_Then came a blinding flash, a deafening roar, And dissonant cries of terror and dismay; Blood trickled down the river’s reedy shore, And with the dead he lay._ _The morn broke in upon his solemn dream, And still with steady pulse and deepening eye, “Where bugles call,” he said, “and rifles gleam, I follow, though I die.”_ TWO COLLEGE FRIENDS. [Illustration] “‘At dawn,’ he said, ‘I bid them all farewell, To go where bugles blow and rifles gleam;’ And with the waking thought asleep he fell, And wandered into dream.” I. THE LECTURE ON DOMESTIC ARTS. It was quarter after two in the afternoon, and the Professor was sitting at his desk, engaged in arranging the notes of his lecture, when there came a knock on the door. “Come in,” said the Professor. “Ah, Ned! is it you?” This to a graceful boy of twenty, who entered the room. “Yes, it is Ned,” said the boy; “and he particularly wishes to see you for a few minutes.” “Every moment is precious,” said the Professor, “until my lecture is in order. What is the matter? Are you in trouble?” “Yes,” said Ned, “I am in trouble.” “Then let me read to you,” said the Professor, “the concluding paragraph of my lecture on Domestic Arts.” “Oh, don’t!” said Ned; “I really am in trouble.” “Are you the insulter or the insulted, this time?” asked the Professor. “Neither,” said Ned, shortly; “and I’m not in trouble on my own account.” “Ah!” said the Professor; “then you have got into some difficulty in your explorations in low life; or you have spent more than your income; or it’s the perpetual Tom.” “It’s the perpetual Tom,” said Ned. “I supposed so,” observed the Professor. “What has that youth been doing now? Drinking, swearing, gambling, bad company, theft, murder?――out with it! I am prepared for anything, from the expression of your face; for anything, that is to say, except my lecture on Domestic Arts, which comes at three.” “Well, if you choose to make fun of me,” said Ned, “I can go; but I thought you would advise me.” “And so I will, you ridiculous creature, when you need it,” said the Professor; “only at such times you generally act for yourself. But, come; my advice and sympathy are yours; so what has Tom done?” “He has fallen in love,” said Ned. “Oh, no!” said the Professor. “Yes, sir,” repeated Ned, more firmly, “he has fallen in love.” “’Tis the way of all flesh,” said the Professor; “but I don’t think Tom can fall in love. He never even dislikes any one without a cause.” “That’s all very well, sir,” said Ned; “but when a fellow has a girl’s picture, and looks at it when he thinks he isn’t watched; and when he receives notes, and keeps them, instead of throwing them around, as usual; and when he takes to being blue,――what do you say?” “Please state your propositions separately,” said the Professor, “and I will endeavor to form an opinion. When a fellow has a girl’s picture,――what was the rest?”