The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. I., No. 3, November, 1834Various
History
The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. I., No. 3, November, 1834
Various
American literature -- 19th century -- Periodicals
breathing into us the spirit of his own warm heart, robing common
things with the hues of his own bright fancy, and lighting up the very
regions of dulness with the quick and brilliant flashes of his wit. The
grave professors regarded him with amazement, and some of them even
with fear; for sometimes in the spirit of mischief, he would sport with
their heavy and useless learning, and puzzle them sadly with the
subtleness of his inquiries,--leading them unconsciously into the mazes
of metaphysical absurdities, and then leaving them with a quibble or a
jest to pick their way out as they could, floundering at every step,
and conscious of the ridicule they incurred. My other friend, Charles
Drayton, had no peculiar characteristic that calls for present
description. He had ordinary intellect, great application, a kind but
not a warm heart, and a disposition to submit to legitimate authority;
for all which, when we were graduated, he was rewarded with some fifth
or sixth rate honor. The busy pursuits of life soon separated me from
them after our departure from college. They commenced the study of the
law, while I doubting my powers to succeed in the learned professions,
and naturally inclined to an active life, turned my attention to
commerce, and in the course of business, was called on to leave "my
native land" to sojourn in a far distant one, and my return was not
until after an absence of many years. During those years of labor and
various fortunes, my time and talents devoted to one ruling object, the
acquisition of wealth, (but not, I trust, influenced by sordidness, or
ever induced to employ unworthy means,) my communications with home had
been very rare, and of my early friends I had received no tidings; but
often after reposing from the toils of the day, when the bustle of
occupation was hushed, and the wearied mind revolted from following up
the many schemes of aggrandizement that so constantly taxed it, memory
would roll back to those halcyon days of my youth, and the images of
Heywood and of Drayton would be mirrored in freshness to my fancy,
while I busied myself in conjectures as to their probable fate and
fortunes. Were they still among the living? Had Heywood fulfilled the
promise of his early youth, and climbed with vigorous step
"The hill, where fame's proud temple shines afar?"
Had the perseverance of Drayton won for him wealth and respectability
in his profession? More he could not attain to. And amid their busy
struggles, did they ever recur to the friend who was absent, with the
same deep feeling that dwelt in his heart for them?
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