If his room was crowded, this act invariably caused it to be empty.

The fame of these feet spread to the teachers and young ladies, and, in fact, to the city.

And the huge Mississippian seemed to relish the distinction.
Whenever Belton was to deliver an oration he always arranged his clothes the night beforehand.

So, on the Wednesday night of the week in question, he carefully brushed and arranged his clothes for the next day.

In the valedictory there were many really touching things, and in rehearsing it before his room-mate Belton had often shed tears.
Fearing that he might he so touched that tears would come to his eyes in the final delivery, he had bought a most beautiful and costly silk handkerchief.