St Johns College - Yearbook (Annapolis, MD)

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cm EATED in my easy rocker I In my roon1 in Pinkney Hall, Hearkening to the noisy Freshmen, As they quite aloud did bawl, Clamoring loud against their classmates, Since they would not dare to skip, Greatly grieved because their fellows Failed to get the well-earned zip, Ideas, fraught with dreamy fancies, Through my idle brain did run, As I thought of wondrous progress XVidening with each rising sun. Thought I of great inconvenience XVhich our forefathers endured, Seeming not to them like hardship, Since to that they were innured. Then I thought how much more easy Is the common lot to-day, And how very thankful We should All be, this truth to convey. llbrogress of H G6l1flll'Qf I General ideas turned to special, Old St. john's 11ow comes to mind: Thought I, did our grand alumni All this easy comfort iind? Had they, when they trod these precincts, Training for the body, brain, Such as now the student finds it Under 'I'ommie'S peaceful reign? As I mused, my senses wandered 3 Sweet oblivion's gentle grasp Quietly laid hold upon me,-'- Sensibility was past. Then, behold I into my dreaming Crept a being odd and queer Q Hoary headed, tall and stately Did this wondrous sage appear. Powdered wig and ruflied collar, Breeches cut short at the knees, Silken stockings, buckled slippers I Saw you ever aught like these? 139 Timidly I looked about me, Scarcely knowing what to do 5 Then, divining my forebodings, Did he this queer course pursue : Drawing up a chair beside me, To my wonder and affright, Cooly turned he round towards me, Poor, forlorn, unhappy Wight I Hem, said he, I don't know whether You are heartless or insane Q Can't you see I'm very harmless? Now your own conduct explain? O, said I, please dont be angry, You are very welcome here 5 But of such outlandish attire Did I never even hear. That explains my situation g But be kind enough to tell Who you are, and what's your business, If you wish my fi ight to quell X -L -V I f - e - A fr' ,- 2 A-.-fri .'f:t -1. A i- :,g:.:::1-'z:.n:g'::vwr:-.. 1'::::1'-f:1--:::1r:-:.::,........: I I I I ,. 5. 1 '-. 'ii' I ...L as L. ...,.. I I I , I L, I I I I I I II wr 4 I I I I I 1 I I K. .I

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only happiness. At least she had someone to love, something to care for, something other than self to live for. She realized this great boon of loving and therein was happy. Was Maurice as noble as she, did he ever do any- thing because it was right, did he remember the precepts of his far-distant mother--that mother who did every- thing for him and only asked love in return, did he fol- low her desires, did he try to make her lite bright through him, did he realize that a mother's only pleasure is in the success of her son ? or was he selhsh and inconsiderate? did he spend her hard-saved money for improper things? did he waste his opportunities? neglect his lessons? and render useless, and even injurious, all the selfesacriiicing indulgence of that dear mother? Hecould not answer these questions, but he felt a great longing to be better, to be a man in the noblest sense of the word. His idea was confused, he could not dehne his desire except by this one all-inclusive word- man, but as he turned away with tear-stained cheek let us hope that a nobler nature came to walk this world and bless it. I

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I am one, replied the stranger, Whom you know, perchance, by fame On the register you,ll ind me, William Pinkney is my name. Many suns have shed their radiance Over hill and moorland plain, Since from these old walls I issued, Never to return again. Life's great battles have engaged me, Fame has saved for me her part g Yet whatever Fortune tendered, Dear St. john's lay next my heart. Now I've come to pay a visit, And I really want to know What improvements have been rendered In this hundred years or so. Friend, said I, I crave your pardon For my lack of confidence g I'm delighted to have met you- Come, welll see the sights at once. Out we went across the campus g The battalion was in line ! Every eye fixed firmly forward 3 Bayonetsi and sabres shine. What, cried he, means all this splendor? Surely they can't soldiers bei! Whoe'er saw such pomp and glory As we now before us see? I once had my band of freemen, Whom in Freedom's cause I lead, When cruel warls harsh, direful thunder Rolled around our nation's head g When Great Britain seized our seamen, Forced them into British ships 5 When 'To Freedom, on to Freedom ' Was the cry upon our lips. But, said he, U how times have altered! Then each had an old fiint-lock, Taking fully forty mules to ' Draw the hammer to a cock. I4Q But, alas! there's no use sighing O'er discomforts now no more g So welll think of nothing farther On the military score. Then we left the green parade ground To the shop our way we led, From which issued noise sudicient To awake the very dead. When at length the door we opened- Who'll describe the sight we saw? My companion stared one moment, Then let forth a loud guifaw. It was not the forge and anvil, Nor the open furnace door, Nor the lathe in rapid motion, That had caused my friend to roar 3 It was just a class of Freshmen Clad in U jeans H and outing shirt Who were learning their first lesson- How to gather up the dirt.