Year: 1862




So take your course at ease, girls,


And act to suit your mind


You'll tame your bitterest enemies,


And make theA sesd and fiad. :.
~ Res Hin was q romantic and beauti-
Sui spot, surrounded BY tbickly set
tied and thriving neigbbOrhood. It de-
rived its name from the many clusters
of wild rose bushes which covered its
steep and grsvelly sides. On the top
of this hill stood small white school
house, decorated by shade trees of ce-
dsr and locusts. Indeed it was love-
ly spot, and from it you had a view Of
the surrounding neighborhood for some
distance. Green meadows stretched
far away to the right, intermingled
with silver-running streams; there were
large fourishing farms here and there,
dotted with peaceful looking houses of
brick, frame or bewn log. On those
farms you might see an ancient barn,
surrounded by herds of cattle quietly
grazing over the grassy fields. and focks
Of milk-white geese floating gaily over
the smooth surface of the ponds and
brooks, or plucking the low grass. or
sending forth their shrill cries at some
passer by. Now and then you could
hear q rural song, in clear musical
tones, floating out on the air, and the
continual and monotonous sound of
some dozen looms kept merry music to
the tune of industry. Here and there
q stout farmer boy would sally forth,
axe in hand, and whistling gaily as be
sought his daily occupation in the syl-
van background beyond the luIuriant
fields.


Such were the romantic scenes which
rendered so interesting that lovely
place. From 8 glance over this beau
tiful vale one would suppose peace and
kindness to reign supreme among its
industrious and enterprising inhabitants,
and so it was, for they lived almost as
one family; but although thus living
united in themselves. they, like many
others of the present day, bore dis
trustful GOODNESS toward all strangers
whose lot should happen TO be cast
among them. They were treated at
first with kind Of shyness bordering
on scorn; whether this was attributable
to real animosity Of nature or the
quiet and almost secluded mode Of life
to which they had so long been accus-
toned, almost wholly uninterrupted by
the outer world, remains to be told.


1t generally took family moving in
the neighborhood something over year
to become sufficiently acquainted with
their curious ways to be admitted into
their society. The students of Rose
Hill College, were considered the hard
est set Of any Of the four surrounding
districts; and for the past year no one
dared to teach at Rose Hill. it was by
no means an envisble position, and
none seemed willing to place their good
temper in jeopardy among such a
band of mischief loving and overbearing
youngsters. 1t seemed as il the young
folks had fnll possession Of Rose Hill
College, and were bound to hold it, but
how well they succeeded, the sequel of
our story will prove.


At length it was rumored throughout
the entire neighborhood that family
had moved into the old unoccupied
brick, formerly called by the name Of
Pigeon Hall, from the focks of white
pigeons which the former inhabitants
Of that dwelling had reared and left
there. The whole neighborhood was
thrown into an intense excitement on
hearing the news of the arrival Of the
strangers, and the many usual queries
went the rounds as to who they we're,
what they were, and what they looked
like. But to all this questioning no
very decisive answer could be obtained;
no one knew anything of them, only
that they we're French family of the
name of Desteile. Some of the boys
of the neighborhood declared they had
seen some half dozen girls in passing
Pigeon Hall, while the girls (only wish
ing it was true protested that the only
occupants of the Hall we're an elderly
gentleman and lady. No enc had as
yet called on the Desteiles, or in any
way welcomed them into the society oI
the neighborhood, but at length curiosi.
tJ waxed so strong among the girls
that the Desteiles were talked OF in ev.
ery loom house, kitchen and cow-yard
When the inhabitants were assembled
around their cheerful 6resides at night,
after the performance Of their days
labor, the new comers seemed to be the
favorite theme of conversation among
them.


A week dragged slowly by. weel
of the most intense anxiety and rest
lessness, 1t seemed 10 most Of the in
habitants, both young and eld,- of Rose
Hill Vale, and when Sabbath came, q
bright, beautiful and lovely morning al
ever dawned, all was hustle and confu-
sion, every one preparing to attend
church at Rose Hill College, each ho.
ping to get sight OF the long looked
for and much tslked-of strangers.


The hour of commencement wa;
eleven A. NJ, but long before the ap
pointed hour arrived there was quite {
congregation assembled; the seats wer.
nearly all occupied BY the ladies snt
elderly gentlemen. There we're, as i
usual on such occasions, goodIy mum
per Of young men collected in group