The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1861-03-14

which I spent ere the time arrived which
witnessed my departure for the city. At
last, however, all was ready. [ babe adieu
to my mother, my father, and my younger
brother, from whom l had never yet been
separated for one night, and with heart
which beat with high hopes even amid
the grief of parting, took my place in the
stage, and left, for the first time, the homo
of my childhood. In q month I had be-
come accustomed to the separation, and
thought only Of my profession.
Medical students are generally wild,
reckless and dissipated. I was neither
The discretion of old age seemed to have
come suddenly upon me. I shared my
comrades studies, but refused to mingle
in their orgies, for I had determined to
retain my strong nerves and unshaker
head to the last Nevertheless I was q
general favorite, and formed many friend
ships among the giddy band which lasted
long after they become grey-hcaded men.
There was one among the number whose
pane was Robert Redlaw-a gay, hand
some boy he was, full of fun and frolic;
and terribly addicted to practical jokes;
but nevertheless, kind-hearted and gene
rons to q fault, for he would have given
his last penny to any one who seemed in
need Of it. To the living he was all tell
derness; to the wounded wretch at tie
hospital, his hand was as soft as any wo-
mans; and 1 have seen his eyes fill with
tears while his hand inflicted necessary
pain, but to the dead he seemed heart
lcss-a lifeIcss body being of no moro val
uc, in his eyes, than the trunk Of dead
tree.
"Would you value your old violin-casc?"
he would say when any one demonstrated
on the subject The strings broken
nay, the instrument destroycd-of what
value is that which Was but formed for its
protection. For my part, when my soul
has taken flight; I care not what you do
with the compilation Of flesh and bones
which now contains it,"
And upon this principle he seemed to act
involuntarily.
One night--oh. how well 1 remember
it-a cold, black evening in midwinter-
1 sat alone beside my fire, absorbed in
meditation The book | had been read
ING lay beside me, upon the table, and my
candle burned low within the socket, for
it was nearly y.one o'clock, although | had
not yet retired Suddenly 1 was aroused
by a loud ringing of my door-bcll, and q
sound Of sand thrown against my window
from without, and lighting another taper,
descended and opened the door.
There upon the steps, stood Robert
Redlaw and four other fellow-studcnts, all
the worst for liquor, and all in poistcrous
spirits. "Let us in, old fellow" cried
Robert, eve want to tell you of our lark.
By George. we've made night of it,
such punch as we've been having at Tom
B-'s while you have been moping over
your musty books. You must go with us
next time"
There was no use Of remonstrance, and
oncby one, my unexpected visitors mount
Cd the stairs and took their places around
my fireside.
al say. Bob frightened us all a while
ago." began one of them after Temporal
ry silence
Howl" I asked.
aHow?" laughed Bob, "why with
this" And without another word or pre-
face, he drew folded 'lerchief from his
pocket, and unfolding it, exhibited q hui
man hand.
"Bob, where did this come from 2" L
asked involuntarily, drawing back step
or two.
"He took it from a grave which the
rain had washed open" answered q tall
young fellow, turning away with o shud-
der. "Cut it off with his knife as coolly
as he might a bit Of wood, although TIL
swear sigh or groan or scream, or all
Of them together came from tho body
when he first laid his finger upon it,"
"Bah! laughed Robert Rcdlaw, your
ventriloquist tricks can never impose
upon me. took the little hand in spite
of them, and shall keepit. A pretty crea-
ture it must have belonged to. Look at
the .almond-shaped nails, Greystock"
GA woman's hand" said, "and, oh,
Bob. there is o wedding ring upon the