The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-06-07
From Every Saturday.
How | SET About Paying my Debts
An OXFORD STORY.

"Now my dear Frank" said my
father, replenishing his glass the while
with some very particular port the old
butler had brought out that evening
in my honor, "as you start for Oxford
early tomorrow, l may as well say now
what little wish to say to you respect
ing the important step you are about
taking in entering university life"
/ took some flberts and listened at
tentively.
"The social advantages of the uni
versity, continued my father, ARE, /
hold, of very great Importance; but l
do not wish you to sacrifice its educa-
tional advantages to-to-its ahein -
80, no certainly not, enterposed
somewhat vaguely. perhaps).
$50 / shall expect You to take your
degree in the usual course: if as a
mere pass-man, well and good; if with
honors, all the better. Although you
will not have to earn your bread Yin
the accepted use of the term), you will
find such advantages of use"
/ assented to all this, inwardly de-
irving no small consolation from the
fact that | should not be Obliged to en-
counter any examination at once, as
my naturalization had already been tri-
umphantly accomplished.
Il shall allow you $500 year and
the expenses of a horse" added my
father; "and / shall give orders for you
to be supplied with sound and whole
some port. On this shall expect you
to lave without incurring any debts
If you do run into debt, you must dis
charge all such liabilities out of your
own earnings.
One ofmy fathers great characteris-
tics was frmness. His was genuine
tirmness, and it had nothing to do
with its weak counterfeit, obstinacy.
| knew that he meant what he said
about my paying all debts by my earn
ings, and that it had not been added
merely for the purpose of giving weight
to his warning, or seasoning his advice
with the condiment called Solemn
chaff." Of course | had no intention
then of mourning debts; but l felt that
| should have to accept the alternative
if / did.
A few words shall dismiss my uni
versity experiences. Five hundred a
year, with the expenses of horse Ito
this a servant was added), and gra-
tuitous supply of port wine, seemed in
contemplation mine of wealth that
would be fully equal to all my necessi-
ties. SO, relying on the plenitude OF
my resources, | started second horse,
and even a third during the hunting
season. / liked lin common with all
other Oxonians ever made acquaint-
ance with easy-chairs and luxurious
I furniture. | was fond of looking at
handsomely bound books, if did not
read them very carefully; and good
pictures | had quite a passion for. In
music, took great delight; so, grand
piano-forte, hired at rate that would
have paid its price once n year, formed
a conspicuous feature in my rooms
All these likings (and many others OF
an expensive nature might be added
together with great taste for pleasan
and genial society, suf1iced to render
my career an expensive one. One
thing | can conscientiously aver; II
money was wasted thoughtlessly on
capricious whims and pleasures, 1T was
not wasted on any pursuits that could
be condemned as vicious. The result
of all this expenditure may be easily
guessed.
was never ploughed; but in those
periodical encounters with the exam
iners the university rules obliged me
to engage in, may say that the Tor,
mer always died game. Never shall
forget those last final rounds, con
Quoted across that awful green table
when all ones mental pugilistic scienc'
was brought into play to make yei ,
partial knowledge reach the whole
length of subject; while enthusiastic
friends, with mistaken kindness, looked
on in breathless silence, and encour
ooed me with smiling glances or i'm
f o9inary pats on the back, as turned
towards them with smile OF recognl
,, ton. and hollow pretenee OF being
quito at my case nn
But the time came when III thes,
ordeals had been safely passed, ana
was going to put on my gown heA