Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-08-02
THE TWO STUDENTS.
Paliar circumstances Under Which They
Several Times Met

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Several Times Met.
.mong the many interesting pieces
obersonal history which, one by one,
al coming to light as local episodes OF
bcivil war, few are more striking
TIN the story of two young men,
wo, shortly before the war broke
OF, were fellow students and room
mites at a college In Pennsylvania,
Oh of them a SOutherner.
Both were hard students, and as
pied to be leaders of their class, and
in time the sharp rivalry between
tim changed their friendship to bitter
ernity. Mutual charges were made,
and the hostile feeling finally culmi-
nted in challenge from the south
ener, which the other treated with
Contempt.
After graduation the young duelist
want home, and in the cares and ex-
clements Of the following years his
cdlege quarrel was forgotten. The
memory Of it suddenly came back to
him one day, after he had become a
discovery of a surviving hatred.
1t was at the battle Of Stone River.
Our student, now Confederate Off
ce, was riding across the battlefield,
when his horse nearly trod upon a
wounded Union soldier. He dis
mounted, with the humane intention
of giving some assistance, but when
he looked the soldier in the face he
,scognized his old college enemy. He
tirned quickly to remount his horse,
hut better thoughts and feelings
checked his first cruel impulse, and
"in Christ's name" he caused the sol
der to he removed to place Of re-
fuge, and procured for him the SER
vices of surgeon and a chaplain.
The wounded man knew his deliv-
erer, but was too weak to utter in
quiries or thanks. Informed that his
wound was fatal, he could only re-
quest that his mother be written to,
and assured that he died like true
soldier" and this kind service also the
southern officer faithfully performed,
as soon as the battle was over.
He had no suspicion that the care
he had secured for the sufferer would
prove the means Of saving his former
enemy's life.
After the war the northern man
wrote to thank his forgiving enemy
but no answer was received, and fur
ther inquiry brought the information
that he had been killed.
Twenty-one years passed; the north
erner was physician in prosperou:
practice, when business called him tt
Charleston, S. G. In a street of thai
city, then partly in ruins, the two mer
who had twice been dead to each othel
met again.
The startled doctor saw the class
mate who had once been willing II
take his life, and once had saved it
The man had lost his all in the grea
earthquake; and his old enemy ant
grateful friend took him and his needy
family back with him TO his own city
and established him in a good situa
ton.
Not often does the chance of shift
ing events enable penitent foes to for
give and repay each other after thi
romantic fashion; but the Christian
spirit may always be exercised, ant
may be all the more praiseworthy, be
cause all the more difficult, if main
tained in the midst of commonplace
and every day surroundings.
And even if there be no opportunit.
for its display, if the old enemy b
dead, or his whereabouts unknown
we may still cherish the kindly feel
ing, and be sure that the will is count
ed for the deed.-Youth's Companion