Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-02-26
A Bitter Nut.


Who cracks the nut tonight? ? 1t was an
odd way of expressing it, and meant-who
tells the storyP
You see, we had fashion of meeting, the
last night Of the year, recounting the events
OF the past twelve months, and then finish.
ing with story, dull enough sometimes,
but never omitted. We graduated class
OF thirty-ive. After four years companion
ship, we parted commencement day, agree
ing to meet, by letter or person, the last
night of every year.
The first twelve months scattered us
widely; three of us crossed the sea, dozen
or more went toward the setting sun, one
cast anchor where there is no sailing away,
and only ten ever came together.
Located within radius of hundred
miles, we find it possible to meet The
world has given us many hard knocks, and
we find life for the most part uphill work
but this night has charm. For time we are
emancipated from care and toll, and, as the
old year laps on to the new, we again stapd
on the threshold of life-we live our old
scenes, crack old jokes, and bring back the
dear, ambitious days when we thought the
world waited for us, and would eagerly rec
ognize our worth.
Two of us are distinguished 1.-The two who
ended the class-not where the honors lay,
but the dissertation. They starred some
names on the college programme that never
shone again.
"Boys, do you remember the COW that
brought into the chapel ?"
We were grey-headed, but on this night
boys still. 1t was one of our distinguished
ones who spoke-a professor with LID. at
tached to his name.
Yes, and how old Professor got the best
of us on that joke. can see him now, rest
ing on his cane, his keen eyes twinkling
and his voice slightly sarcastic.
Gentlemen, he said, knew the COW
was inside, as the calves were about the
door,"
"Do you remember when he caught us
with our new kerosene cans filled with burn
ing fluid-not the sort the outside would in
dictate, but what we were pleased TO call our
nectar Gentlemen, he said, your recita-
tions do not show so much illumination as
these frequent purchases would seem to
warrant; permit me to examine. All
see; you fill your stomachs instead of your
lamps He turned out the best old cognac
in the market, and lett us blue set. No
use to try that dodge again. The contents
OF those cans so often smuggled up the
hill did more damage than we can ever
calculate"
1t was our other distinguished one who
spoke-a comparatively young man, but al
ready leading his profession an author of
note, and an authority on scientific as well
as medical subjects.
81 am appointed to crack the nut to-
night" he continued the nut is some.
what bitter, and may not be to your taste,
but bear with me, for the story has some
thing to do with the kerosene can of our
college days. You see, the fire kindled then
in many cases burned on, blue flame, re.
morseless and scorching, licking up, as does
a prairie fire, every spear of verdure, leaving
only blackened plain"
You never carried the can," interrupted
the LID. with sly laugh.
No, no." answered the doctor with dig.
nifty; "but when the fun came in that had
the true ring in it, | was not behind, YOU
know that we'll held from the start that
man was not made beast, but the master
of himself. My motto was, to throw on the
ground what would place me there. | meant
to keep my head level and my feet steady
have drank with you every night, and had
my toasts over ruddy wine; tonight | shall
refrain. As for you, let social glass alone
until my nut is cracked, and then, if you
wish, pledge yourselves, aud pass the bumper
round. | ask it as favor, said the doctor
Certainly" was the answer but there
were some dry throats, and quite dampel
was thrown upon us.
We who had come together for gooC
time did not like a chill we would rather
feel our pulses bounding, even though tn,
reaction brought headache and nausea.
The doctor began in his clear manly tone
You remember when we met two wear.
ago had joined the Scientific Exploring
Party, and was to have started with then
the first of February. | had calculated
good deal on this experience and champion
ship to aid me in some private researches
but was disappointed. did not 60 witt
them. went alone three years later, anc
although gained little where had plan
ned much, found what least expected
and have reason to thank God that missed
the party.
Interested as | am in explorations of al
sorts, uuearthing cities, uncovering mines
bringing out of rubbish regulated palace
aud out of mud brilliant gem, find, aftel
all, my chief delight is in studying the hu
man family, the ills of the body and the tor
lures of the mind, tracing the cause and seek
ing the cure.
1t seems as if doctor carried his profes
sion outside. | never came into a towr
without being consulted within twenty -foul
hours. i might spin you dozen stories
and crowd them with humor and pathos, but
tonight have only one to tell.
was sitting in the reading-room of thai
splendid new hotel in San Francisco, trying
TO decide whether would visit the Missions
or go directly TO the quicksilver mines, wher
one OF the walters came to me with a white
scared face, saying
doctor, there Is man upstairs crazy
as IA loon the clerk wants you to 60 to him.
answered by rising TO my feet and fol
lowing the fellow, who himself seemed lik,
madman, going up the stairs three at {
| time
He is there" he said, pointing to No. 81
lie is smashing the furniture, and cursinl
like the demon. He's got the horrors, anc
the best thing he can do is to throw him
self out OF the window"
Is the door locked 2"
"No," said the terror-stricken waiter
And turning, he fled as if hundred de
mons were at his heels.
opened the door and went in.
The poor man was crouching behind the
bed his teeth were chattering, and his face
was white as the counterpane he had wrapped
about him.