Page 9 - The Adventures of a Freshman

soon. Why, the boy's a fool. Does he expect to get a better place up in Chicago?"

"No," said Mrs. Young. "He only went to Chicago on his vacation to take his examinations for college
and--- "

"For college! Chicago!"

"And to buy his clothes--yes, they hold the examinations all over the country." Then she went on, "You
remember, father, you said Will could go if he earned his own money, and now--- "

"When did I say that?" thundered Mr. Young; and then the storm broke. It was rather severe while it lasted,
but it did not last as long as she had feared it would. Mr. Young was just, and he had to acknowledge,
inwardly, that Will was right from his standpoint, though it was a sore disappointment: and he saw no reason
why Will should be forgiven.

"We'll see how long you stay there," was what Mr. Young said in bidding Will good-by. He knew about how
much his son had been able to save.

"All right, sir," said Will, feeling sorry his father would not give his approval even now. "Good-by, sir." And
he glanced at his mother once more and then looked away again, and the train pulled out. A moment later he
had a last, distant view of the straight white farmhouse, as the cars dashed by, and of the big red barn with
white trimmings, and the wind-brake of tall, straight poplars, to the north, in even row, planted by his father's
own hand before Will was born; he saw their tops waving in the breeze as they were cut off from view--and
all that seemed years and years ago, though, in reality, it was only Monday, the day before yesterday, and here
he was at last, actually at college and sitting in chapel listening to the President's kind words of welcome; and
feeling somewhat important at being one of those particularly addressed by such a famous and learned man
and feeling very proud at the thought that he was part of such an ancient and mighty seat of learning--and
hoping that the small account he had opened at the Princeton Bank was going to tide him over till an
opportunity for earning money turned up.

As he and his many classmates trooped forth into the sunny outdoors again some orange-and-black-bedecked
Sophomores on the steps murmured, "right, left, right, left," in time to their footsteps, and then Will Young
did not feel so proud and important.

But this big, green Freshman did not take off his hat to them as some of his classmates did. In fact his hat did
not come off until the evening of the following day--and then not quite in the way you might expect.