The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-08-04
TOMPKINS.


He was a small, wiry man, about forty
years of age, with a bright young face,
dark eyes and iron-gray hair. We were
reclining in field, under clump of pines,
on height overlooking Lake Champlain.
Near by were the dull-red brick buildings of
the University of Vermont. Burlington,
blooming with flowers and embowered in
trees, sloped away below us. Beyond the
town, the lake, broad plain of liquid blue,
slept in the June sunshine, and in the
farther distance lowered the picturesque
AdirondackS.
SIT is certainly true" said Tompkins
turning upon his side so as to face me, and
propping his head with his hand, while his
elbow rested on the ground. Don't you re.
member, [ used to insist that they were pc
culiar, when we were here in collegeW
remembered it very distinctly, and Sc
informed my old classmate.
II 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 Chicagow 1 re
marked inquiringlY.
'That has been my residence ever since
we were graduated; that is, for about sew
enteen years." he replied.
You are in business there, 1 believeW
questioned.
Tompkins admitted that he was, but die
not name the particular line.
'Halloow he suddenly called out, rising
to his feet, and looking toward the little
brown road near us. | looked in the same
direction, and saw plainly dressed elderly
couple on foot, apparently out for walk
Tompkins went hastily toward them, helped
the lady over the fence, the gentleman fol
lowing, and a moment later [ was intro
duced to Mr.. and Mrs. Pember, of Chicago
IompklnS gathered some large stones
pulled board off the fence in rather reck
less manner, and fixed seat for the couple
where they could lean againsta tree. When
they We're provided for, l reclined again
put lompklnS stood before us, talking and
gesticulating.
"This," said he, sis the identical
place, Mrs. Pember. Here YOU can see
the beauties have so often described. Be-
fore you are the town and the lake, and be.
yond them the mountains of Northern New
York; and Cf you will please to turn your
twenty miles away, is composed of the
highest mountains in Vermont. The mount.
ans IN front of you are the Adirondacks,
and those behind you are the Green Mount.
aims. You are at the central point of this
magnificent Champlain Valley; and you
are comfortably seated here beneath the
shade, on this the loveliest day of summer,
Dear friends, L congratulate you," and
l. IS,
Pember.
"And there, Timothy" observed the old
gentleman, pointing at the University
buildings with his cane, sis actually where
you went to college,"
sit was in those memorable and classic
halls, as my classmate here can testify. y
replied Tompkins. "And here we roamed
IN 'Academus' sacred shade,' and a good
deal beyond it. Wewent fishing and boat.
4 70
to the mountains in the vacations. In the
mean time, this wonderful valley was pho.
tographed upon the white and spotless sen.
sorium of my youthful soul"
Going, going, going!" cried Mrs, Penn.
Der, with a light, ripping laugh, CHANGING
at me. That is the way I stop Mr.. Temp,
klns when he gets too flowery"
Tompkins looked at me and redeemed
II own up" he remarked, 81 am an auc.
tioneer in Chicago"
fastened to say that | felt sure he was
a good one, and added, in the kinGest way
could, that L had just been WONDERING
how he had become such good talker
rs it a good deal of a come-down? 'i
asked Tompkins, with a mixture of frank.
ness and embarrassment.
l replied that the world was NOT what
we had imagined in our college DAYS. and
that the calling of an auctioneer was hon.
orable.
general conversation followed. in the
course of which it appeared that Tompkins
had boarded at the home of the PemberS
for several years. They evidently looked
upon him almost as their own son. They
We're travelling with him during his sum-
mer rest.
This is queer world" observed Tomp-
klns, dropping down beside me and living
nat on his back, with his hands under his
mead. Il came to college from a hack
neighborhood over in York State and up to
the day was graduated, and for a LONG
time atterward, | thought must be Presi
oent OF the United States, or Presbyte-
ran minister, or great poet, or something
remarkable, and here am an auctioneer. 3
Occasional remarks were made by the rest
OF us for while, but soon the talking was
mainly done by Tompkins.
SAID he: "Since was graduated, never
was back here but once before, and that
was four years ago next August. [ was
travelling this way then and reached here
saturday evening. was in the pork bust.
ness at that time, as clerk, and had Ia
stop off here to see man for the firm.
put up at the best hotel, feeling as com.
Portable and indifferent as | ever did in INV
life. There was not the shadow of an idea
in my mind of what was going to happen
On Sunday morning walked about town
and 1t began to come down on me-"
''What, the town." asked Mrs. Pember.
mo; the strangest and most unaccount
able feeling | ever had in my life" an
swered Tompkins. SIT was thirteen wears
since l had said good-by to college. II
had long ago become apparent to me that
the ideas with which had graduated were
visionary and impracticable. l compre
hended that the college professors
were not the great men 1 had once
Thought them, and that college
president was merely a human being.
had been hardened by fighting my way, as
trlendless young man has to do in great
city. AS the confidential clerk of a large
pork house in Chicago, felt equal to 'the
next man. whoever he might be. If pro
fessor had met me as got off the cars here
Saturday night, it would have been easy
for me to snub him. But Sunday morning
as familiar objects began to appear in the
course of my walk, the strange feeling OF
which have spoken came overme. 1t was
the feeling of old times. The white clouds
the blue lake, this wonderful scenery
thrilled me, and called back the college
dreams"