Saint Mary's beacon., 1892-09-08

4 "~~ " " SAotA an tic mOrul0k
IN the spacious chapel of the Acad.
einy. The bell was fiinging out it,
last peals and all the faculty were
on their platform.
The Professor cf Greek and the
Professor of Latin looked haggard
But the professor of Greek rose
and led the morning service and the
school choir sang the usual morning
hymn As its final strains ceased
the Professor rose again behind the
desk. He had something to say,
and every student supposed he knew
what was coming. None dld, how
ever, with the exception Of the pro-
fessor of Latin. tA ks
Boys said he. and they fairly
started. Never before had there
fallen such tone from the lips of
the severe and somewhat cynical
Professor of Greek. Yesterday /
said to my friend here by me that
could echo Burke, that the days OF
chivalry we're dead.
like you. In some respects YOU
are finer fellows than the boys of
81. You are keener. generally.
and you are much more humane.
But, on the other hand, you seem
less Spartan. You take pretty good
care Of yourselves, and you take
your surroundings pretty well into
consideration. In short, as a class,
you're accustomed to be waited
upon. And so yesterday / passed
cruel judgment upon you.
And in two hours from the time
the words were out of my mouth
God let me see hero out of your
number die! How weak and wordy
l was! l stand rebuked before you.
The fashion of this world passeth
away, but mankind is the same form
age to age. For no Spartan in the
renowned pass, lying out all night
with his sash fast tied to the next
mans so there counld be no skulk-
ing, and waiting till
The morning sun
Should rise, and give him light to die
and no knight in the days of old
fhasa. dasrs -svlsasl en faso;n.4e xrn,,
my boys-eyer counted life as dross
more than McClune did
He stopped short, in amazed sill
ence of the school. Then there
was a hesitating clap or two, and
then quick, shrill bark of ap-
plause, which grew and grew until
the roof rang.
After all the classes had given
their cheers and McClune's own
had added three times three, the
boys became aware that a white
headed minister of the place was
upon his feet and endeavoring to be
heard.
MY young friends' cried he, in
a pathetically worn voice, I'D like
to make a suggestion. l came in
here like a good many of the town
people to hear a choice requiem,
which it has been rumored the
school choir is going to render now
in memory of their departed COM
rade.
'But it doesn't appear to me
young McClune needs any requiem.
1t is permitted to few to be the
inspiration he is at this moment.
|, too, thought we had fallen upon
days of flesh and Drawn, and not
much besides; and here is this lad
going just as modestly aud quietly
as the lads used to.
Il wish to made the suggestion
that, instead Of the requiem, we
sing the hymn on the Saith page,
common metre.
There is land Of pure delight.
Where saints immortal reign"
The choir was well bred, and laid
by the sheet music in favor of the
ola-fashioned tune, the school look
ing slightly quizzical at first. But
one by one the hymbooks strewed
upon the benches were opened, and
the volume of voices augmented,
until from the sporting set who
neglected music to the hard workers
who had no time for cultivation OF
their voices, every fellow of them
was joining and sending the blood
tingling from heart to finger-tips
of the old minister; but as they
reached the last line the subtle sad.
ness underlying the majestic words
touched their quick feeling to re.
membrance of McClune, and the
melody sank in caressing depths
as the 800 sang with the matchlesl
charm of young emotion,
"But jordan rolls between"