“He had been known to kick a foot-ball over the college buildings, three stories high, and had soundly thrashed three or four town bullies, who were said to ‘travel on their muscle’ for a living. “He never appeared to study very hard. “A pipe was always in his mouth, and, strange to say, he had fascinated all the university officials so effectually, that he went in and out of places considered sacred to every one but the president, or his high and mighty assistants. “The private gardens, even, were open to him, with all their much-envied riches of plums and fruits of various kinds. “And Tompkins had more than once sworn that, when climbing the wall one day to get at some pears, he saw him lying full length on a bench smoking in the vineyards. “Tom seems to have mesmerized the gardeners, or heavily bribed them, for he was never at a loss for the gate keys. “And should they be out of the way, he would simply scale the wall, and commence his evening promenade with the inevitable meerschaum in his mouth. “One evening, two Dons caught him. “They entered the garden, walked along the avenues of vines, and there stood Mr. Tom, smoking as usual, as large as life, with a novel in his hand! “‘I imagined I smelt something,’ one of the old professors said. ‘How comes it, sir, that—don’t you know——’ “Before he could add another word, Tom opened upon him with a fine passage from Virgil, which being apropos as to time and place, and well recited withal, disarmed the anger of the first doctor, who took a pinch of snuff and passed on. “The second was red with anger. “And as he totally eschewed ‘the use of the abominable weed in any form,’ was ready to explode with rage and indignation. “For being a great epicure, he felt certain that most of the grapes would fall to _his_ share at table, and didn’t wish their early growth in any way retarded. “‘Mr. Templeton! I am astounded at you, sir. How dare you imagine that——’ “Tom did not appear to notice his remark, but casting a look of surprise upon the pompous old gentleman in cap and gown, burst forth into a Greek oration from the Iliad. “And before the astonished professor could recover his surprise at the action and voice of Templeton, who was personating Achilles among his ‘black ships banked up on shore,’ left the vine walks in a state of triumph. “Tom had been several years at college, and was deservedly reputed to be the best man ever on the rolls. “He was light-hearted, gay, generous, a good musician, splendid classic, and passionately fond of dancing. “He was courted and petted by all the mothers in town—anxious to provide for their daughters, “The young ladies themselves were oftentimes at loggerheads to see who should advance fastest in his good graces. “As there were several female seminaries within a few miles of town, intercourse was frequent at the houses of mutual friends or relatives.