Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-03-26

to others, and by tlrem, still again to others,
and so go on increasing in compound ratio till
q whole community may be swayed or directed
| by what was at first the operation of one
mind Thus our habits and tempers Of mind
will be felt long after we have left the stage of
| action. Thus shall we live, and as it were act,
long after the solid marble has told to other
generations that we once existed, and thought.
and felt, and acted, shall have crumbled back
to dust, and all memory of us shall have pass
ed away. Are not the influences of Aexan-
der, Napoleon and Washington, felt at the
present day? Had they been surrounded by
different scenes in childhood, we. have no rea-
son to suppose that their names would have
! been handed down from father to son. and
/ their virtues or vices given to us as examples to
be stunned or inflated But it is not alone
] the great things OF life which make impress
SlonS upon our minds but the little everyday
occurrences, the little acts Of which we are al
most unconscious. 4 single word spoken, or
act done by ourselves often VII carry life iong
impressions TO the mndS of oar uSsociateS.-
Even look will speak volumes for the eye
the index of the soul speaks OF the innerm0St
receSSes of the heart. Think you it was the
great acts Of Mary Lyon that made her the
model teacher she was, and gave her the inHu-
ence she possessed over others Was it not
rather her pety her habits of industry and
perseverance, her love of all that was cool
and noble, her endeavorS so to act that her
example might be worthy of imitation by her
pupils, and her strength of purpose when she
was in the right
! Look for a moment at the influence which
! education, and government founded on the
principles of liberty, equality and justice. have
had upon this republic We see Il nation en-
lioying greater advantages. both social and re
ligionS, than any other; nation where the
rights of each are protected where every one
stands more nearly uron his own merits, than
in any other. Bat what is it that is to sus-
tain these right and privileges? Is it not the
education of our youth As we are educated
we become capable of greater happiness. We
more fully comprehend the duties we owe to
others, ami acquire greater influence over
them The education of all, being the means
by which we are to retain these prerOgatives
and arrive nearer, and still nearer to perfection,
then let us lend our influence to sustain Onr i'll
sttutons of learning, that they may be bright
and shining lights, to guide our youth in the
paths of liberty and happiness-that our re-
public may ever be the guiding star to glory
I May we look we'll to the influence We exert,
and receive from others, that our lives may be
long. not in days weeks and years, for such is
not the measure of human life but in gene
rouS impulses and resolves, in ennobling tho'tS
and noble deeds.
Kind friends we are grateful for the interest
yOu have manifested in the cause of education
by your attendance during our exercises, that
you have lent your Influence to cheer the stu
dent in his toll, that you who have passed
through similar preparatory exercises before
entering upon the busy scenes of life, have
done what YOU could to promote the cause of
education to sustain this school in your midst,
which will be to you in future days, a pride
and honor, by preparing your sons ard daugh-
terS FOR the parc they are to occupy III life
that when old are comes on, it may not be to
them the winter of life, hut a rich and abund-
ant autumn, in which they may reap the re-
wards of well trained and well directed minds
To us, fellow, students this is Il sad sad era
Now must be severed the many tender ties of
friendship which have cheered and enliyened
our way up the rugged hill of science
Some who have for several terms assembled
at the ringing of the bell, have now for the
last time as students, joined in the hymn of
praise listened to Il portion of the Holy reve
ations and the PRAYER offered to our Father in
We have listened for the last time to the faith
full Instructions of our teachers We must
now 90 forth. The world is all before us,
where to choose our place Of rest and Provi-
dence our Guide. We who have long been the
satellites Of some bright planet, must now in
time, become planets to ratliate our light upon
other satellites.
Some may go to grace Our Legislative halls
there to make laws to protect oar nntivc land.
Some to occupy high stations in the halls of
science Some to take the lamp Of life unto
the bcuirhtci, ard Somn 20 occury that health
full and honorable station. 'ltlnrs O. the soil.
Some Of Us are about to take our places IN
the world as teachers, TO work upon lHc plaS
tic minds Of those committed 10 onr charge
To US is gwen an important station o assist
the parent n training the youth for peaceful,
bIissful abode. in u future state or TO make
them the more kceuIy feel the untold misery Of
the lost What station is then more impor
taut than the teachers ? In speaking Of their
responsibility, one has said, " You may build
temples Of marble and they will perish. You
NAV erect statues of brass and they will crum-
BILE to dust But he who works upon the hui
man mind, implanting noble thoughts and gen
erOuS impulses, is rearing structure that shall
never perish. He is writing upon tablets
whose materials is iudestructbIe, which age
will not etface, but will brighten ami brighten,
to all eternity" Such being the nluence Of
teacher, it becomes us to look well to our
dnty, before entering upon so important cal
ling
Yes lre must now 90 forth, not alone to oc-
cupy high stations as statesmen not to revel
in the halls of science not to burn the mid
night oil for our own selfish purpose ; not to
sit down in quietness and enjoy what we have
acquired without giving Others the benefit OF
it. but to