Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-07-20
IBORO, VT, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 1888.

selves in our rooms down there in the build.
ings and we were doing the hardest kind OF
studying at tho same time. We would often
club together, one doing the cooking for five
or six. The cook would get of without pay
ing II was one Of the most delightful thugs
in the world to see tall young man in a cali
co dressing gown come out on the green,
whore we would be playing football and
make the motions OF beating an imaginary
gong for dinner. In order to appreciate It,
you need to work hard aud play hard aud live
on the slimmest kind of New England fare
But there is one thing even better than that
10 experience the most exquisite delight ever
known to a Burlington student, you ought to
have an Uncle Jason. While l was teaching
in Wilmington my Uncle Jason from North
Elba, which was close by, came there. When
he found out what an important man I was
and how | was fighting my way, he sympa-
thized wonderfully. He was not on good
terms at our house. but he called at my school
and almost cried over me. He was not man
of much learning but he looked upon those
who were educated as a superior order of be-
ings | was regarded in the neighborhood as
a sort of martyr to SCIENCE genius who was
working himself to death. / was the only
public man ever produced by the settlement
up to that date. II was part Of the religion
of the place to look upon me as something
unusual, and Uncle Jason shared the general
feeling. | could see as he sat there in the
school.house observing the school, that he
was very proud Of me. Before leaving he
called me into the entry and gave me two
dollar bill. It was generous, for he was a
poor man aud had a family to support. 1t
brought the tears to my eyes when he handed
me the money and told me l was the flower
of the family and the pride of the settlement
| felt as if | would rather die than fail to full
Ill the expectations Of my friends. There was
great delight in it, and it was an inexpressible
Joy to know that my relatives aud neighbors
cared 30 much for me.
"To comprehend this thing fully, Mrs Penn
Der, you ought to be in college, and when you
are getting hard up, and see no way but to
leave, get letters, as l did from Uncle Jason,
with five or six dollars at a time in them.
Such trifle would carry you through to the
end of the term, and save your standing in
the class. II you were Burlington college
boy while you might be willing to depart this
life in an honorable manner, you would not
be willing to lose your mark and standing as
student. You would regard the conso-
quences Of such disaster as very damaging
to your character, and certain to remain with
you forever.
II may as well say, while it is on my mind,
that dJ think this matter of education is a
little overdone in this part Of the country.
young man is not the centre Of the universe
merely because he is a college student or q
graduate, and is not best to scare him with
any such idea. The only way he can meet
the expectations of his friends, under such
circumstances, is to get run over accidentally
by the cars. This completes his martyrdoln,
and affords his friends an opportunity to boast
Of what he would have been if he had lived. "
Tell US more about Lucy, said Mrs. Penn
Der.
'Yes, certainly, replied Tompkins. Lucy
had wonderful idea of poetry and writing.
1t is really alarming to a stranger to see the
feeling there is up here in that way. The
| impression prevails generally that writer is
superior to all other people on earth. | re-
member TO have heard that one of our class,
year after VIC were graduated, started a
| newspaper back here about ten miles, on the
bank Of the Onion river He might Just as
well have started it under a sage bush out on
the alkali plains He gave it some queer
Greek name, and heard that tine publication
was first semi-weekly, then weekly, then
very weakly indeed, and finally it came to a
full stop at the end of six months. 1t would
have been ridiculous anywhere else, but, be
ing an astempt at literature, suppose it was
looked upon here as respectable"
And did you use to write poetry 2 queried
Mrs Pember.
mot to any dangerous extent" replied
| Iompkins II do not deny that tried while
| in college, but reformed when | went West.
think Uncle Jason always had an idea that
1t might be better for me to be Daniel Web
ster He stood by me after left college, ant
for three years l continued to get those let
ters with five or six dollars at time in them
| They kept me from actual suffering some
/ tip,ar lafora I not nH &c ~
went to work, like an honest man, in the porh
business"
81 thought you were going to tell US some
thing about that girl" suggested Mrs. Penn
ber."
"Yes, was, assented Tompkina "Wher
| l saw Lucy here four years ago, in the gallery
with the singers, felt as if it would be i'm
| possible for me to meet her and talk with her
She would not have known me, for one thing
When was a brown haired boy, making poe
try, and being a martyr, and doing serenading
and living on Goldfish and crackers and soup
| could meet Lucy with grand air that mad,
her shudder but as l sat there in the church
gray aud worn, dreaded to catch her eye OF
have her see me. Although there was no
three years difference in our ages, it seemed
to me then as if l was very old, while she wa
still blooming. Then thore was the feeliuj
that had not become great poet, or orator
or anything really worth while. On the con
trary, | was just nobody. 1t seemed like at
tending my own funeral. l felt dsgracad
OF course 1t was not all true l had been
good, square, honest, Woodworking man"
Yes you had indeed, Timothy" Rssente,
Mrs. Pember with an emphatic nod.
Yes, indeed had repeated Tompkins
his chin quivering. 'It was not right for
fair minded man to think so poorly of him
self but l was alone, and the old association
and the solemn services were very impressive
There was Lucy in the choir; she could al
ways sing like a nightingale. When l hear
her voice again, it overcame me. | did nc
hear much of the sermon, ! think it wa
something about temptation and the sugges
tions of the evil one but am not sure, fo
had my head down on the back of the peV
in front of me most Of the time. l had t
fight desperately to control my feelings On
minute would think that as soon as the sci
vices ended l would rush around and shak
hands with my old acquaintances, and the neI
minute would be doing my best to swallow tn
lump in my throat. 1t was as tough sixt
minutes as l ever passed but fiually the sci
vices ended. l felt it to be plainly my dut
to stop in the porch and claim the recOgnitio
of my friends. l did pause, and try for fe
seconds to collect myself; but the lump gre'
bigger and choked me, while the tears sSOul
| now. besides that, as the adversary Jul
then in the meanest possible manner, sul
gested to my soul, there was that pork.
knew | would have to tell of it if l stopped
: But did not stop Iretreated When GO
to my room in the hotel felt longing to e
out of town. Fortunately, l could not leav
on Sunday. So in the afternoon 1 sat wit
the landlord on his broad front platform
piazza. 1t was not the person who keeps ii
place now, but one of the old inhabitants, VII
knew all about the burlington people. Il
! guessed that I wGs college boy thought
remembered something about my appearance
did not mind talking freely with landlor,
, for hotels and boarding houses had been N
/ home in Chicago. l had always been sing
man, just as l am to this day. This landlol
3 was a good hearted old chap, and it was plea
ant to talk with him. While We were sittr
there, who should come along the street bl
I Lucy, with book in her hand. She wac q
= the opposite sidewalk, end did not look u
| She would not look at hotel on Sunday.
( asked the landlord about her, and he told u
' all there was to tell She was living in OF
e end of little wooden cottage over toward W
o nooski, another factory woman occupying Il
D other part of the house, They made Il hon
= together. The landlord said Lucy was an e
collont woman, and might have married OF
a = n. T.. -