PREFACE. A FRIEND, whofe fon had juft entered college a few months ago, afked for him a word of counfel from the author, and a single offhand letter was written accordingly. The friend, and alfo the fon, fuggefted that fome more letters would be welcome, and that good would furely be done by printing them. Six letters were foon written, and thefe, with revifion and the addition of a few thoughts and recollections, are now published in this little volume. Thus, without any intention on his own part, the author finds his name once more on a title page, quite willing to follow the advisers, young and old, who afk for this publication, and who affure him that it will be ufeful; quite certain, moreover, that he has written to meet an actual want, and with the fimple purpose of faying a kind and true word to students in loving remembrance of old college days. The author's fympathies, like his perfonal experience, are clofely with thofe who are obliged to depend upon themfelves; and there may be fome words here that will encourage young perfons, without fortune and even without parents or patrons, to press on in a worthy career with ftrength and hope. It seemed best to retain the dates and names, generally, as they originally ftood, and if this feature gives the book more of a Cambridge air, it will be more expreffive, even to general readers, than if the thought were purely imperfonal, without local habitation or name. The contents are fomewhat defultory, but they all bear upon the title and illustrate some aspects of Student Life. The author is grateful to his friend and classmate, Rev. Charles T. Brooks, for the fine poem at the "Silver Feftival." If the bulk of the book were but earth, this rose, like that of Saadi's Gulistan, would be enough to fweeten the whole lump. New York, Nov. 28, 1860. STUDENT LIFE. I GENERAL IDEAS OF STUDY. DEAR I propose, in a very familiar manner, to give you the refults of my own experience in college, looked back upon from nearly thirty years' experience of life. You go to college to get an education; and, of course, study is the main intereft of the next four years. It is marvellous how much can be learned in that fhort period, with due diligence and economy of time. The first thing for you to do will be to make the best divifion poffible of the hours of the day, so as to establish a good working method, that will harmonize the claims of different |