The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1860-02-22

they require them to build up perfect
men and women and will not furnish the
straw il requires. But there is a bright
as well rs n dark side to teachers life.
1t is pleasant to lead the little flock thro'
the wide, ever varying and beautiful ave-
nues that lead into the field of science,
and watch how eagerly they pluck the
fair flowers of wisdom that grow by the
wayside. They are not like tho hum
ming bird that fits among the faircst
flowers, and only sips enough from the
honey-cup to last the sunny day, but
when the fall winds blow wings its way
10 warmer cline; but like tho busy bee
that
Gathers sweets from every flower,
And lays rich stores of honey by
For food in winters hours
So do they in spring time of life lay rich
stores of wisdom by, for use, when the
winter of age comes on. With swift feet
they run to the mountain of knowledge,
and, undauntcd by any difficulty that pre-
sents itself, they industriously toll up its
rugged nights. How their faces brighten,
and their eyes sparkle with enthusiasm, as
they make each glittering and priceless
pearl of truth their own. Nothing can
stay their footsteps, nor stop their upward
flight, until they have gained the summit
and quaffed their thirst at the intellect
ual fount of knowledge.
How faithfully should parents and
teachers watch the growing mind, that
prejudice be not allowed to bud there.
How earnestly you should admonish them
to shun the deccitful morasses of vice
and infdelity, and to seek the evergreen
oasis of religion, virtue and truth, that
intersperse the desert of life, and without
which they can never become true men
and women. There arc two things that
should be taught in every school-that is
music and drawing. l do not suppose
that every little truant school boy or girl
would become a nightingale, a Rubcns
Vandyke, or Raphacl-though there
may be many such in embryo among
them, which an early acquaintance with
the art would bring out and develop
Music should be taught because it has n
powerful tendency in calming the angry
winds and stilling the surging pillows of
the soul. 1t cheers the depressed and
produces happy and quiet frame of
mind.
Drawing is not only a pleasant amuse-
ment but is very useful. 1t will lead a
child to become close observer. Every
thing he meets, from the forest king down
to the least flower that decks woodland,
or the smallest pebble on the sea-shore,
will afford him new interest and pleasure,
and rs he copies the beauties of nature
on his canvass, she will transfer them TO
bis soul and imperceptibly lead his mind
from the contemplation of nature up to
natures God. Now let us compare your
work with that Of others. First comes
the agriculturist and loads our tables with
delcacies and fills our cellars and grana-
ries with fruit, vegetables and grain, for
tho support Of man. The mechanic makes
and furnishes us with all kinds of furn-
ture, and machines, that We need for our
use and convenience. The manufacturer
supplies us with cloths of the finest fab
ric which in beauty Of colors almost rivals
the valley green. The architect rears the
lovely cottage, builds the superb mansion,
constructs the magnificent tomple and the
splendid palace, and binds the banks of
the ripping brook and the mighty stream,
that we may pass over in safety. Do We
desire statucs-the sculptor presents us
with Venus or Juno. But all these
things will perish with their using and
fade with age. Does man desire fame
he leads his mighty hosts Of warriors on
TO battle, and the great city that in all
its glory and splendor saluted the rising
monarch of day is, ere its decline, shape
less and smouldering mass. But the vic
tor has won q crown, palm. But the
sparkling gems that deck his kiugly crown
arc dimmed by widow and orphans tears;
and the cries and groans of the oppressed
weigh down and withers The leaves of
fame's laurel wreath that encircles his
brow, and his victorious palm is dyed in