s ago. The face was smooth shaven,
the bloat, caused by years of drinking, had all disappeared, and he
looked at least ten years younger than my former friend. His ragged
tramp's garb had been replaced by neat garments such as a fairly
prosperous business man might wear. His whole appearance seemed to
indicate that Jim had done well in the world to which he had returned.
Sitting in the garden, he told me all about it.

"Yes, he had done well. It had been hard at first, oh! very hard. There
had been a time when, his savings all gone and no employment in sight,
he had faced actual starvation. But the darkest hour comes before dawn,
and that had been Jim's darkest hour. From then on things began to mend.
He had obtained a good situation and was happy in it. He had not
written because for long, for so very long, he had no news but bad news
to send. There was nothing but ill-luck and misfortune to report, and he
waited from day to day hoping things would brighten. Then, when the
unexpected stroke of good luck came, he decided to wait yet a little
longer until he could bring me the good news in person.

"All the time he was talking I watched his face carefully. That
puzzling, baffling resemblance to some one whom I had known was stronger
than ever since the beard which concealed so much of his face had been
removed. I became more and more convinced that we had met before, but
when and where? I racked my memory, but the name, the personality I
wanted, eluded my grasp. Something of my thoughts must have shown in my
face, for when Jim finished his narrative he threw back his head,
laughing merrily at my very evident perplexity.

"'It is really too bad to keep you guessing any longer, Father,' he
said. 'Let me help you to remember when and where we met before. Listen
and I will tell you a little story.

"'It is Commencement day at a certain large college in a certain city
which we need not name. The graduating class have met together for the
last time in their own particular class-room. The saintly, white-haired
priest who has watched their progress step by step from the day they
first entered college stands before them. He speaks words to them which
brings tears to those young eyes, accustomed, as a rule, to looking only
on the merry side of life. He speaks words of true affection, of gentle
admonition and fatherly advice. He gives to each youth a tiny silver
medal of our Blessed Mother, and exacts from each one a promise tha