves, and set among the Q
old rocks Of Gods mountain peaks.
der, did You ever experience it | h
Bul as | was going to say, that eve