Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

VI.

O glory of our race that so suddenly decays!

O crimson flush of morning that darkens as we gaze!

O breath of summer blossoms that on the restless air

Scatters a moment's sweetness, and flies we know not where'

VII.

I grieve for life's bright promise, just shown and then withdrawn ;
But still the sun shines round me, the evening bird sings on;
And I again am soothed, and, beside the ancient gate,
In this soft evening sunlight, I calmly stand and wait.

VIII.

Once more the gates are opened; an infant group go out,
The sweet smile quenched forever, and stilled the sprightly

shout.

O frail, frail tree of Life, that upon the greensward strows Its fair young buds unopened, with every wind that blows!

IX.

So come from every region, so enter, side by side,

The strong and faint of spirit, the meek and men of pride. Steps of earth's great and mighty, between those pillars gray, And prints of little feet, mark the dust along the way.

X.

And some approach the threshold, whose looks are blank with fear,

And some whose temples brighten with joy in drawing near,
As if they saw dear faces, and caught the gracious eye
Of Him, the Sinless Teacher, who came for us to die.

XI.

I mark the joy, the terror; yet these, within my heart,
Can neither wake the dread nor the longing to depart;
And in the sunshine streaming on quiet wood and lea,
I stand and calmly wait till the hinges turn for me.

W. C. BRYANT.

CVIII. TOM BROWN'S LAST VISIT TO RUGBY.

PART FIRST.

N the summer of 1842, Tom Brown stopped once again

It

at the well-known station; and leaving his bag and fishing-rod with a porter, walked slowly and sadly up towards the town. It was now July. He had rushed away from Oxford the moment that term was over, for a fishing ramble in Scotland, with two college friends, and had been for three weeks living on oatcake and mutton-hams in the wildest part of Skye.

2. They had descended one sultry evening on the little inn at Kyle Rhea ferry, and while Tom and another of the party put their tackle together and began exploring the stream for a sea-trout for supper, the third strolled into the house to arrange for their entertainment. Presently he came out in a loose blouse and slippers, a short pipe in his mouth, and an old newspaper in his hand, and threw himself on the heathery scrub which met the shingle, within easy hail of the fishermen.

3. There he lay, the picture of free-and-easy, loafing, hand-to-mouth young England, "improving his mind,” as he shouted to them, by the perusal of the fortnight-old weekly paper, the legacy of the last traveler, which he had hunted out from the kitchen of the little hostelry, and being a youth of a communicative turn of mind, began imparting the contents to the fishermen as he went on.

4. "What a bother they are making about these wretched. corn laws! here are three or four columns full of nothing but sliding scales and fixed duties.-Ah, here's something better a splendid match between Kent and England, Brown! Kent winning by three wickets. Felix fifty-six runs without a chance, and not out!"

5. Tom, intent on a fish which had risen at him twice, answered only with a grunt.

6. "Anything about the Goodwood?" called out the third

man.

7. "Rory O'More drawn. Butterfly colt amiss," shouted the student.

8. "Just my luck," grumbled the inquirer, jerking his flies off the water, and throwing again with a heavy, sulle::. splash, and frightening Tom's fish.

9. "I say, can't you throw lighter over there? We are not fishing for grampuses," shouted Tom across the stream. 10. "Hullo, Brown! here's something for you,” called out the reading man next moment. "Why, your old master, Arnold of Rugby, is dead."

11. Tom's hand stopped halfway in his cast, and his line and flies went all tangling round and round his rod; you might have knocked him over with a feather. Neither of his companions took any notice of him, luckily; and with a violent effort he set to work mechanically to disentangle his line. He felt completely carried off his moral and intellectual legs, as if he had lost his standing-point in the invisible world. Besides which, the deep-loving loyalty which he felt for his old leader made the shock intensely painful. It was the first great wrench of his life, the first gap which the angel Death had made in his circle, and he felt numbed, and beaten down, and spiritless.

12. Well, well! I believe it was good for him and for many others in like case; who had to learn by that loss that the soul of man cannot stand or lean upon any human prop, however strong, and wise, and good; but that He upon whom alone it can stand and lean will knock away all such props in his own wise and merciful way, until there is no ground or stay left but Himself, the Rock of Ages, upon whom alone a sure foundation for every soul of man is laid.

13. As he wearily labored at his line, the thought struck him, "It may all be false, a mere newspaper lie," and he strode up to the recumbent smoker.

"Let me look at the paper," said he.

14. "Nothing else in it," answered the other, handing it up to him listlessly. "Hullo, Brown! what's the matter, old fellow? are n't you well?"

15. "Where is it?" said Tom, turning over the leaves, his hands trembling, and his eyes swimming, so that he could not read.

16. "What? What are you looking for?" said his friend, jumping up and looking over his shoulder.

"That about Arnold," said Tom.

17. "Oh, here," said the other, putting his finger on the paragraph. Tom read it over and over again; there could be no mistake of identity, though the account was short enough.

18. "Thank you," said he at last, dropping the paper. "I shall go for a walk: don't you and Herbert wait supper for me." And away he strode, up over the moor at the back of the house, to be alone, and master his grief if possible.

19. His friend looked after him, sympathizing and wondering, and knocking the ashes out of his pipe, walked over to Herbert. After a short parley they walked together up to the house.

"I'm afraid that newspaper has spoiled Brown's fun for this trip."

"How odd that he should be so fond of his old master!" said Herbert.

20. The two, however, notwithstanding Tom's prohibition, waited supper for him, and had everything ready when he came back some half an hour afterwards. But he could not join in their cheerful talk, and the party was soon silent, notwithstanding the efforts of all three. One thing only had Tom resolved, and that was that he couldn't stay in Scotland any longer; he felt an irresistible longing to get to Rugby, and then home; and soon broke it to the others, who had too much tact to oppose.

CIX.-TOM BROWN'S LAST VISIT TO RUGBY.

PART SECOND.

Y daylight the next morning Tom Brown was march

Bing through Rosshire, and in the evening hit the

Caledonian canal, took the next steamer, and traveled as fast as boat and railway could carry him to the Rugby

station.

2. As he walked up to the town he felt shy and afraid of being seen, and took the back streets; why, he didn't know, but he followed his instinct. At the school-gates he made a dead pause; there was not a soul in the quadrangle—all was lonely, and silent, and sad. So with another effort he strode through the quadrangle, and into the school-house offices.

3. He found the little matron in her room, in deep mourning; shook her hand, tried to talk, and moved nervously about: she was evidently thinking of the same subject as he, but he could n't begin talking.

"Where shall I find Thomas ?" said he at last, getting desperate.

4. "In the servants' hall, I think, sir. But won't you take any refreshment?" said the matron, looking rather disappointed.

5. "No, thank you," said he, and strode off again to find the old verger, who was sitting in his little den as of old, puzzling over hieroglyphics.

6. He looked up through his spectacles, as Tom seized his hand and wrung it.

"Ah! you've heard all about it, sir, I see," said he.

7. Tom nodded, and then sat down on the shoe-board, while the old man told his tale, and wiped his spectacles, and fairly flowed over with quaint, homely, honest sorrow.

[ocr errors]

By the time he had done, Tom felt much better.

Where is he buried, Thomas ?" said he at last.

8. "Under the altar in the chapel, sir," answered Thomas. "You'd like the key, I dare say."

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »