Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. PREPARATION FOR COLLEGE, AND COLLEGE LIFE. HOPKINS ACADEMY. On the first of June, 1831, therefore, our young friend became a member of Hopkins Academy, boarding at home, and taking a walk of six miles every day in his journey to and from school. But a light heart made willing footsteps. The gently flowing Connecticut he crossed; through the rich meadows of corn and grain he passed; birds in the apple-trees and old elms cheered him on ; and the broad Hadley- street, lined with its thick-set ancient trees, afforded him shade and smooth walking at the close of his trip. He was happy now in the entire abandonment of all his energies to his favorite pursuits. The intricacies of Greek and Latin, and the knotty problems of mathematics, were no stumbling-block to him. He never seemed to study hard, or to make any particular exertion to learn his lessons, and yet he always had them. He was fond of writing, and it seemed to cost him no effort. His compositions at this period are quite full, and on a variety of subjects connected with the times and circumstances, among which were the Military Spirit and the Evils of War. His senseof the injustice done to Poland showed itself in a lament for its fate. All his pieces discover more than a common range of thought, and are marked by religious fervor. Moral subjects, and especially those of reform, attracted his attention. His increase of knowledge all seemed turned to moral purposes. In one piece he thus apostrophizes: " Charity, heavenly messenger! thy look tells us how holy seraphs are. A garland encircles thy forehead radiant with gems more white than Ceylon's pearls, more brilliant than Brazilian diamonds. Thy blue eyes are modest as is the firmament above our heads. Thy countenance is lighted up with a smile benignan...