The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-08-20
A MEDICAL STUDENTS STORY

Such tricks hath strong imagination,
That if he would but apprehend some Joy,
1t comprehends so.ne brighter of that Joy,
Or in the night, imagining some fear,
How easy is bush supposed bear,
Shakespeare; Midsummer Nights Drea;n
It was Christmas Eve, bright, keen,
frosty-such night as causes the we'll
fed citizen to mutfle himself and hurry
home with ruddy face and spangled
whiskers, fully prepared to enjoy the
good things of this life, and, while nurs
ing himself in the genial warmth OF
home, to think with complacent pity OF
the houseless, shivering poor, thankful
that he is not as other men are.
What, after all, would comfort and
pleasure be were it not for a knowledge
and recognition of their antithcses?
But I had no home, except you call
the back garnet of my dismal lodging
house such. had no kindly thoughts
of the world induced by warmth and
good cheer, actual or prospective, for I
was friendless and needy.
l was nineteen years of age and a med
zeal student attending one Of the great
London hospitals. Five years before my
father, who had been reported rich, died
suddenly by his own hand, leaving his
affairs in an lnextricably involved and
embarrassed condition. After things
were made as straight as possible the
creditors generously set apart $50 year
as some provision for my elder brother
and myself, the only and motherless heirs
Of the dead man. One Of them, besides,
offered Charley, who was six years my
senior, and had been for two years in
our fathers banking house, a situation
in India, which would open up the ca
reer for him for which his ambition and
talents fitted him. We were all in all to
each other, Charlie and I, but he was
fitted rather for the world Of men, I for
that Of books and thoughts. He longed
to be a great capitalist and fnancier- TO
control the destinies of States and inaugu-
rate gigantic enterprises. I wanted to be
Psychologist and physiclst-to penetrate
into the mysteries and marvels ct nature
and learn her secrets. Even in those
early days Charley used to laugh at me
when he found me pouring over some
book beyond my com rehension; but he
would, all the same, help me in my diff
culties and even study little himself to
make abstruse things plain to me. ..
He cared for and protected and petted
me, and I loved him very dearly in re-
turn.
Now if he went away what should I
do? We had both been brought up in
luxury, and although I did not fully ap-
preciate the extent of our reverses, knew
it was necessary for both Of us to choose
some definite walk in life and qualify for
it.
Don't cry, old fellow" said Charley,
with grave face, when I chung to him
and besought him not to leave me. II
must 60, but will soon return. You
must be brave, Alan, and go to school for
two or three years yet; then if you still
wish to be a doctor, why you can go to
whatever college is best suited to you. I
have settled all the money on you because
l will have my salary and we could not
both live here on ego year. But work
hard, old boy, and when I come back
we'll enjoy life together. Now don't CRY
SO, Alan;I hate to leave you, but must,
and you are making it so hard.''
AS he spoke he turned away his head
to hide his tears, but knew that my
brave brother was resolved, and l tried to
reconcile myself to his departure.
After he had fairly gone I was very
lonely and wretched; but, remembering
his advice, and anxious to succeed on nv
own account, continued my studies,
and worked hard at school for two years
and half. The principal had been an
old friend Of our fathers and understood
my aims, and, although the yearly board
and school fees amounted to double the
sum at my command, he was contented
with it. and treated me in all thing s as
his other pupils-if possible, indeed,
more kindly.
When was ready to matriculate,
selected London as the best field for
study, and accordingly took leave of nv
old teacher, who gave ME much good adj
vice and a e10 note, making me promise
to write him constantly. A week after
left school he died Of heart disease,
and then had in all England no friend
or counselor.
During my school life Charley con-
stantIy wrote long letters to me, giving
an account Of himself and his pursuits
and encouraging me to persevere and
hope, and after arrived in London I re.
celved three letters from him. 7 lived
as I have said, in a garnet. wanted al
my money tor books and instruments
and fees, and could have spent treble
what had on them, so I chose the
cheapest lodgings could find and live;
from hand to mouth. I never was Of ,
morbid or ascetic temperament. al
though I was studious, but injured m,
physical health and sanity by excess
i've study, insufficient food, and alb
stinence from social intercourse with M
fellow students. Besides, Charleys let
ters unaccountably stopped, and thi
worried me very much. One day, how
ever, a stranger came to visit me at tn
hospital. He was handsome man O
about thirty, but did not like his face
1t was not open or brave like Charley
He said his name was Temple and tina
he had just arrived from India, where h
had seen my brother, from whom he Dor
message. He dearly hoped was work