Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1853-04-02
A TALEDlCT0RY.
y dear young Friends /:

upon downy pillows. while dreams
bright aud beautiful will ever and anon
float through our happy minds to the
soul thrilling music Of {" vacation
song" IT'S true we have been sadly
troubled concerning the examination
that ende6-blcss Goodness-to.dayi
but now we feel happy in the remcm'
brance Of past labors, and are only
too Joyous in tho anticipation of the
coming holidays. Our work has been
done, and well done, we trust, during
the last session; hud with sweet
contentment of conscience We leave
all our books, and studies, and school
day trials behind, to revcl, for few
weeks in tho unchecked, unconfncd
bliss of sweet and glorious liberty.
But some of us have happier anti;
citations still. There are homes fur
away, to which some in this room are
looking with anxious minds and throb.
bling hearts. There are fathers and
mothers 10 be seen once again; there
are brothers and sisters to DO pressed
to bosoms that love with unsullied at
fiction; there are the friends that we
knew in other days, 10 he greeted a.
gain with the soft, mellow tones Of
friendship: and there IRE shady walks,
and running brooks, and singing birds
far away in our beloved homes, that
even now come upon our hearts with
all the sweet remembrances Of other
days. Cold indeed must be the heart
that hath no such pleasant drcams-
aud sad and desolale must be the soul
tina, knows not the rich. endearing,
sustaining affection Of the fresidc
hearth ..
But there be some among US who
have itch treasures to carry back with
them to "the loved ones at home.' p
I mean not the riches of education
that your minds have CLEANED in yon.
der College halls: refer not to the
pledges Of friendship that have, III.
most unasked for, flown out from bo-
SONS that throb with love; nor do |
mean the prizes Of honor that some
have won by diligence aud attention
TO the dictate, Of your kind, good
teachers: but do mean 1.-THE Pearl
of great price," That Heaven has SO
boun,eously sent down to cheer your
young hearts in this land of strangers.
Yes! you can go home with yet hap
pier hearts than in your breasts ever
beat before; for you have drank from
that fountain that never dries, and YOU
have eaten of "lhc bread of life" and
may hunger no more forever. And
now. can you leave our village with
out sigh'or regret, when you remem-
Der that it was here you received the
richest blessing God can give to maa!
Will you not sometimes look back to
il with kind and pleasant thoughts,
blending your hearts and minds togo
Their in an earnest prayer for The well
fare of its inhabitants, who with ear
ues,ncss and love drew your affections
from the world to the purer things of
Heaveni Can you cease to think OF
your kind, good and atiec,ionate in
structors, who taught your hearts the
way of holiness, and upon bendcd
knees prayed Gods blessing on your
heads, day and night without ceasiugl
Oh! you sometimes thought them hard
and stringeu, masters, when they so
UNFORTUNATELY begged your attention
to heavenly things; but how often
since have you longed to throw your.
selves before them. aud ono thousand
times entreat their forgiveness foryour
unkind actions, and obdurute hearts,
and unfeeling dispositions, in those
your days of sin aud folly. But then
you know they have forgotten it all,
and love you dearly, and pray for you
often, and admouish you with paren.
tai affection, to ever hold fast to tho
love of Christ Jesus. Can you for
get their prayers? Never, no never!
And now, let me cntreat you 10
hold fast 10 the promises Of God. Oh,
never let the star of faith grow dim,
though it revolvc in the iismamen, Of
trying affections. Remember, it is
Christ only can make the heavy heart
light, or lit up the broken spirit and
when sorrows come upon you, and the
trials of tho world almost stilic you
with their thick, dark clouds of suffer.
ing,-lhen it is that your hope should
far itself afrcslr with the mighty bel
lows Of prayer, until it kindlc your
faith into u blaze, bright, cheerful and
consoling to your disconsolate spirit.
Remember that us beacon light
shines but the brighter from the dark
ness around, 50 should your faith be
increased by every blast Of adversely
that TN eatens TO submergc your life.
boat beneath tho black waves of sin,
"Blcsscl are they that mourn, for
they shall be comfored." saith the
holy word; aud instead Of looking up.
on trials and difficulties US unfavora-
bic to our present anticipalions. every
christian should consider them but the
chas,isement of just aud good pa
-. - ...... ..... IL, -. alt. c.u.., NJ. ~ |.