The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-01-26


ly. I'm not judge of poetry, Latin or
English. But there were judges who
said they were wonderful for a boy and
everybody predicted a splendid future
for him. Everybody but his father. He
shook his head doubtingly whenever it
was mentioned, for as l have told you,
he W. practical matter of fact man.
"There was pleasant party at the
professors that night. All the children
OF the neiehborhood were there, among
them the professor clever son Rupert,
as they called him,-a thin, little chap.
about, as. tall as Robby there and as
fair and delicate, as Flora by my side.
His health was feeble, his father said
he seldom ran. about and played with
other boys, preferr1ng to stay at home
and brood over his books, and compose
what he called his verses.
aWell, we had Christmas tree just
ike this, and we had been laughing and
talking, calling off the names of the chil-
dren who had presents on the tree and
ever happy and joyous, when one of the
children suddenly uttered a cry of min
gled surprise and hilarity, and said:
Here's something. for Report; and
what do you think it Is ?''
1--WE all guessed. "a desk ~ ga
copy of Milton GA gold pen;" "a
rhyming dictionary ~ 'sNo2 what
them"
IA dru1np'
IA what?" asked everybody.
"A drum with Rupert's name on
it."
"Sure enough, there it was. A good
sized, bright, new, brass-bound drum
with slip of paper on it with the in
| scription: For Rupert
"Of course we all laughed, and thought
| it good joke. You..see oa're to make
a noise in the world, Rupert r. said ore
Heres parchment for the poet, said
another. Rupert's last work in sheepshin
| eovers,'' said third. ''Give us CLASH
cal tune, Rupert" said fourth and so
on. But Rupert seemed too mortified to
speak he changed color, bit his lips,
and finally burst into passionate fit of
crying, and left the room. Then those
who had joked him felt ashamed and
| everybody began to ask who had put the
drum there. But 20 one knew, or, if
they did, the unexpected sympathy
awakened for the sensitive boy kept
them silent Even the servants were
| called up and questioned. but no one
| could give any idea where it came from.
And what was still more singular, every
body declared that, up to the moment it
was produced, no one had seen it hang
ing on the tree. What do you think
| Well, have my own opinion but no
questions Enough for you to know that
Rupert did not come down stairs again
that night, and the party soon after broke
| up.
81 had almost forgotten these things
for the war of the rebellion broke out
the next spring and was appointed sur
geon in one of the new regiments. and
| was on my way to the seat of war. But
[ had to pass through the city where the
professor lived, and there 1 met him:
My first question was about Rupert.
The professor shook his head sadly
| 'He's not so well, he said !; he has been
declining since last Christmas, when you
saw him. A very strange case. be added
giving it long Latin name, very sin
gular case, But go and see him your
self he urged, '.it may distract his mind,
and do him good. "
II went accordingly to the professors
house. and found Rupert lying on the
sofa, propped up with pillows. Around
him were scattered his books. and what
seemed in singular contrast, that drum
l told you about, was hanging on nail
just above his head. His face was thin
and wasted there was a red spot on
either cheek, and widely opened. He
was glad to see me, and when told him
| where I was going he asked thousand
| questions about the war | thought / had
| thoroughly diverted his mind from its
| sick languid fancies, when he suddenly
| grasped my hand and drew me toward
him.
| Doctor" said he in low whisper,
''you won't laugh at me if / tell you some
| thing?"
| mo. certainly not" said.
| "You remember that drum?" he said,
pointing to the glittering toy that hung
against the wall. "You know, too, how
it came to me. A few weeks after
Christmas, was lying half asleep here,
and the drum was hanging on the wall,
when suddenly heard it beaten; at
FIRST, low and slowly, then faster and
louder, until its rolling filled the house.
In the middle of the night, I heard it
again. / did not dare to tell anybody
about it. but have heard it every night
| ever since"
| "He paused and looked anx:1usly in
| my face. Sometimes, he continued, it is
| played softly. sometimes, loudly, but al
ways quickening to long roll, SO loud
and alarming, that have looked to see
people coming into my room to ask what
was the matter. But think, he repeat
ed slowly. looking up with painful inter
est into my face. that no one hears it
but myself