Whether Burke felt this “spirit stirring within him” or not, it is certain that it moved James, as some mysterious power, when he entered this new field, and long before, impelling him onward and upward in a career that could not have been denied him without inflicting an everlasting wound upon his soul.

In the spring, after James became connected with the school, the principal proposed that the pupils should bring trees from the forest, and set them out on the Campus, to adorn the grounds, and provide a lovely shade for those who would gather there twenty and thirty years hence.

“A capital idea!” exclaimed James to Baker, with whom he was conferring upon the subject. “If each male student will put out one tree for himself, and one for a female student, we can cover the Campus with trees, and the streets near by as well; and do it next Saturday, too.”

“That is real gallantry, Jim,” answered Baker. “The girls, of course, can’t set out trees.”

“And the boys will take pride in setting them out for them,” interrupted James.

“And calling them by their names,” added Baker, suggestively.

“A bright idea is that, to name the trees after those for whom they are set out,” responded James. “You are an original genius, George; I should not have thought of that. It must be because you think more of girls than I do.”

“But the plan to plant a tree for each girl is yours, Jim. I can’t claim the patent for that.”

“I am not ashamed to own it. It is worthy of the boys of the Western Reserve. We can have a rich time in carrying out the plan, better than a ride or party.”

“I think so,” said Baker.

“The satisfaction of knowing we are doing something that will be a great blessing thirty years from now, adding beauty and comfort to the Institute and town, is stimulus enough,” continued James.

This enterprise was nobly prosecuted, and the trees were planted and named as above. James enjoyed it hugely. He was a great admirer of nature, and a tree or a flower afforded him genuine pleasure. To plant trees about his favourite institution, that would furnish shady walks in future days, was to him a privilege that he would not willingly miss.

During his first year’s connection with the school, a female student of considerable brightness and scholarship violated some rule of the institution, for which the principal thought she should be publicly rebuked. The rebuke would be administered after the chapel exercises on the following morning. The affair caused much discussion among the pupils. Their sympathies were wholly enlisted for the girl, as she was deservedly quite popular.

“It is most too bad,” remarked James to a lady student. “It will well-nigh kill her; I pity her.”

“I think it is a shame to make a small affair like that so public,” replied the young lady. “If it was one of the boys it would not be half so bad.”

“You think boys are used to it, or are of less consequence than girls?” retorted James, in a vein of humour.

“Not exactly that. I think the worst way of rebuking a young lady should not be selected.”

“I agree with you exactly; but I suppose there is no help for it now.”

“Unless we get up a petition asking that the rebuke be privately administered.”