Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-04-08


! anniversary of Alonzo's birth, when Mr..
Oliver called him into his study, and bade
J him be seated,
! "Alonzo," he said, ~ need not remind
you of the promise made TO your dying
father. If I have helped you, you have
J more than repaid me. II I had son of
my own could not ask that he should be
better than you have been. l have tried
thus far to be just and kind, and the time
has now come when I can put you oD the
road to the business Of your manhood. In a
few weeks must 60 to Washington, but
before I g. will install you into good
position in my store, and the way shall be
open to your advancement
i The youth was greatly moved and was
certainly grateful; but he manifested pain
rather than pleasure.
'sDeaT, good sir" he exclaimed, 81 know
not how to thank you for this renewed to-
ken of kindness. Will do whatever you
think best. If you wish me to enter your
store will do so."
sIf wish itp Have you any other
plans, Alonzo?'
81 have no plans, sir; but have brigh
ambition. l will not plan without your
consent. The Faculty of the college have
offered to admit me as student, and give
me all the privileges of study and regular
collegiate progress, in return for which
am to take charge of the department of
Natural History, and keep the astronomi-
cal instruments in order, and assist in re-
cording the minutes of observations. 1t
offers me an opportunity, sir, Of thorough
collegiate education, for which I can pay
by my own labor"
"And you wish to accept the offer to go
to college?'
ooh, yes, sir"
slIy dear boy, it shall be so; and when
you shall have graduated, the place in my
counting-room shall be open to you, if you
want it. But I could wish that you
would keep your home with Peter, and con-
tinue to make my library your free resort. "
eff did not think it trespassing upon
your generosity and"
"Tutl tut! boy; am pleasing myself in
this. The faculty will allow you to live
outsider"
Certainly
ssThen let Us consider it settled. I will
see the president, and if any further ar
rangements are necessary, will make
them"
Christopher Brett was indignant when he
learned that the gardeners boy was going
to enter college at the same time with him
self; but when he further learned that the
''fellow" was only to be charity student
that he was to be servant to the pro-
fessors in payment for his tuition-he felt
better.
One of the first things Brett did after
the opening of the term was to snub Alon-
70 Wightman, and bid him keep his dis
tance; and he also Influenced others of the
class to give the poor boy the coidss
der.
| But little did it matter to our hero. At
the end of month he left his attendance
upon the class and recited to the professors
privately. He hungered and thirsted for
knowledge, and his tutors took pleasure in
teaching him. As we have already said,
one of his services was the care of the in
struments in the astronomical department.
Before he had been in college year he
had made observations of the great nebula
of Orion, of winch he had drawn an accu
rate figure and written thereon valuable
paper. When he had been two years in
college he made astronomical observations,
and wrote opinions thereon which were
deemed valuable by the scientific profess
sors, and those papers, at the request of
the president, he wrote out in French and
| German.
Meantime Christopher Brett was enjoy
ing himself. He took his college life easy.
spent his money freely, and submitted with
as good grace as possible to the corrections
of his tutors. He drank good deal of
wine, and was hailed as GLORIOUS good
fellow" by his chosen companions. He was
a frequent visitor at the house of Mr..
Glover, and regarded with admiration the
wondrous beauty of Isabel. He had not
been allowed to speak to her Of marriage.
The merchant, had told him that he must
first finish his course at college.
Mr.. Glover was quietly watchful of the
course of both his young friends. He did
not say much, but he saw and thought
great deal.
At the end of four years Christopher
Brett graduated with q degree. He could
write GA B - after his name.
| Alonzo Wightman was made Master of
Arts, and within week after leaving col
lege he was made Fellow of the Society
of Arts.
About this time Mr.. Glover, whose sec
ond Congressional term had expired, was
appointed minister to a European court.
He had arranged to leave his mercantile
business in trusty hands, and would take
his fami with him.
christopher, he said, while he was
making his arrangements for his foreign
mission, ''how are you in French and Ger
man and SPANISH"
"Oh," returned the young man, lightly,
IL have given that stuff the 60 by"
"Then you cannot speak or write those
languages"
"Why, no. The twists and turns of my
mother tongue are enough for me-"
And after this Christopher went out into
the garden, where he surprised Isabel and
Alonzo Wightman in company.
"Well," said Mrs. Glover, coming in af-
ter Brett had gone, "have you spoken with
Christopher?''
eyes, my dear, and find him essentially
lacking. 1t is absolutely necessary that
my secretary should be able to correctly
write and speak French and German, ifnot
Spanish. He really knows nothing of any
language but his own. His time spent on
foreign languages has been simply thrown
| awavS