uld be
off to the great city -- that was said with a throe of pain and
joy! -- and there he would certainly rise to be the greatest of
all. To their eyes could he ever be anything else? But they
were as certain of it as Winthrop himself; and Winthrop was
not without his share of that quality which Dr. Johnson
declared to be the first requisite to great undertakings;
though to do him justice the matter always lay in his mind
without the use of comparatives or superlatives. And while
they sat round the fire talking of him, and of Rufus, the
images of their coming success quite displaced the images of
weary days and careful nights with which that success had been
bought.

It was not however to be quite so speedily attained as they
had looked for.

The time of examination came, and Winthrop passed through it,
as President Tuttle told his father, "as well as a man could;"
and took honours and distinctions with a calm matter-of-fact
manner, that somehow rather damped the ardour of
congratulation.

"He takes everything as if he had a right to it," observed a
gentleman of the company who had been making some flattering
speeches which seemed to hit no particular mark.

"I don't know who has a better right," said the President.

"He's not so brilliant as his brother," the gentleman went on.

"Do you think so? That can only have been because you did not
understand him," said the President equivocally. "He will
never flash in the pan, I promise you."

"But dang it, sir!" cried the other, "it _is_ a little
extraordinary to see two brothers, out of the same family, for
two years running, take the first honours over the head of the
whole College. What is a man to think, sir?"

"That the College has not graduated two young men with more
honour to herself and them in any two years of my Presidency,
sir. Allow me to introduce you to the fortunate father of
these young gentlemen -- Mr. Landholm."

This story Mr. Landholm used afterwards often to repeat, with
infinite delight and exultation.

Rufus was not at Shagarack at this time. Instead thereof came
a letter.

"Mannahatta, Aug. 26, 1812.

"My dear Governor,

"It has cost me more than I can tell you, that I have not been
able to witness your triumph. Nothing could hinder my sharing
it. I shared it even before I heard a word of it. I shared it
all last week, while the scenes were enacting; but when papa's
letter came, it made an old boy of me -- I would have throw