The student will now pardon me, I trust, if I go somewhat more deeply into things than is customary in text books of this class. That little conquest over pride, that little task honestly performed, earned me something I shall value for ever, something that will be handed down in our family “even unto the third and the fourth generation” (_Habb._ vii. 13). It is something that means far, far more to me than a mere acquaintance with an author could possibly have done. For who can gauge so volatile a thing as friendship? Who could with certitude have pointed me out and said, “There goes _His_ friend”? The Written Thing remained. In my room, nay, just above me as I write, hangs framed the following note in pencil. “Awfully glad to see the stuff in the ‘Herald,’ but say--are you old Caliban? That was rather stiff on a jack high? Wasn’t it? Never mind. You didn’t ask me for my auto, but I send it herewith right along, for I _like_ you.” There is the Man Alone as He IS--.... It seems of small moment, but there is something more. Framed in dark oak and gold very sumptuously, and hanging quite apart, is the little shred of paper which He enclosed. Shall I whisper what is written upon it?...?... The first few jotted notes of the glorious song which rang through the Empire like a bugle-call, and hurled it at Nicaragua. [Sidenote: _Mem.--Can a preposition begin with a capital?_] Hark and attend my Chosen: Ye have heard me _ye_ _people_ Out of the East, _with an introduction_? [Sidenote: _Mem.--Alternative, “with a bag and a blanket.”_] I came and the nations trembled: I bore the Mark _with a_ ■■■■■■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■ _glory about me?_ of the Beast, [Sidenote: _Good!_] And I made ye a hundred books--yea! even an hundred and one Of all the labours of men that labour under the sun, [Sidenote: _Second “yea”? Uncle says “delete.”_] And I clad me about with Terrors: Yea! I covered my paths with dread, And the women-folk were astonished at the horrible things I said. And the men of the Island Race were some of them woundily bored, But the greater part of them paid me well: and I praised the Lord. And when--as the spirit was full--I sniggered and lapped and swore [Sidenote: _Dick says “Days of Yore” is commonplace. Tore? Gore? Lore? More? provisional: see Emily also about it._] As ever did men before me, men of the days of yore (?) When-as the spirit was full--But when it was rare and low I copied the Psalms at random; and lo! it was even so! ■■■■■■■ (_Fill in here: ask_ ■■■■■■■) _Publisher_ [Sidenote: _Uncle says that repetition is Greek. Mem.--plagiarism?_] Then up and arose the Daughter-Nations: Up and arose Fearless men reciting me fearlessly through the nose, Some of them Presbyterian, and some of them Jews, and some