SAM IS INITIATED INTO A COLLEGE SOCIETY.
Before Sam reached Harvard Square he caught sight of the college yard
and the numerous buildings of brick and stone which had been erected
within it for the accommodations of the students.
"It's a pretty big place," thought Sam. His ideas of a college were
very vague. He had fancied that it consisted of one large brick
building, like the New York public schools.
"I wonder what they want of so many buildings, anyway?" said Sam to
himself. "There must be a lot of students."
He got out at Harvard Square, and crossing the street entered the
college yard, or campus, as it is sometimes more ambitiously called.
There were very few students about, for it was Saturday, when there
was a morning exercise only, and, the rest of the day being a holiday,
many of the students were accustomed to go to Boston, or to visit
their friends elsewhere. Sam knew nothing of this, and was surprised
to see so few young men about.
Now it happened that three sophomores, having nothing more important
to occupy their attention, had made up their minds, by way of a lark,
to play a trick on some freshman, who, from inexperience, looked like
an easy victim. For convenience's sake I will call them Brown, Jones
and Robinson.
As these three young men were walking arm-in-arm in front of
University Hall, they saw Sam approaching. Of course, where the
classes are so large, it is impossible for all to be personally
acquainted, which accounts for their instantly mistaking Sam for a
freshman.
"There's a fresh," said Brown. "He looks green enough for our purpose.
Suppose we take him?"
"All right," said Jones. "He'll do."
Sam was rather surprised when the three college boys stopped and Brown
addressed him.
"What is your name, sir?"
"Barker," answered Sam.
"All right!" said Robinson, in a low voice. "There's a Barker in the
freshman class. I've noticed his name in the catalogue."
"I believe, Mr. Barker," said Brown, "that you belong to the freshman
class."
"That's a good joke," said Sam to himself. "I'll see it through."
He was not a little flattered at being mistaken for a collegian, and
nodded assent.
"We have heard of you, Mr. Barker," said Jones, in the most favorable
manner. "We belong to the senior class, and at our last meeting we
elected you unanimously a member of the Alpha Zeta Society."
"You don't say so!" exclaimed Sam, really astonished.
"We have inquired of the faculty concerning your scholarship, and have
been told that you are one of the best scholars in the class."
"If that's so," thought Sam, "the class don't know much."
"There are plenty that know more than me," said Sam, aloud.
"All your modesty, Mr. Barker," said Robinson. "We are convinced that
you are a first-class man, and will be an acquisition to our
society."
"What does it all mean?" Sam began to wonder.
"We are a committee of the society appointed to initiate you by the
usual impressive ceremonies," said Brown. "It is very fortunate we
have met with you, for Saturday is our day for initiations."
"Is it?"
"Yes; have you any particular engagement for the next hour?"
"Not as I know of."
"Then we will at once proceed to the society room and take you to the
initiation. Are you ready?"
"I haven't made my will yet," said Sam, humorously.
The three sophomores looked at each other doubtfully. Perhaps their
intended butt was not as verdant as they supposed.
"That formality is not necessary," said Jones, after a pause, "unless
you desire to leave any money to the society."
"I guess I'll join first, and see how I like it," said Sam.
"Quite reasonable," said Brown, in a tone of satisfaction.
"We'd better not lose any time," said Robinson.
"Follow us, Mr. Barker," said Brown.
"All right, gentlemen."
Robinson offered his arm, and the four proceeded to one of the older
college halls, and ascended to a room on the third floor.
"Ain't they sold, though!" thought Sam, with an inward chuckle. "They
think I'm a student, and I'll find out all about their society--I
can't think of the outlandish name."
The door was locked, and then Brown said: "Mr. Barker, you will not
object to be blindfolded, of course."
"Go ahead," said Sam. "If that's the regular thing, I'm agreeable."
He was blindfolded by Brown and seated in the center of the room. He
heard various movements, lasting for perhaps five minutes. Then the
bandage was removed, and Sam saw that his three companions were
metamorphosed. All wore masks. The light of day had been shut out, and
four candles were burning on the table. In the center was a skull, and
beside it was a large book, a photograph book, by the way.
"Barker," said one of the masked figures in a sepulchral voice, "do
you desire to join our mystic band?"
"You bet!" answered Sam.
"No levity," was the stern reply. "Before you are admitted you must
swear solemnly not to divulge the secrets of the association."
