The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1858-06-16

name is Swan; Isaac Swan" Isaac
Swan, of the Tubb's Academy" asked
the old merchants country friend in a
tone of concern. "The very same; do
you know him z" 81 know of him." and
behnl the tone of the words there lay
evidently unspoken, but unpleasant truth;
and it could not be concealed; duty to
any parish required revelation of the
facts in the case, but it must be FALSE"
said the retailer, eff you have notnoticed
it." Snow think of it, perhaps he has
singularities of manner" said the squire,
pausing and turning the young man over
in his mind, "but I never should have
guessed it. Well, if that is the case, it is
an insuperable bar to our having him;
you know our parish troubles. I ana
sorry that's ALL" and the squire fastened
home to tell the news around, and poor
Swan was left to painful conjectures what
the reasons could be, after all the encour-
agement given, that he was never asked
! to preach in ---- again.
And thus the little word travelled about
until at last, through the extreme kindness
of friends, id gained Judgment in Jane
Treats heart, and friends more credulous
than inquiring interfered. A stop at all
hazards must be put to the intimacy, and
Jane was hurried to a gay relatives at
Philadelphia, leaving poor Isaac Swan to
loneliness and disappointment, and bitter
suspicious Of woman as trder, and
household Inequalities as 4 miserable
sham. Indeed, the battling of bright and
budding hopes in many quarters was
sharp aid sore discipline. Difficulties
could be braveIy surmounted, rebufs
could be cheerfuliy met, and they had
been in his college and seminary course;
but now that he was ready for action, and
with a strong and earnest spirit painting
to enter the lists in the great conflict OF
life, the neglect and disappointment which
met him at the onset must have b'unted
the ed re of his me sensibilities, and to a
mind with any less hold Oh the Christian
faith, it would have done so. As it was,
ne was chastened, but not cast down, tried
but not forsaken, grieved but not embt-
tered, when he left the scene Of his first
endeavors for the new world Of the West
Swan, my dear fellow, is this you2'
broke familiar voice upon him on the
railroad, one day, rs he turned round to
hail college friend. "And how are Won
now9" inquired the friend with kind
solicitude. Finely" answered Swan,
with something of his old fire. "Whith-
err bound?" II hardly know Are
you alons9" asked the friend. "No wife
yet" and Swan smiled with perhaps
tender memory of Jane. College days
were lived anew, and after lively account
of his friends dongs through the years
since then, +" I've little 10 relate" answer
ed Isaac, while his companions face wore
sympath;z;ng expression; "on the
threshold Of life every good seems within
our grasp, but" Swan stopped, "you
put out your hand and it is not there"
Just So" responded his friend, Gust so''
-delcacy forbade inquiry-"just So"
be repeated again for want of something
else to say. Il had some disappoint-
ments," said Swan; "but my motto is,
Heart within and God DER head"
Meanwhile his companion was debating
in his own mind, whether it was not at
once best to let him know that lie well
understood the true posture of his affairs,
it would put them upon freer footing,
and concealments between old friends
were odious. Chow long have you been
oas" he Immediately asked, on this in
ternal decision, with a brotherly conf
dence and look as much as to say, Il
know the facts, don't be afraid to speak
on.' "Of the academy? 2" asked Swain,
which his friend took to be within that
he did not mean to humor him in. "The
hospital" said his friend, with a cheerful,
well-informed glance, which admitted of
no evasion. " Hospital!' echoed Isaac,
in tone of uufeigued astonishment, and
a look not surely ike that of mailman
Yes, the Insane Hospital | heard
You had been there a year." This was
the first intimation poor Swan had re-
ceiyed of his whereabouts. at certainly
is hard to keep the r.:n of oneself in these
days" he said dryly. yet the blood rushed
to his face, tingled in his fingers, and
hot suffocating breath choked in his throat.
The reports did not drive him there.
But it is a strange and terrible thing how
we may be drifting at the mercy Of q gos-
s.ping, needless, inconsiderate, unfounded
report. Let everybody stop and consider
what usefulness may be hindered, what
regulations injured. what hearts griaved,