The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-02-18
NIPPED IN THE BUD.

When was boy, attended pub
lie school in New England town not
many miles from the Hub. The teacher
of classics in that institution was man
of the name of Virgil Moneon, who
was by birth and training Puritan,
but one whom culture had somewhat
liberalized. though no retained many
prejudices of the average Yankee.
In person he was short, heavy and
thicksct. His head was dome shaped,
but it appeared to mo that his bumps of
veneration and combativeness had been
unduly developed at the expense of the
bumps of conjugal affection, which was
sufficient explanation of the fact that he
had not yet committed matrimony.
though he had turned 30 at the time l
first knew him.
Whatevey may have been his defects,
l must do him the justice to say that
his forehead was broad and high, sure
sign of intellectually; his nose of the
Roman variety, which always indicates
strength of character and tenacity of
opinion, while his manner of compress
ing his lips pointed not the less certain
~ to his firmncsS, to which n square
chin also contributed.
His disposition was by no means
lamblike nor his temper cquable, as
his red hair-what there was of it-and
red beard bore abundant testimony to
the contrary. 1 greve TO say that much
learning had made Mr. Monsoon not
mad, but bald. The dome part of his
head was wont to shine like the golden
dome of the state capitol in Boston, es-
pecially after the vigorous polishings he
gave it in his toilet. \ fringe of sandy
hair surrounded the aforesaid bald sur
face like the divcrging rays of light
around the aurora borealis.
Add to the foregoing an cXcitable
temperament, q quick and nervous man
ner, love of pedantic display. a fond
ness for Greek and Latin roots and
most of all for natural science, and you
have tolerably fair description of an
interesting personality.
1t was our professor g habit to seek
recreation in the woods during the in
tervals of pedagogical labor, and there,
amid the sighings of trees, the singing
OF birds and the chirpngs of crickets.
to combine his pursuit of health with
the study cf natural science. After
spending AN afternoon in the fragrant
secluslcn Of the forest he would return
with his pockets full Of botanical and
chronological specimens. Among the
last may bc mentioned caterpillars.
moths, butterflies and other deniacns Of
the woods.
His room was next door 10 mine and
had the appearance of amuseum. There
were numerous books, of course. on all
sorts of subjects. fcrncrics, cahinets Of
| minerals and chlorolorncd butterflies
suspicious bottles containing queer croa-
lures in al stages Of alcoholic intoxica-
| ton and aquaria containing living fish.
toads, lizards and So on
| Absorbed as no WAS III his duties at
school, his favorito studies and pursuits.
Mr.. Monsoon had had little time to think
of matrimony, and though some design
ing mainmas had pressed the question
homo to him his invariablc reply had
BEEN
II don't need a wife. ana happy
enough as | am.
This reply served as il wet blanket to
the enthusiastic interest his lady ac-
| quaintanccs entertained in his happi-
ness. Though his character and dispo-
sitlon were not such as TO make him
| popular with the fair sex. still the few
who knew him respected him, wondered
at his prodigious learning. which he
took no pains to conceal, and secretly
laughed at his eccentricitics and hob
| bics
Having eyaded Cupid darts SO long
and with such signal success, no one
| supposed for moment that he would
succumb at last TO the charms of a
coqucttish country girl. But So it turned
ont, thus proving the truth Of the old
adago that there is no fool like an orl
| fool. He fell avictim To love so late i'll
life that, like mumps and measles, it
attacked him with greater virulcncc
than it would have done in his Younger
| days.
The gil. whom we will simply call
Lillian, Was 4 l.Un,J,r o. Fascinating
manncrs. Int ratasr lonely features.
| Bnt II aAt satisfied IL No.son'a no
teens Of al i'!cVl woEaA no ouo Oh,
had Il 4, ilr - complain. ,;hc was s.iii
atteud.a9 +spol ru.. u i."as - yea.
] Of ":5c auu az !.:' wonld lave il wa
| boarding. j :ae S;.ac hons, ~ the Ir.
tcssor. Ii ,r::s a rycl hv the landiaG,
and her dlueiiic. i.lnt ai,cI Lillian S I'd
| vcnt Mr. thomson w... hanged from go
! OIrG sell lie Dnjl ~, &c attention tc II 4,