ice of my poor friend, aunt, has revived the
fondest recollections of my life--the joyous scenes of infancy, when the
young heart, free from the trammels of the world, and buoyant as the
bird of spring, wings along the flowery path of pleasure, plucking at
will the sweets of nature, and decking his infant brow with wreaths of
fresh gathered wild flowers." Horatio paused, not for want of subject,
but a train of recollections overpowered his memory, producing an
unspeakable sensation, which for a moment choked his utterance.

"There is a blank in this work, which you shall fill up," said my aunt;
"you must perform the office of an impartial historian for your friend,
and before we proceed farther with this volume, give me the history of
your school-boy days."

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SCHOOL-BOY REMINISCENCES.

ON EARLY FRIENDSHIP.

In many a strain of grief and joy
My youthful spirit sung to thee;
But I am now no more a boy,
And there's a gulf 'twixt thee and me.
Time on my brow has set his seal;
I start to find myself a man,
And know that I no more shall feel
As only boyhood's spirit can.

ETONIAN.

There is an imperceptible but powerfully connecting link in our early
associations and school-boy friendships, which is very difficult to
describe, but exceedingly grateful to reflect on; particularly when
the retrospective affords a view of early attachments ripened into
perfection with maturity, and cementing firmly with increasing years.
Youth is the period of frankness and of zeal, when the young heart,
buoyant with hope and cheering prospects, fills with joy, and expands
in all the brightness of fancy's variety. The ambition, lures, and
conflicting interests of the world, have as yet made no inroad upon the
mind; the bosom is a stranger to misery, the tongue to deceit, the eye
glows with all the luxuriance of pleasure, and the whole countenance
presents an animated picture of health and intelligence illumined with
delight. The playfulness or incaution of youth may demand correction, or
produce momentary pain; but the tears of
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infancy fall like the summer dew upon the verdant slope, which the first
gleam of the returning sun kisses away, and leaves the face of nature
tinged with a blush of exquisite brilliancy, but with no trace of
the sparkling moisture which lately veiled its beauty. This is the
glittering period of life, when the gay pe