UNIVERSITY COURIER.
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this strict discipline, we do not mean that a man is not to be generally informed as to the important issues of the day, for this comes in with his regular work. It is as much the professional man's business to keep posted with the interests of the day, as it is for him to be engaged in his particular work; for without this acquaintance with the general issues of the day, he will not be qualified, thoroughly, to execute the duties of his profession. But this we do mean: that a man ought, in addition to his professional knowledge, to be conversant with the questions of the times, ought to be generally informed, and we do not think him a true professional man who is not thus qualified, thus armed with general information. The advantages to be gained from such a course in life are many and great. With this definite purpose in view, there will be more concentration of effort, more diligent and careful application, more satisfactory results obtained, more good accomplished, both for yourself and the world, more thoroughness in whatever you undertake, more honor to your profession, more reward for your efforts after you are thrown out upon the world, there to battle with the waves' commotion upon life's dark ocean. We would say, then, to every student, study with a purpose in view, fix a high ideal and move toward it. Although your high ideal may never be realized, yet you will not have labored in vain. Your example of fidelity in striving toward your ideal, may be the means of prompting to action some one who has grown indifferent, may inspire some fainting heart with new courage, may impart to some weary traveler refreshing moments, may cause some despondent one to look up and be hopeful, may assist some halting one to make the right decision, may cause some wanderer to return, and thus, in the end, you will realize that life has not been a failure, but that you have made the world better because you have had an existence in it—that you have not lived as "those who beat the air, and spend their time for naught," but as those who have written upon their banners by their noble deeds, success through perseverance.
V. F. B.
THE OLD PASTOR'S DISMISSAL.
"We need a younger man to stir the people, And lead them to the fold," The deacon said. "We ask your resignation Because you are growing old."
The pastor bowed his deacons out in silence And tenderly the gloom Of twilight hid him and his bitter anguish Within the lonely room.
Above the violet hills the sunlight's glory Hung like a crown of gold, And from the great church spire the bell's sweet anthem Adown the stillness rolled.
Assembled were the people for God's worship ; But in his study chair The pastor sat unheeding, while the south wind Carressed his snow-white hair.
A smile lay on his lips. His was the secret Of sorrow's sad surcease. Upon his forehead shone the benediction Of everlasting peace.
"The ways of Providence are most mysterious," The deacons gravely said, As wondering-eyed, and scared, the people crowded About their pastor--dead.
"We loved him," wrote the people on the coffin, In words of shining gold; And 'bove the broken heart they set a statue Of marble white and cold.
—Elizabeth Cummings.
THE GHOST THAT JIM SAW.
"Why, as to that," said the engineer,
"Ghosts ain't things we are apt to fear,
Spirits don't fool with levers much,
And throttle valves don't take to such;
And as for Jim—
What happened to him
Was one-half fact and t'other half whim
Running one night on the line, he saw
A house—as plain as the moral law—
Just by the moonlit bank, and thence
Came a drunken man wittch no more sense
Than to drop on the rail,
Flat as a flail,
As Jim drove by with the midnight mail.
Down went the patents. Steam reversed,
Too late! for there came a 'thud' Jim cursed,
As his firemen, there in the cab with him,
Kinder stared in the face of Jim,
And says, 'What now?'
Says Jim, 'What now!
I've just run over a man — that's how!'
The fireman stared at Jim. They ran Back, but they never saw house nor man,— Nary a shadow within a mile, Jim turned pale, but he tried to smile — Then on he tore, Ten miles or more, In quicker time than he'd made afore.
Would you believe it? — the very next night
Up rose that house in the moonlight white ;
Out comes the chap and drops as before.
Down goes the brakes and the rest encore
And so, in fact,
Each night that act
Occurred, till folks swore Jim was cracked.
Humph! Let me see; it's a year, now, most,
That I met Jim East, and says, 'how's your ghosts?'
'Gone,' says Jim, 'and more it's plain
That ghost don't trouble me again.
I thought I shook
That ghost when I took
A place on an eastern line - but look :
What should I meet the first trip out,
But that very house that we talked about,
And that self-same man! 'Well,' says I, 'I guess
It's time to stop this yer foolishness.'
So I crammed on steam,
When there came a scream
From my fireman — and it broke my dream —
'You've killed somebody! Says I, 'not much;
I've been thar often and thar ain't no such.
And now I'll prove it.' Back we ran,
And — darn my skin ! — but thar was a man
On the rail, dead,
Smashed in the head —
Now I call that meanness !'" That's all Jim said."
HOW THE LADY RESCUED THE TRAMP.
"Pity the sorrows of a son of want,
O gentle lady; nor withhold your aid
From one whose future looks but grim and gaunt—
Whose sense of gratitude will never fade!
"Ah, in refusal turnest thou aside?
Then naught is left me but to put in play
My fix'd resolve! By it I will abide;
No longer now the hateful deed delay!
"Stay, stranger!" cried the lady in alarm.
"Here, take this florin, nor give way to wrong!
Poor man, 'would grieve me did you come to harm!
I beg of you to 'suffer and be strong.'
"Now, tell me, friend—what was the horrid deed
That you had firmly fixed to carry out?" —
"O lady, my best thanks are but your meed!
And I'll not hide from one so good—devout—
"My firm resolve! But for your timely aid I must have (though I tried the deed to shirk) At last a feeble, fleeting effort made, And, sore against my will, have set to work!"