ENTERS COLLEGE.

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am constrained to feel that I ought to offer myself, though poor and unworthy."

In 1844 Mr. Aitchison entered the Freshman class in Yale College. What his course was as a student there, will appear from the following testimony of Rev. Mr. Blodget, who was his classmate during seven years of study, and afterward his associate in Christian labors. "The first time I remember to have seen him, was in our class-meeting the first Sabbath morning after the commencement of the term. The exercises had been opened by a member of the senior class, who then gave place and retired from the room. After he had gone, Mr. Aitchison, then a young man of eighteen years, rose from his seat and with unaffected modesty and characteristic simplicity and fervor poured forth the language of his heart.

"Such was the beginning of his course in college, and such he held fast to the end. What he was in the first meeting, he was also in the last. During his entire college course he was always steadfast on the side of right and good order; and he became a pillar of the truth in the whole college community. Early in his course

he was chosen a member of the church committee for that division of the class to which he belonged, and in that office, as well as in all his intercourse with his fellow-students, he won their respect, and in an unusual degree their love."

Nor was his influence confined to the college. Early in his Sophomore year he became a teacher in the Mission Sabbath-School, for colored people, in Broadway, and continued in the good work through the rest of his course of study. After serving three years as teacher, he was, upon graduation, elected Superintendent, and as such served three years more, spending much of his leisure. time in visiting the sick and destitute among this poor people, by whom his labors are still kindly and gratefully remembered.

During a part of his college life, he was also one of the editors of the Yale Literary Magazine, showing the estimate in which he was held by his fellow-students as a writer. His contributions to the Magazine, in prose and verse, were numerous and highly esteemed. At three different times also he bore off the prize for excellence in composition. And all this whilst struggling with great embarrassments, compelled to teach a

part of the time, acting also as Librarian to the college, in order to hold on his way.

Mr. Aitchison graduated in 1848, with credit to himself, taking the second honor of his class, the salutatory. Two years afterward he was appointed a Tutor in Mathematics in his noble alma mater, thus receiving the highest testimonial of the officers of the institution, not only to his superior scholarship, but also to the worth and weight of his character.

We have dwelt the longer upon the earlier part of Mr. Aitchison's life, because it is the key to the whole, and is full of encouragement to all who are struggling with like difficulties, or fondly cherishing similar hopes; and there is the more to cheer and encourage in his example, from the very fact that he was no prodigy, thus showing that transcendent gifts and brilliant endowments are not necessary to great usefulness, or to the highest nobility of character. But it should also be observed that he was never a drone, and never a rebel against decent restraints. He did not supinely trust to luck to get him over hard places; neither did he think it necessary to sow his "wild oats," or play any foolish college

pranks in order to demonstrate his wit, or make himself an agreeable companion of his fellowstudents. He was cheerful and playful, but never "fast" or furious; thus proving that college vices are not necessary to college popularity, for he was a universal favorite.

Mr. Aitchison pursued his Theological studies in connection with the Divinity school, at New Haven; attending at the same time, during the third year in the Seminary, to his duties as Tutor in the College; and here also he was always the diligent student, the humble Christian, and the exemplary man.

His Marriage-Begins Preaching-In Kent-Woodstock-Fitchville.

In the spring of 1851 (April 22,) Mr. Aitchison was married to the object of his early and devoted attachment, Miss Mary E. Andrew, daughter of Rev. S. R. Andrew, long the wellknown and highly esteemed Pastor of the 1st Congregational Church in Woodbury, Conn., but then a resident of New Haven. Miss Andrew was a person of superior intellect, culture, and loveliness. They were kindred spirits, and both anticipated greatly augmented usefulness as well as happiness by their union. Often had they communed together, most tenderly and sacredly, about the Master's service; and both had thought especially of the blessed missionary work; but the health of Miss Andrew had been so feeble, even for years before their marriage, as to forbid