"I won't," said Sam.
"'Tis not enough. You must swear!"
"All right, I swear."
"Kiss this book, and swear with uplifted hand."
Sam did so.
"Do you know what will be the penalty if you violate the oath?"
"I'll be 'bounced,' I expect."
"Worse than that. Do you see this skull?"
"Yes, I do."
"It is the skull of a freshman who joined our society five years
since, and divulged the secrets."
"What did he die of?" asked Sam.
"He disappeared," said Brown, impressively. "He was found dead in his
bed one morning, with a dagger in his heart."
"You don't say so!" said Sam, impressed in spite of himself.
"It was a fitting punishment. Don't incur it."
"I won't," said Sam. "I don't know anything to tell anyway."
"You shall know all. Our society was founded hundreds of years ago by
the emperor Charlemagne."
This didn't impress Sam as much as was expected, since he had never
heard of the Emperor Charlemagne.
"Kings, nobles, prime ministers have belonged to our mystic ranks,"
proceeded Brown.
"Then I wonder they elected me in?" thought Sam.
"That book," indicating the photograph album, "contains the records of
the society."
"May I look into it?"
"No," said Jones, hurriedly, laying his hand upon the book. "The time
may come, but not yet."
"Just as you say," said Sam, submissively. "I'm in no hurry."
"Bandage his eyes once more," said Brown.
Robinson advanced, and tied a handkerchief over our hero's eyes.
"Now stand up."
Sam stood up.
Brown proceeded to read a chorus from Euripides, which impressed Sam
as much as anything yet, for the Greek seemed but a strange and
barbarous jargon to his unaccustomed ears.
"Do you understand what I have said?" asked Brown, at the close of his
reading.
"Not entirely," said Sam,
"Then your education has been neglected. But it matters not. Raise
him."
Jones and Robinson proceeded to lift Sam, one by the head, the other
by the heels, rather to his alarm.
"What's your game?" he demanded, resisting.
"No harm is intended. It is one of the necessary formalities."
"Go ahead, then."
The two students bore Sam about the room, chanting discordantly as
they went. At length they set him down again in a chair. Then Brown
passed his hand several times over Sam's face, explaining that this
was one of the necessary formalities also. Then the bandage was taken
off, and a Greek book was handed to Sam.
"We will test your scholarship," said Brown. "Read."
Sam stared at the Greek page in bewilderment, turning the book upside
down, but not finding it any more intelligible.
"I can't read this stuff," he said.
"You need not render it into English," said Brown. "Pronounce it in
the original."
"I can't," said Sam, helplessly.
The three looked at each other.
"You can't read Greek?" said Brown.
"Of course I can't."
"Then how did you get into college?"
"I walked in."
"I mean, how could you be admitted without knowing Greek?"
"I wasn't admitted. I never was here in my life before."
"What! Are you not Barker, of the freshman class?" asked the three
sophomores in chorus.
"My name is Barker--Sam Barker--but I don't belong to any class."
"What made you say you did?"
"Just for fun."
"Sold!" exclaimed the three in concert. "I guess this has gone far
enough," said Brown. "Let's unmask."
Masks were removed, the curtains raised, Sam was invited to wash his
face, which Brown, in his manipulations, had blacked, and there was a
hearty laugh all round. Sam was invited to tell his story and did so.
The three students were wealthy, and took up a contribution for his
benefit, amounting to ten dollars.
"I'll come round another day for half price," said Sam, humorously.
"The next time we initiate a freshman, it'll be the genuine article.
All the same, we've had some fun. Won't you stay and dine with us? We
shall have dinner in an hour."
"Thank you," said Sam, "I'm agreeable."
"We'll take you round to see the college before dinner. We can't do
less by a member of the Alpha Zeta Society."
Sam laughed. "I guess you'll have to put down the name on a piece of
paper," he said, "or I'll forget what society I belong to."
Sam's good humor and droll observations made him a favorite with the
three students. He learned, to his surprise, that Brown was a cousin
of Julia Stockton, whose acquaintance he had made on the Fall River
boat.
"I was in town yesterday, and Julia mentioned you--said you were very
polite to her. It is very strange we should run across each other so
soon after."
"That's so," said Sam, and, calling to mind the ten dollars in his
pocket, he could not help adding to himself: "It's mighty lucky,
too."