The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-08-06

NelS AtSpeOtdiigB
Prof. Ancient Languages, Wabash College.
Blodgett walked away from the school
house into the dusky June woods. He
was boarding at my fathers then, and
shall never forget the haggard, wistful face
he wore as he came in late that evening.
have since learned that he went straight
from the scene of his disgrace to Miss Hol-
land, whom he found inclined to laugh at
him. The next week he collected what
was due him and left.
was over at Parson Hollands playing
with his boys. The game was humble
peg. We were under cherry tree by q
privet hedge. Presently Miss Holland
came out and, girl-like, began eating the
halfripe cherries. The wind rustled her
white dress and lifted the sunny ringlets
of her wonderful hair. To my bOyish eyes
she was angel-like in her loveliness. The
birds chartered and sang all round us the
white clouds fingered overhead like puffs
of steam vanishing against the splendid
blue of the sky. The girl in white; the
quiet glory of the day; the sweet singing
of the birds; the murmur of the wind in
the dark leaves of the orchard and hedge,
and over all, the delicious sound of run
ming water from the brook hard by, all
harmoniZed; and in a tender childish
mood quit the game and lolled at full
length on the ground, watching the fasci-
mating face of the young lady as she drift
ed about. Suddenly saw her fix her eyes
half-wildly in certain direction. looked
to see what it could be that had startled
her, and there, half leaning over the hedge,
stood Blodgett.
His face was ghastly in its pallor and
deep burrows ran down his jaws. His
pale eyes had in them look Of longing,
blended with sort of stern despair. 1t
was only a moment that his strong frame
toppled above the hedge, but he is indeli-
bly, pictured in my memory just as he
looked.
Goodbye. Miss Holland, goodbye" :"
How dismally hollow his voice sounded.
never saw nor heard of him after that.
Years and years have passed by since then.
Blodgett is no doubt twenty years in his
grave, but never think of him without
a sigh.
Yesterday 1 was in the old neighbor-
hood, and TO my surprise, learned that the
log schoOl-house of my boy-days was still
standing. So | set out alone to visit it. |
found it all rotten and shaky, serving as a
sort of barn in which to stow oats, straw
and corn-fodder. The genius of learning
Ildu 1O0S SlilCe HOWL 10 HIlcI uudIt
The great old chimney had been torn or
had fallen down, the broad boards of the
roof were deeply covered with moss and
mold, and over the whole edifice hung a
gloom-a mist of decay.
leaned upon a worm fence hard by
and gazed through a little vacant window
into the old schoOl-room, sorrOwfully dal-
lying with memOry-not altogether sOr-
rOWfilllU other for thp Orla1 faces of chill
dren that used to romp with me floated
across my mind, shining through the sun
light of the old play ground and encrcled
by the halo of tender affections. The
winds sang as of old, and the bird-songs
had not changed a jot. Slowly my whole
being crept back to the past, and then
from within the old schoOl-room came a
well-remembered voice, with certain ma
sal twang, repeating slowly and sternly
the words:
'Armd Uirumque cdnO.'