The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-03-31
MY HERO.

MY HERO.
I had but one hero in my childhood,
and that was brother whom had
never seen.
When I was born my mother died,
and Douglas, then lad of seventeen,
was sent to the Naval Academy at An
napolis. He went into the navy a few
years later as midshipman, and was sent
on four years cruise.
Jenny, my sister, and Ireceived boxes
! from him from China, Australia, India,
with strange, costly toys, and joking,
affectionate letters, which we priced
more than the gifts. "rvaG L @
We talked necessarily at school of
"my brother, the Captain" and be-
ieved that the adventures of Sinbad
we're tame beside those which we i'm
agined for him. He was, in short, the
one heroic and brilliant, though unseen.
figure in our commonplace lives, upon
which we hung all the romance and
fancy which came to us from other
sources. t,,... r.. r..r~..s .-fr--
My father died when I was a boy of
ten. Capt. Douglas came home in
time to see him before he died. T re-
member of being led with Jenny to
fathers bedside, where a tall, bearded
man stood, who put his arms about us,
and, with broken voice, said:
"Before God, father, promise you
that they shall be my care |"
He was compelled to join his ship as
soon as the funeral was over. The next
week Jenny and I were removed to the
town of Clinton, where we were placed
at different boarding schools.
For nine years this invisible brother
was our guardian angel. Nothing that
money could supply was wanting to us.
His letters, always full of a sailors roll
licking fun, were also tender as wom-
ans.
There was strange sensitiveness, too,
in his affection that might have belonged
to mother.
Whatever schools we were in, he al
ways insisted that we should be free to
pass one day in the week together and
on that day we usually compared his let
ters, or messages, and brought him be.
fore each other in yet more heroic col
ors.
There was certain mystery about
him, too, which added to our romantic
affection. Why did he never come to
see us? Surely in nine years he could
have had furlough!
We begged him in our letters to come,
but instead came only playful excuses.
"All very handsome men are modest"
I said to Jenny, with the authority of a
college Senior, "and my recollection of
brother Douglas is that of a man of q
superb presence and the highest type of
manly beauty"
At last the day came when was to
graduate, and Jenny to leave her school
in the same town. It was impossible for
Douglas longer to remain wholly sepa-
rated from us. We both wrote to him.
"Surely," I said, "you will no longer
refuse to come to us. You have been
father, brother-aQ to us. Let me show
you to my friends"
I tried to tell him how noble he
seemed to me; how had made him the
model of my own life. "Come to u.s."
urged. Help me to be man like
yourself"
Jenny inclosed note, which I read
and had half mind not to send, so
simple and girlish did it seem to me.
"Dear BROTHER" she said, eve have
fright to be with you. God has given
us to each other. You are alone, and
feel that you need the love we have for
you. Let us at least make home for
you you have done every thing for u.s. u
AS if Douglas could need poor little
Jenny and me! I thought of the wisest
and best men, the most beautiful women
in the country, as only court in which
he moved like Prince.
The answer come almost Immediately
Douglas could not be very distant. Il
was, oddly enough, addressed to Jenny
He spoke to her as # she were woman
"You are right, little sister," SO tn
letter ran, need more than you know
home and the love which you say 70,
have given me. had fully resolved
never to show myself to you, but you
words have moved me strangely. It i
as If God spoke to me through them.
will come to you tomorrow"
was wild with triumph. I was full
then of boyish conceit and the desire t.
appear well in the eyes of the world
The commencement day was momen
tous epoch in my life. All of my colleg
companions and lady friends would b
there.
I had spoken to them all of my broth
er. Had described his excellences, an,
his nobleness of character. When toll
them he was coming, they all desired a
introduction.
ST expect him." I said to my mos
intimate friend, Sin the noon train.
suppose the President and faculty vii