“You thought you knew better than we did what was best for you. In carrying out that idea you took a fatiguing journey down the river; you narrowly escaped drowning in crossing the Hudson; and had it not been for the kindness of a stranger to all of you save one, you would have been shelterless and hungry in the storm and night. Your return home was a journey, of the sufferings of which I need not speak to you. Its accomplishment was made possible only by the energetic effort and forceful conduct of one of your own number.
“That was your holiday. Now what are the results? Broken studies, physical ailments, nervous exhaustion, ruined clothing, officers reduced to ranks, half of the school on perpetual delinquency. These are some of them, but not the most serious.
“In a family-room, in another part of this building, one of your comrades is raving in delirium.
“In the guard-house, in still another part of the building, your former ranking cadet-commander is confined on prison-fare, having disgraced himself and having brought reproach on you and us. To the same building, which represents my earthly possessions and answers for your home, the torch has been applied, and only a timely discovery has saved us all from homelessness and ruin.”
His voice was trembling, but not with anger, and his face was very pale. After a moment’s pause, he continued,—
“You do not need reproof nor admonition now; I can see that very plainly. I recall these results only because I want you never to forget that the causes which have led to them were produced by you. Such things will not occur in this school again in my lifetime. This lesson will pass down through many generations of students here, and help them to firmer loyalty and higher manhood. But from to-night we shall fear no ill. From to-night we shall have the old fair feeling between us, and the old confidence and sympathy.”
At the last his voice had broken, and it was some minutes before he felt that he could control it sufficiently to go on with the evening lesson and prayer; but when the short service was concluded, there was not a boy in the room whose better nature had not been deeply touched and strengthened, and whose heart was not fixed steadfastly for the right.
The next night, when the ranks were formed at tattoo, the cadets were told that taps would not sound as usual; that they were to go to their rooms, and might lie down if they chose, but that they were to hold themselves in readiness to “fall in” at any moment.
At first no one knew what the order meant; but it was soon whispered around that Brede’s father was coming that night to take his son away, and that the battalion was to be formed at his departure. Of course, under these circumstances, sleep was out of the question, and Brede’s fate was the topic of conversation in every room.
It was not until eleven o’clock that those on the east side of the building heard a carriage drive up to the front entrance. Then it was known that General Brede had come, and was alone with Colonel Silsbee in the office. A half-hour later orders were communicated to the cadets to form in the drill-hall.