Your kind notice of my poor friend, aunt, has revived the
fondest recollections of my life--the joyous scenes of infancy, when the
young heart, free from the trammels of the world, and buoyant as the
bird of spring, wings along the flowery path of pleasure, plucking at
will the sweets of nature, and decking his infant brow with wreaths of
fresh gathered wild flowers." Horatio paused, not for want of subject,
but a train of recollections overpowered his memory, producing an
unspeakable sensation, which for a moment choked his utterance.
"There is a blank in this work, which you shall fill up," said my aunt;
"you must perform the office of an impartial historian for your friend,
and before we proceed farther with this volume, give me the history of
your school-boy days."
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~22~~
SCHOOL-BOY REMINISCENCES.
ON EARLY FRIENDSHIP.
In many a strain of grief and joy
My youthful spirit sung to thee;
But I am now no more a boy,
And there's a gulf 'twixt thee and me.
Time on my brow has set his seal;
I start to find myself a man,
And know that I no more shall feel
As only boyhood's spirit can.
ETONIAN.
There is an imperceptible but powerfully connecting link in our early
associations and school-boy friendships, which is very difficult to
describe, but exceedingly grateful to reflect on; particularly when
the retrospective affords a view of early attachments ripened into
perfection with maturity, and cementing firmly with increasing years.
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