T was nearing Spring, there was a green tinge showing itself in the copse, and the early grasses had commenc'd to fringe the deep-rutted roads. An April sky could I be seen reflected in the dimpling waters of smiling brooks, and gentle Auster bore carelessly the twittering of gladsome birds. All the world was seemingly stirr'd by the reviving touch of up-springing life if we except one thing alone, an old man, who with weary step was coming over the cropp'd meadows and who made as if he would pause for rest by the stile before entering the already dusty highways. He was enfeebl'd and bent, and in his seam'd and hoary shrouded face there was a look of infinite age born from the mingl'd joys and sorrows of centuries long pass' d. Over one shoulder hung a scythe, and in one hand he carri'd the winnowings of a harvest, a harvest of many years. For an instant he seem'c.l almost to pause at the edge of the meadow-sward, then he push'd the stile and would have advanc'd into the highway had he not suddenly been confronted by a stranger who gaz'd at him earnestly, and then cried out: "All hail, father, thou hast come a tiresome journey!" "It is well said, my son," repli'd the aged man, "the roads of life are hard and rock-bound roads." "And from whence?" ''Of a truth from the ends of the world." "Then all places hast thou pass'd by and in all seasons?" d'Tis so." " And thou canst tell me of any I ask, and canst bring me tidings ?" "Yea, my son." Then at this a glad light came into the stranger's eyes, and he seiz'd the olci man eagerly by the arm and cried: "If I ask not boldly tell me, pray, how fares it with the little college, the college that I love so well?" "'The college, the littl e college,' surely thou meanest Trinity, which stands fast em­ planted in the fertile valley of the sweeping Connecticut, well girt and guarded by the firm eternal hills. And of this place from which I cor.Je what shall I tell thee?" "Tell me of it all, but first how prospers it in worldly ways, what hath it gain'd this year?" Then the hoary-headed sire let slip the scythe from off his shoulders and lean'd upon it refusing a seat, and with one hand he shook out the winnowings of his harvest and he spoke slowly and said : "Hearken unto this tale that I will tell thee. In that prosperity whereof we count riches the chief hath it far'd not ill, this college of which we speak. Henry Keney, Esq., of Hartford, dying, left for its needs phs,ooo, which sum will be appli'd to various uses. Through being residuary legatee of the estate of the late George A. Jarvis, Esq., of Brooklyn, !sc~,ooo has been obtain'd for the general funds. This is an amount in addition to that directly left by will a lengthy year ago. As of old time, kind friends have met the current expenses of the gymnasium with liberal gifts, and devoted alumni have join'd with other folk in increasing the scholqrships even $1,000. Th' industrious youths have held before them another prize for which to strive, one indeed of $so, which is provided by the Rev. George \V. Douglas, D. D., of the class of '71. Constant additions have been made to the library, and work is going on for the completion of the park in the rear of the college buildings." Thus speaking, he paus'd. But his closmg words were close met by the speech of the stranger, who cri'd out: "Prithee speak ye more, and of athletics tell me even yet a bit, of football, and of baseball, and of diverse kindred things." And the old man took up the tale and went on. "Know ye not that 'The King of France with forty thousand men Marcb'd up a hill and then march'd down again?' ''So went there up a team of athletes to the Worcester games in 1894. And they return'd with an average score of one-quarter of a point each. But accidents, not loss of effort, effected this and no discouragement should be felt, for if the record of general athletics fell below that of last year by even so much and more did foot-ball rise. The balance swings free and is mamtain'd. Captain Strawbridge's well-trained eleven play'd six games with credit. They lost, as was natural, to Yale 42 -o, to Tufts 8-4, to Boston Tech. 18-o. And they won from the Aggies w-o, from Worcester Techs 4-o, and from the Laureates ro-o. And baseball- alas·, they play that game at Trinity no more. They simply whack the air with bats and watch the balls go by. But changes yet may come, and this year's team, which goes out freighted with our hopes and fears, may bring back victories to Trinity. Well does one hear at this time that the athletic clubs are fully out of debt. Swiftly went the tennis balls to and fro over the nets last October, and Graves '98 won in the tournament though failing to challenge the champion, E. Hamlin '95· In doubles, Plimpton '97 and Graves '98 were accounted best, the latter serving as representative in the inter-collegiate tournament at Yale." "And the other college organizations. have they th;·ived?" The stranger looked earnestly into the old man's face as he spoke. And the old man gave ear unto him, and he put his hand again into the winnowings of his harvest and turn'd the golden grain. "Yea, yea, they thrive. The Glee Club hath sung its merry songs in Hartford with the Wesleyan men, and the twang of the banjos and the mandolins hath aided right well. A number of small towns adjacent have been visited, and an extended trip to Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York promiseth good things for the spring. The energy of Welsh '95 and the abil­ ity of Barbour '96 are a rare and effective combination. "Now hath the Dramatic Association styl'd itself 'The Jesters'; and' The Jesters' this year have enacted among other plays 'Germs,' by Professor Johnson, and got themselves and that worthy man great renown. And their work is better than any the college hath yet seen. As to literary matters, the college trieth to be charitable to the 'Tablet,' and I wot that this journal will in time renew its strength, and furmsh literary articles once more. "Reviving a custom of the years agone, two prizes were offer'd as the winter wan'd, to those who were best in oratoricals. And six men competed before their friends in Alumni Hall, speaking well. To Danker '97 gave the judges the first award, to White '97 the second. And this bringeth up the thought" lhere the aged one rested for a momen!, being indeed weighted with years), "the thought that a Debating Society, started m early days by men from the '97 class, hath form'd itself even into a college club that all may debate therein, and well bespeaketh it the future having already held debates of interest and worth." ' And as the stranger would have enquired of society, the old man anticipating him went on, saying : " Now, if ye heed me, I will tell thee a bit of what happen'd wher~ merriment abo~nds. Pink and olive was it that gaily hung Alumni Hall, giving to its dull walls a festive beauty, when on the twenty-first of February the Juniors and their friends danced the fleeting hours away. The Junior ball-a well devis'd conceit and worthy of continuance and praise. As it was in the beginning with the German Club so is It now, and ever should be. In the city and at college have there been the usual n~m­ ber of teas and dances. Almost a social event was the series of six lectures arrang'd by Dr. Smith for the college men and their friends. Litterateurs and accomplish'd scholars spoke entertainingly, learnedly, instructedly, of many things and words ot praise came forth from the students. Well were it that hereafter such~ course should not be given during review and examination weeks." "Then hath it been gay indeed," exclaim'd the stranger. "But, thou, takest thou no part in all of this?" "Aye, indeed, was I a part of this as of all things, but the shadows of many years subdue the lights thou seekest in my face." "And is there more of gayety to tell me? " "Of a truth, or ever thou didst care to listen." The stranger turn'd an attentive ear. "It were fitting that the great should be honor' d. Thus was it well that when Paul Du Chaillu, a guest, abode with the students for a time, and spoke to them of the gorilla and the Vikings, in Alumni Hall, well was it, I say, that a reception was given him to which many towns·folk came. And, again, when the Bishops of the Church sat in council in Hartford the Faculty did receive them and show them many of those things of interest which the little College contains. And they mark'd well the bulwarks of that sturdy structure fashion'd by the prayers and offerings of a devout and Christian people near a century ago." The aged sire paus'd.