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About Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1877)
Rkciimuicatk!) Maxims. ln;l afternoon train. Mr. mid Mrs. Mclveet highly delighted, us we have no doubt cjvery doting father and mother would lie under similar circumstances, soon re. tired, leaving Howard alone 5n the with, drawing room. For some time after they had gone he stood at an open window, looking oitl upon t lie moonlit landscape, and pondering upon the events of the last two days. A day is a very small sec tion of a lite, and ordiuariuly hut little is accomplished in it, yel it sometimes hap. pens that the fortunes, or character of a life, are Hexed, or turned into some new channel, by the issues of a single day. It so happened that this evening was the turning point in Howard McKce's life. One might suppose that the realization of a long cherished ideal in this completion of his college course would have elated bis downcast spirit, and banished from his mind the bitterlhoughtsof yesteulay's adversity. And perhaps thia was the case while the excitement of the entertainment lasted, and while his mind was continual- ly occupied with the practical duties be fore him, Hut this was all over with now. lie had received the degree, and the honor, for which he had been striving f.r four years. These were now things of the past, and his thoughts turned from item to the piinful contemplation of the future. To-morrow he started for Europe, leaving behind, in the little village of I) ', the one that he had fondly hoped might accompany him. llis thoughts be came more and more turbulent, as the fu ture seemed more and more gloomy and cheerless; and we may safely infer that at this moment lm would have given up his contemplated tour, his degree, his honor, bis all, to have been se- back six months in life, and been granted the privilege of living and enjoying anew its squandered pleasures. Pleasures whose brightness now like a meteor had passed away, leav ing him in the darkness of despondency. His mental torture at length became so great that he siczed bis bat from a table near bv and rushed out into the quiet eve ning air to cool his heated brain. Down along the quiet suburban street he rushed, as if seeking relief for his mind in his Ileetnes of foot. lie passed on, by hous es, and by pleasant gardens, and soon put a ulle or more between himself and the outskirts of the town. At length he struck off Into a hy-path, leading across a sweet scented clover meadow to the river bepond. Coming to this he seated him self upon its bank, and gazed for some time into its swift-rushing water. Then he arose and began to pace up and down along its bank; listening betimes to the water's solemn gurgle, thekaty.dids in the meadow, and the plaintive cry of a night hawk rn the opposite side of the river. The moonlight seemed so soft, so gentle, so hid, and the bedewed clover blossoms so sweet and fragrant, and all nature so quiet and beautiful, that Howard, pacing to and fro upon the river-bank, could not help feeling gradually tlrtiir silent inllu ences. How many a life has been saved from ruin and destruction ; how many a foul crime averted, how man' a despair ing hope revived, by those silent influen ces of the natural world I For one to commit suicide on a dark and stormy night, when the elements without vie in warfare with the thoughts and feelings within, or among the dark alleys, and filthy hovels, and underground dens, of some of our larger cities, where the pure sunlight of heaven and beautiful nature are seldom seen, does not seem so draugc. But for one to do this enormous deed with both eyes open to the fair world around him, would seem to show him destitute of manhood, destitute of a sense of human responsibility and divine goodness. How ard McKeo's turbulent thoughts were calmed; and as he turned to retrace his steps homeward, he slowly repeated sev eral times to himself these words of Mil ton, as if striving to comprehend their full import: 41 Nor love thy llfenor hate; but what thou llv'dst, , , 4 Live well; how long, how short, penult to heaven," JS s immw'wnTO'WWPM