Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-02-08
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A Romance In ,he Life Of Mr.. Stephens.
From "a Life of Work and Pain" in New York


A Romance In the Life Of Mr.. Stephens.
From "a Life of wO, H., and Pain" in New York
Entering college in this way, young Ste
phens was naturally expected to do well,
and he did not disappoint such expecta-
tions. His progress was rapid, his industry
indefatigable his record as q scholar most
brilliant. Some time after he had been in
the college the project which his patrons
had in regard TO bis entering the ministry
was disclosed 10 him, but feeling that he
was not adapted for the pulpit, he declined
to enter upon religious studies At the
money which his Kind friends had expend-
ed for his education. Subsequently he did
so to the last penny.
On the first Monday in August 1882, still
q child in stature, but with well stored
mind, bright intellect, shining through
almost upernaturslly.brillisnt black eyes
eyes set in face which had never known
and would never know the blush Of health
The graduated, taking with him the h igh-
est honors of his class. His high stan ding
won him much renown in the college town
| and his immediate pecuniary necessities
be was almost without a penny in the
world--were reived by an offer which he
received and accepted, TO teach high
school at Madison, 10 his native state. He
taught tor four months-four months which
he still recalls as the happiest and yet the
saddest period in his life-four months,
during which there came 10 him sorrow
that he will take to his grave.
Among his pupils was a girl of great
beauty and gentleness. With all the sin
cerity and earnestness of q passionate and
refined nature, he loved that girl, But he
was poor-poor almost TO penury, The
curse of ill-health, which had followed
him from his birth chung to him still. He
had great mind, but he was' puny and
Insignificant in body. He was assured by
medical advisers, and he belived III death
might come to him at any moment He
loved with an earnestness, u loyalty, and
unselfsh devotion which few men know
loved with love which in its tender in
tensity, was almost womanish. But for
more than score of years he kept his se-
cause Of his ever,pI esent melancholy.
Day by day and night by night during the
time at Madison, he pondered over the af-
fecticnlwhich he knew could bring him.
nothing but sorrow, and at last he deter
m ned TO resign his position and leave the
place. He depa ted in the night and to
his faithful journal-his only cohfdant-
be impaired the fact that ION that nisht
drove all the way to Crawfordvile, Ihad
a terrible headache-a most horrible head
ache.f OF his wretched headache, Of bis
despair and misery, the poor boy, even. to
his confidential journal, said never word
Years afterwsrd, in writing to his
brother, he half drew the curtain that had
concealed his sorrow and telling some
thing OF those days at Madison said fu-
|ther: II am tempted to tell you secret.
Il is the secret of my life, and / have
never told it to any one, but | will tell it
to you and fear you will not believe it,
but IL Is true, and II you have never sus-
pectedi it that shows how true have to my
self in. keeping it, The secret of my life
has been revenge reVersed-that is, to rise
superior to the neglect or comtumely of
good instead of harm-a determinati n to
war, even against fate, to meet the
world in all its forces, to master evil with
good, and TO leave no foe standing In my
rear My great courage has been drawn
from my despair and the greatest
efforts of my life have been the fruits of
determination and firm resolve excited by
SO slight thing as a look. This feeling,
this principle-csll it what you willis the
handspring of my action. When l have
looked upon the world and seen it filled
with knaves and fools, and have seen in the
whole waste not one well of water from
which l CO Id drsw crop to slake my
thirsting parched soul. With all hopes
bliphted, when 1 have been ready 70 lie
down and die under the weight Of that
grie which is greater than all other griefs--
"a young heart desolate i.a =
In the wide world - rai
II have often had my whole sou reused
with the fury of a lion and the ambiti on of
a Caesar by, repeat, so slight a thing as a
look. What have / not suffered from a
lookP What have l not suffered from, the
tone of a remark, from sense of neglect,
from a supposed injury, and intended in