The Southern Literary Messenger, Volume I., 1834-35Various
General
The Southern Literary Messenger, Volume I., 1834-35
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?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account