was assumed later in his youth, and inasmuch as he used it as part of his. signature in certain legal documents, he could not conveniently afterwards drop it. It was, however, a matter of regret to him in after-life that his name had not remained plain "Washington Hosmer." MATURITY. Πᾶς ἐπιστήμων τὴν ὑπερβολὴν μὲν καὶ τὴν ἔλλειψιν φεύγει, τὸ δὲ μέσον ζητεῖ καὶ τουθ' αἱρειται. — Aristotle, Nichom. Eth. II : 6. CHAPTER III. AT NORTHFIELD. UR father's autobiography does not go beyond his entrance to college. At Cambridge he was a fair scholar in a class containing many distinguished men, having a part at an exhibition and finally at commencement, a creditable showing, when the imperfection of his preparation is considered, and the fact that it was late in his youth when he turned from manual labor to the life of a student. His years at Harvard were full of steady, serious striving; to eke out his scanty means he taught school in Wayland, Lincoln, and Bolton. His youth, however, was not hampered with any premature sobriety. At college and during the winter school-keeping there was plenty of gay, rollicking life, and the young blade who was his chosen companion was C. C. Felton, afterwards Greek professor and president of the university. At Bolton there are traditions of merry times with the daughters of General Gardner, who a few years before had sympathized with the little boy embarrassed by his tired sheep. There were sleigh-rides extending even to Leominster, and many a jolly dance. A venerable |