第57章
After the funeral I rode home with the family.It was pleasanter than the ride down, though it seemed sad to my relations.They did not mention me, however, and I may remark, that although I stayed about home for a week, I never heard my name mentioned by any of the family.Arrived at home, the tea-kettle was put on and supper got ready.This seemed to lift the gloom a little, and under the influence of the tea they brightened up and gradually got more cheerful.They discussed the sermon and the singing, and the mistake of the sexton in digging the grave in the wrong place, and the large congregation.From the mantel-piece I watched the group.They had waffles for supper,--of which I had been exceedingly fond, but now Isaw them disappear without a sigh.
For the first day or two of my sojourn at home I was here and there at all the neighbors, and heard a good deal about my life and character, some of which was not very pleasant, but very wholesome, doubtless, for me to hear.At the expiration of a week this amusement ceased to be such for I ceased to be talked of.I realized the fact that I was dead and gone.
By an act of volition I found myself back at college.I floated into my own room, which was empty.I went to the room of my two warmest friends, whose friendship I was and am yet assured of.As usual, half a dozen of our set were lounging there.A game of whist was just commencing.I perched on a bust of Dante on the top of the book-shelves, where I could see two of the hands and give a good guess at a third.My particular friend Timmins was just shuffling the cards.
"Be hanged if it is n't lonesome without old Starr.Did you cut? Ishould like to see him lounge in now with his pipe, and with feet on the mantel-piece proceed to expound on the duplex functions of the soul.""There--misdeal," said his vis-,a-vis."Hope there's been no misdeal for old Starr.""Spades, did you say?" the talk ran on, "never knew Starr was sickly.""No more was he; stouter than you are, and as brave and plucky as he was strong.By George, fellows,--how we do get cut down! Last term little Stubbs, and now one of the best fellows in the class.""How suddenly he did pop off,--one for game, honors easy,--he was good for the Spouts' Medal this year, too.""Remember the joke he played on Prof.A., freshman year? "asked another.
"Remember he borrowed ten dollars of me about that time," said Timmins's partner, gathering the cards for a new deal.
"Guess he is the only one who ever did," retorted some one.
And so the talk went on, mingled with whist-talk, reminiscent of me, not all exactly what I would have chosen to go into my biography, but on the whole kind and tender, after the fashion of the boys.At least I was in their thoughts, and I could see was a good deal regretted,--so I passed a very pleasant evening.Most of those present were of my society, and wore crape on their badges, and all wore the usual crape on the left arm.I learned that the following afternoon a eulogy would be delivered on me in the chapel.
The eulogy was delivered before members of our society and others, the next afternoon, in the chapel.I need not say that I was present.Indeed, I was perched on the desk within reach of the speaker's hand.The apotheosis was pronounced by my most intimate friend, Timmins, and I must say he did me ample justice.He never was accustomed to "draw it very mild" (to use a vulgarism which Idislike) when he had his head, and on this occasion he entered into the matter with the zeal of a true friend, and a young man who never expected to have another occasion to sing a public "In Memoriam." It made my hair stand on end,--metaphorically, of course.From my childhood I had been extremely precocious.There were anecdotes of preternatural brightness, picked up, Heaven knows where, of my eagerness to learn, of my adventurous, chivalrous young soul, and of my arduous struggles with chill penury, which was not able (as it appeared) to repress my rage, until I entered this institution, of which I had been ornament, pride, cynosure, and fair promising bud blasted while yet its fragrance was mingled with the dew of its youth.Once launched upon my college days, Timmins went on with all sails spread.I had, as it were, to hold on to the pulpit cushion.
Latin, Greek, the old literatures, I was perfect master of; all history was merely a light repast to me; mathematics I glanced at, and it disappeared; in the clouds of modern philosophy I was wrapped but not obscured; over the field of light literature I familiarly roamed as the honey-bee over the wide fields of clover which blossom white in the Junes of this world! My life was pure, my character spotless, my name was inscribed among the names of those deathless few who were not born to die!
It was a noble eulogy, and I felt before he finished, though I had misgivings at the beginning, that I deserved it all.The effect on the audience was a little different.They said it was a "strong"oration, and I think Timmins got more credit by it than I did.After the performance they stood about the chapel, talking in a subdued tone, and seemed to be a good deal impressed by what they had heard, or perhaps by thoughts of the departed.At least they all soon went over to Austin's and called for beer.My particular friends called for it twice.Then they all lit pipes.The old grocery keeper was good enough to say that I was no fool, if I did go off owing him four dollars.To the credit of human nature, let me here record that the fellows were touched by this remark reflecting upon my memory, and immediately made up a purse and paid the bill,--that is, they told the old man to charge it over to them.College boys are rich in credit and the possibilities of life.