COLLEGE RECOLLECTIO\$. 255 



the hated ding-dong of the bell. "Holla, L. !" exclaimed P., "what is 

 the matter ? \ reckon that old bell leaks." The truth is that the first 

 pull of the rope turned the bell with such a jerk that ice and water fell 

 on the platform and left the clapper free to perform its wonted work. 



The first failure was not sufficient to damp the ardor of resolute 

 spirits. Disappointment only stimulated effort. The door was yet un- 

 locked. The enterprize and failure were known only to the two chums. 

 A new plan was suggested. If the clapper were unscrewed there could 

 be no ringing. The next night, bitter cold and piercing, the clapper 

 was attacked. All the instruments employed were metal, freezing to the 

 fingers wherever they touched. At length after much labor and no little 

 suffering, the bell swung free without a clapper. Now we have you, 

 old fellow, thought they, you will no more disturb us. There lie un- 

 der that board until you are found. We can now sleep without the dis- 

 turbance of your perpetual clatter. — "I say, P. what will Kooney think, 

 ha, ha, ha ! — pull — pull^ but no answer from the old bell. Won't he be 

 filled with wonderment ?" 



With these reflections they retired to rest. "Sweet is the sleep of the 

 laboring man whether he eat little or much." The chums realized the 

 truth of the proverb, and slept undisturbed until morning, when, lo ! 

 -their ears were saluted by the same sounds of the bell somewhat modi- 

 fied. They could hardly believe the evidence of their ears. Instead of 

 the usual long pull and swing, calling the shivering -students in mourn- 

 ful strains from their beds, they now heard short, rapid and shrill tones, 

 as if the bell or the ringer were in a passion. The mystery was speed- 

 ily unravelled. Kooney, with his accustomed gravity, pulled at the bell- 

 rope, and when, to his amazement, there was no responsive sound, he 

 very naturally ascended to the belfry, and ascertaining that the clapper 

 had disappeared, reported to the resident Professor. No other remedy 

 occurring at the time, the janitor was ordered forthwith to use a ham- 

 mer, which he applied with an energy suited to the extraordinary emer- 

 gency. This accounted for the unusual tones of the bell. Here, then, 

 was the conclusion of the whole enterprize. Much labor, many hard 

 thumps, and no little suffering was all they had for their pains. Poor 

 recompense, some one will say, for their fun. They themselves thought 

 so, and determined that this should be their last enterprize into the for- 

 bidden region of transgression. They felt that they were completely 

 foiled in their efforts, and, what was a much more serious matter, that 

 they had done wrong. They had invaded and injured, without provo- 

 cation, the property of another, and, in violation of their obligation as- 

 sumed when they were matriculated, they had seriously impaired the 



