Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-08-26
The Ventriloquist.

sessed to an astounding degree the pow
er of ventriloquism. We had entered
college together was his roommate,
and many were the times that my friend,
while, we were sitting together of apgeve-
ming after all had retired to rest, had
given me proofs Of this astonishing fac
ulty, by filling the garret with screams
of turkeys, the squealing of pigs and.
with different limitations of the human
voice, which he would convey away to
some remote distance, and then gradual
ly bring it nearer until it reached the
place where we were sitting. 1t was un-
known to all the students except myself
that Tim possessed this power, and he
exercised it only on few occasions
while at college, and in one instance
made it subservient to the accomplish
ment of at least his own good, and
thwarted the purpose of villainy.
Tim was humorous, yet frank and
noble-minded fellow-an excellent sehol-
ar, and much beloved by his classmates.
There was fellow in the sophomore
class by the name of Benson, the son of
wealthy landholder, who possessed but
little talent, but who had that superficial
and insolent, contemptuous bearing to-
ward all those students whose circum-
stances were inferior in wealth to his,
that rendered him deservedly unpopular
among the class; yet notwithstanding,
as he was the son of Major Benson, who
was an aristocrat of the old school, and
who was desirous that his son should be
placed in the highest rank of academic
honors, the tutors (as in duty, or rather
in interest bound) made much of David,
and did not scruple to exercise lenien-
cy and forbearance toward him, which
did not extend to others and although
dozens of the farmers sons, among whom
was my friend Tim, outstripped him in
study and the attainment of science, still
there was evidently desire on the part
of the tutors to put him ahead, and to
prophesy that he was destined to become
the greatest scholar of them all. This
misplaced favoritism, added to the inso-
lent and consequential bearing of Ben
son, procured for him the unanimous
dislike of all the inmates of the school,
and many were the pranks that were
played eff upon him. David affected a
sentimentality and romance, which was
in him perfectly ridiculous and he
would sometimes perpetrate doggerel
which he submitted to the criticism Of
the tutors, and sometimes to the student:
deficient in meaning or measure, ex
cept where he had stolen entire snatche.
from Byron's "Hours of Idleness,'' anc
which never failed to give him the sneer
of the school in the same proportion a!
his verses were commended by the teach
! ers. On one occcsion he appeared at al
adjoining village with a copy of hi
latest effort tackled to the skirt of hi
coat, which some mischievous studen
: had pinned there during school hours
and before Benson's departure. /
During summer vacation ball wa
given at the neighboring village, an
. Benson and Tim, among other student
who remained during vacation, were in
d vited to attend. Among the young Ia
dies in attendance at the ball was Eliz
: Ayers, beautiful girl of eighteen. whol
report said was great -heiress. Sh
:. was an orphan, under the guardianshi
IN of her uncle, miserly old fellow, who's
tyrannies, though often extended owe
his own household, had as yet been kel
from his ward. Benson was here intr
duced to Miss Ayers, and exercised tt
. whole of his powers to render himse
: agreeable to her. Tim was also intr
duded, and before the evening drew to
close, it was easy to discover that the il
= telligent and beautiful girl had in h
own mind drawn the difference betwee
the two young men. She seemed ammo
ed at the aped tomfooleries sof, Benso
while she listened with respectful a
tention and a smile to the conversatit
IS. of Tim. Tim was standing by Mi
5, Ayers, who after some remarks as to Il
" happy manner in which the evening h;
passed away, concluded by inviting Ii
to call upon her at her uncle's. Befo
I. she had finished this sentence, Benst
ew came up, and politeness offered no 9th
alternative than to extend the invitati
to him. He was about to offer to a
y company her home, but Tim had be
: too quick for him there. Tim accompa
. led the lady home, and Benson return
mortified to his ROOM
: He, however, formed the. determir
: tion of visiting Miss Ayers, feeling t
assurance that Tim would come off S,
ond best when it was known that he "
but the son of farmer in moderate c
cumstances, while he was the son
Major Benson, with a fortune at
command He accordingly called of
l.. on Miss Ayers, and her uncle (for +
sons that will hereafter be explaine
encouraged his visits, and exerted h
,on, self in his behalf as a suitor to his ME
hop Doneo, ,,o,r Love- or,d DC ms