[359] esteem. That the regard was reciprocated by this teacher is apparent from the following tribute from his pen. Mr. Bradford writes:
I think I appreciate the character of Howard. I know his noble and endearing qualities, his warm and kind impulses; his affectionate, true, frank, generous heart; his clear, discriminating, well-balanced intellect; his energy of purpose, decision and straightforwardness in will and action; his lofty notions of right and honor, and other traits of mind and heart which made him so true a man. I can say of him, that I not only loved him, but, although he was a mere boy when I was connected with him, that I truly respected him.He left Mr. Bradford's school to enter Harvard College in the year 1853. He had passed a brilliant examination, and gave every promise of taking high rank in his Class. It was said of him by the distinguished President of the University, Dr. Walker, that, ‘as easily as he could put forth his hand, he could take the highest honors of the Class, if he applied himself to that object.’ Although he allowed himself to be diverted from it, and failed to accomplish what had been hoped for him as to college rank, he succeeded in awakening a strong interest in his instructors; and among his Class he was an object of enthusiastic regard. After his death, besides passing the customary resolutions expressive of their sorrow at his loss, they addressed a letter to his family, of which the following is an extract:—
His position among us was so peculiar, both in the influence which he exercised and the regard in which he was held, that it was our general desire, when we came together upon the occasion of his death, that, besides the resolutions adopted as a public tribute to his memory, a private communication should be made to his family, in which a freer expression could be given to our sentiments, and which, by its informality, should the more feelingly assure them how important we estimate the loss we have sustained.This letter contains a just and discriminating analysis of his character as a man and as a scholar, and perhaps indicates, clearly enough, the faults which stood in the way of his
