Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-10-27

~ - f9sssssfssas 3 y D e - = - ~
| arrived. Tho band ofH5t,sic, provided for
the occasion. struck up aspirit-stirring air;
the folding doors 10 the spacious chapel,
| were thrown upon, md die pupils were
conducted to the placeiassig igned them just in
front OF. the yostrum herever they
turned. the smiling and expectant eyes OF
| friends met and answered 10 their gaze.-
Age was there, and beside the man Of
| frosted locks, sat the bloonaing matron and
the blushing maid Eae galleries were
filled ana sparling Nth youth and beauty
Chandeliers swung mn eeehli.ag brill
The venerable precsptof sas alone upon
the staging, and upon a table before. him,
lay two or three splendid volumes and a
beautiful. wreath Of flowers, designed as
prizes for the successful aspirants. The
exercise commented went on. %'Oration
followed oration; essay after essay was read
by trembling lips. Sometimes applause
broke the stiffness of the multitude, and
sometimes music thrilled the young hearts
! ofthe actors in this brilliant little scene OF
rivalry, for it was nothing less At length
but two speakers remained, and one COM
position was yet to be read. The speak
ers were Harry Melville and Charles Mil
ler, and the essayest was no other than
Frances Brooks. Pale as marble, she as.
cended the steps, assisted by Harry, and
slowly advancing, she stood by the table.
! Her voice foated like harp-tones through
rthe still air, tremulous it is true, but how
musical it was! Her theme, "Trath the
only proper stimulant to intellectual effjrt,' -
was admirably handled; as she read on,
her color and her voice deepened together;
her tones were soft and clear and lound,
and altogether, she seemed the very per-
soni6cation Of some truthful angel us she
stood there, descended to rebuke the ruling
passion of the scene. She ceased, and the
momentary silence, and the loud acclaim
that followed, betokened the illusion almost
complete. Harry Melville's graceful form,
next glided on the rostrum. A smile was
upon his lip,2a light was in his eye; his
manner was winning, his tones silvery; he
had written for applause, and he obtained
what he sought. "With glory for each
second wore, - the uppermost thought and
ruling passion of his soul. "He is destined
to be popular man." whispered one;
| Oh! yes. a man of talent" murmered an
other. "How fascinating he isl lisped q
little beauty, who has appropriated the mos
desirable seat Of the front tier in the gale
ry. Charles Miller followed, and in mat
ter, manner and person, in perfect con
trast with him who hasl l,recsded him. Nc
smile as for coming triumph parted his lips:
. no flush as ofscoveted glery, dyed his cheek
but only dignity with which noble thought
invested the whole man, and deep inter
est which the theme had awakened, thrilled
his frame; it was wrought out from within;
no external aad foreign stimulant was
needed; prizes grew dim; rewards were
as though they were not; every thing was
forgotten but the subject" his heart was in
it; his soul was in it, and absolutely trans
formed, he stood there 1t was like the
spring. tide of 1.-THE waters, lifting heaven
ward and yet without wavelet or spray
no rippling, no flashing, but deep and clear
and warm as the summer heaven. Starry
thoughts shone there without glitter, ane
delighted without dazzling; illustrations
grew to his touch, but so naturally tha
none mistrusted miracle; none wondered
for they could not we'll see, how he coule
have used another. He was eloquent, but
they knew it not. He mastered their feel
, ings, but they mistrusted not the cause
None said. s'splendid but silenc'
that might be heard, and gaze tha: nigh
be felt, betokened the power of him whe
stood before them. He concluded, and a
he left the stage, the pressure Of his foo
upon the carpet was distinctly heard. The
beautiful tone "Sweet Home" 'flled th'
, silence like speech'' and the last strain
had scarcely melted away ere the pre-
. ceptor arose, and announced the distribu
ton of the prizes. They three, Harry
Charles and Frances, again stood upon th'
stage. 'Frances Brooks! to you, the eve
gentle and true, as faint emblem Of tn
, Eden-growth that is springing in your heart
$ this wreath is presented in behalf OF you
fellow-pupils. l am aware it is unusua
thus to signalize the virtues that adorn th'
$ heart and the life, and yet they are thos
/ that add lustre to the brightest acquisition
4 Of the intellect. That you have neve
| breathed the breath Of scandal-that yo
: have never smiled at the expense of feel
!. ing-that you have cultivated those quail
i ties that should ever distinguish the femal
, character-that you have been a SNAKE
:. Of peace" wherever you have moved, mus
| be to you its s'own exceeding great reward,
g for such we are told, are heiresses to a mar
n sion in s'the kingdom Of Heaven" Th
1 flowers that compose this wreath will 500
:, fade; it must be yours to see to it; that thes
r other flowers retain an amaranthine bloom
e unwithered by the touch of the world-ur
it torn by the stormy breath of passion" H
= ceased, and taking up the wreath, placed
a upon the bending brow of the lovely girl
J. "To you. Charles Miller, this volume
f given in behalf of the Board, the first priz
$ for scholarship and department. 1t is
IS volume of poetry, Of history, of philosophy
u and what is more, it is volume of trutl
). Upon its cover, your name is lettere'
b. 'Charles Miller, the Widows son.
d have marked your devotion to that niothe
,e have read the noble motive that has bee
e the spring of all your energies. There
St a character delineated in this volume, tn
IN might have been twin-born with your owl
o. In every real bond Of union, RUTH was q