Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-07-20
7ONPKINS.

He was small wiry man, about forty
years of age, with bright young face, dark
eyes, and iron gray hair. We were reclining
in field under a clump Of pines, on height
overlooking Lake Champlain. Near by were
the dullred brick buildings of the University
of Vermont. Burlington, blooming with
flowers and embowered in trees, sloped away
below US. Beyond the town, the lake, a
broad plain of liquid blue, slept in the June
sunshine and in the farther distance lowered
the picturesque Adirondacks
at is certainly true, said Tompkins turn
ing upon his side 80 as to face me, and prop
ping his head with his hand, whilo his elbow
rested on the ground Don't you remember,
l used to insist that they were peculiar. when
we were here in college z"
remembered it very distinctly and 30 in
formed my old classmate
- always said" he continued, that |
could not do my best in New England, be.
cause there is no sentiment in the atmos.
phere, and the people are so peculiar
"You have been living in Chicagol - ! re.
marked inquirngly.
"That has been my residence ever since we
were graduated; that is, for about seventeen
years, he replied.
''You are in business there, believe z" ]
questioned
Tompkins admitted that he was, but did
not name the particular line.
"Halloo :" lie suddenly called out rising to
his feet and looking toward the little brown
road near us | looked in the same direction,
and saw a plainly dressed elderly couple or
foot apparently out for walk. Tompkini
went hastily toward them, helped the lady
over the fence, the gentleman following, and
moment later / was introduced to Mr.. and
Mrs. Pember Of Chicago.
Tompkins gathered some large stones, pull
ed board of the fence in rather reckless
manner, and fixed seat for the couple where
they could lean against tree When they
were provided for, reclined again. but Tomp
kins stood before us, talking and gesticulating
This" said he, ''is the identical place, Mrs
Pember. Here you can sec the beauties
have so often described Before you are the
town and the lake, and beyond them the
mountains of Northern New York and, I'll
| you will please to turn your head that grea
blue wall behind you, twenty miles away, il
composed of the highest mountains in Yer
mont The mountains in front Of you ar,
the Adirondacks and those behind you ar,
the Green Mountains. You are at the cen
trial point Of this magnificent ChamplaiI
Valley and you are comfortably seated her,
beneath the shade on this the lovelest day o
summer Dear friends, l congratulate you,
and Tompkins shook hands with Mr.. an,
| Mrs. Pcmber
"And there, Timothy" observed the oil
gentleman, pointing at the University build
ings with his cane, "is actually where yo,
went to college
1T was in those memorable and cassi
halls, as my classmate here can testify" re
piled Tompkms. "Aud here we roamed il
'Academus' sacred shade, and good deal be
yond it, We went fishing and boating durin
term time ana made long trips to the noun
tains in the vacations. In the mean time, thi
wonderful valley was photographed upon tn
white and spotless sensorium of my youthfu
memory
"Going, going, going :" cried Mrs. PembeI
with light ripping laugh, glancng at me
THAT is the way stop Mr.. Tompkins whe
he gets too tiowery."
Tompkins looked at me and redeemed "
own up" he remarked, Il am an auctiouee
in Chicago"
l hastened to say that felt suro he was
good one, and added, in the kindest way
could, that had Just been wondering how h
had become such good taiker.
''Is it good deal of come down p asko
Tompkins, with a mixture Of frankness au
embarrassment.
replied that the world was not what W
had imagined in our college days and tina
the calling of an auctioneer was honorable.
A general conversation followed, in th
course of which it appeared that Tompkir
had boarded at the home of the Pembers fc
several years. They evidently looked upo
him almost as their own son. They wer
travelling with him during his summer rest
"This is queer world, " observed Toni
kins, dropping down beside me- and lyin
fiat on his back, with HE hands under h
head. II came to college from back neigl
borhood over in York state, and up to the da
l was graduated, and for long time afte
ward, l thought must be President of Ii
United States, or Presbyterian minister {
great poet, or something remarkable, az
here am an auctioneer"
Said he, "Snce was graduated, l new,
was back here but once before, and that vi
four years ago next August. was travelir
this way then, and reached here Saturdt
evening. l was in the pork business at tn
time, as clerk, and had to stop of here
see man for the firm. ! put up at the be
hotel, feeling as comfortable and indiiiere
as l ever did in my life. There was not Il
shadow of an idea in my mind of what vi
going to happen. On Sunday morning
walked about town, and it began to con
down on me-"
what the town 2" asked Mrs. Pember.
''No; the strangest and most unaccount
BILE feeling l ever had in my life," answer
Tompkins. at was thirteen years since hi
said goodbye to college. 1t had long ago
come apparent to me that the ideas wi
which l bad graduated were visionary al
impracticable. l oomprehended that the CT
lege professors were not the great men h
once thought them, and that college pre-
dent was merely human being. l had be-
| hap1apaH nv nghlipr, a. n fria Ia
young man has to do in a great city Al
confidential clerk of large pork house
Chicago, felt equal to the next man, VIII
ever he might be- II professor had met
as got off the cars here Saturday night,
would have been easy for ne TO snub hi
But Sunday morning. as familiar objects
gan to appear in the course of my walk, I
strange feeling of which ! have spoken car
over me. 1t was the feeling of old tim,
The white clouds, the blue lake, this wond
full scenery, thrilled me, and called back
college dreams"
As he spoke, my old classmates voice tire
bled.
"You may remember that used to Ii
Horace and Virgil and Homer" he remarkt
sitting up, crossing his feet tailor-fashion, a
looking appealngly at me.
1 replied, enthusiastically and truly, Il
he had been one of our best loverG of
poets.
"Well," continued Tompkins, that 81
day morning those things began to co
back 10 me. 1t wasn't exactly delight
My old ambition to do something great in
world awoke as if from long sleep. A
prolonged my walk the old associations q
stronger. When l came near the coll
buildings it seemed Gs If l still belonged he
The hopes of an ideal career were before
as bright as ever. The grand thinRs /