Page 4 - The Adventures of a Freshman

CHAPTER I

THE FIRST DAY AT COLLEGE

"Hi, there! you big Freshman, take off your hat--yes, we're talking to you--take off your hat to the class above
you--stop, don't try to get by, my sober-faced young friend. That would not be nice of you."

At first the Freshman did not understand that he was the one addressed, and, when he did, his first startled
impulse was to hurry by and pretend not to notice them.

But he could not now; the walk was blocked by this group of four fellows who were now calmly smiling at
him in an amused way, as if he were a curious child, though really he was as old as any of them. The only way
he could avoid them was by turning back toward the street, and this he would not do. So he stood his ground
and looked straight back at them.

"Well, you seem to enjoy looking; how do you like us, Freshman?" asked one of the Sophomores, taking his
pipe out of his mouth. Three of them were smoking pipes and all four wore those queer striped-flannel coats
of broad orange and black that had attracted his attention when he first got off the train. Afterward he learned
that they were called blazers.

They were close beside him now and they were looking him up and down. One of them remarked to the
others, "O, ye shades of Aaron Burr, but this is a green one. What's your name, Freshman?"

Then one of the others interrupted in a loud tone, "Take off your hat, Freshman."

It was the same high voice that had broken in upon him at the first. Its owner was the shortest of the lot, but he
smoked the longest pipe.

"Take off your hat," he commanded, "and don't look so sober. We aren't going to hurt you."

They were all looking at him. The Freshman felt himself blushing; he smiled and tried to look good-natured.

"I wouldn't smile if I were you," put in one of the others; "your teeth aren't even."

The others laughed at this, but the small Sophomore said, "Come, wipe away that smile and take off your hat,
I tell you."

The Freshman stopped smiling and looked up across the campus instead. Two men were entering an old
brown building, busily talking, their arms about each other's shoulders; they seemed very happy. He shifted
from one foot to the other.

"See here, Freshman," cried the little Sophomore, in an amazed tone, "didn't you hear me tell you to take off
your hat?" He had a large, sneering mouth, and he constantly tried to say sarcastic things. He held his chin
elevated, as if to make himself a little taller, and the big Freshman, looking down at him, thought how he
would like to pick him up and spank him. The Freshman had no intention of taking off his hat.

Perhaps the Sophomore knew what he was thinking; at any rate, he stepped up close to him, and shaking a
finger under his face, he snarled out, "You big, green Freshman from Squeedunk, you're the freshest one I've
seen yet. We'll give you just five seconds to take off that ugly hat, and if you don't— "

"Look out--look out! there comes Matt," in a quick, scared voice, one of the others interrupted.