One of these tributes, especially, was--we are informed by vague tradition--perfectly resplendent for its imagery and diction; contesting seriously, we are assured, the palm, with Homer, Virgil and our Milton; though unlike bright Patroclus and the peerless Lycidas, the subject of the eulogy had not suffered change when it was penned. The eulogy in question compared Ralph to Demosthenes, and said that he must go on in his high course, and gripe the palm from Graecia's greatest son; and that from the obscure shades of private life, his devoted Tumles would watch the culmination of his genius, and rejoice to reflect that they had formerly partaken of lambs-wool together in the classic shades of William and Mary; with much more to the same effect. This is lost; but a few of the tributes, read aloud by Mr. Ralph, are here inserted. The first was poetic and pathetic: "MY DEAR ASHLEY: "Reclining in my apartment this evening, and reflecting upon the pleasing scenes through which we have passed together--alas! never to be renewed, since you are not going to return--those beautiful words of the Swan of Avon occurred to me: 'To be or not to be--that is the question; Whether 'tis better in this world to bear The slings and arrows of--' "I don't remember the rest; but the whole of this handsome soliloquy expresses my sentiments, and the sincerity with which, "My dear Ashley, "I am yours, "----." "No names!" cried Ralph; "now for another: Good old Bantam!" "Oh, Mr. Bantam writes this, does he?" cried Fanny. "Yes, Miss; for which reason I pass it--no remonstrances!--I am inflexible; here is another: "DEAR RALPH: "I need not say how sorry I am to part with you. We have seen a great deal of each other, and I trust that our friendship will continue through after life. The next session will be dull without you--I do not mean to flatter--as you go away. You carry with you the sincere friendship and kindest regards of, "Dear Ralph, your attached friend, "---- ----." "I like that very much, Mr. Ralph," said Redbud, smiling. "You'd like the writer much more, Miss Redbud," said the young man; "really one of the finest fellows that I ever knew. I want him to pay me a visit--I have no other friend like Alfred." "Oh, Alfred's his name, is it!" cried Fanny; "what's the rest? I'll set my cap at him." "Alfred Nothing, is his name," said Ralph, facetiously; "and I approve of your course. You would be Mrs. Nobody, you know; but listen--here is the enthusiastic: "MY DEAR ASHLEY: "You are destined for great things--it is yours to scale the heights of song, and snatch the crown from Ossa's lofty brow. Fulfil your destiny, and make your country happy!" "---- ----." "Oh, yes!" said Fanny; "why don't you!" "I will!" "Very likely!" "I'm glad you agree with me; but here is the _considerate_." And turning the leaf, he read-- "I SAY, OLD FELLOW: