Smyrna times., 1861-02-28
aledlCtOry.

Ma EDITOR will you be so kind as to adj
nit. in your excellent Times, the following
brief valedictory, to my schoolmates and
teacher, in District No. 8!
Dear School Compa Mons Having been as
ISOLATED with you for Eve consecutive years IN
1Fduous study, the time has now come when
must bid you adieu. In all my efforts TO OBJ
tain the basis Of q literary education, to pre-
pare me for future usefulness, have shared
ysur sympalhies and even your aid, the remem'
beranee Of which now, calls up the most pro-
found gratitude Of my heart. indeed, feel
proud that it has been my happy lot TO have
been associated with such noble and gener.
Gus class OF students. You have stood indis-
soluble to the arduous task in climbing he i'll
of science many of you have been indeiatig-
able in surrounding the difficulties incident to
study in fact, have sometimes thought that
some Of you had stricken from your vocabulary
the word Failure" Thus your courageous
spirit, your uniform industrious habits. have
stimulated your unworthy schoO mate to make
greater efforts 10 accomplish his appropriate
studies than he would otherwise have done.
Dear fellow Students, this apparent encomium
is not from the pen Of the sycophant. No. ii is
the out-gushiDg of a heart which has been
taught TO appreciate q favor and estimate
&
honor is DUE" As have above minated,
that have been associated with you ter FIVE
years, how swiftly and how pleasantly they
have passed away! they have gone and the
time has come when those associations which
have generated affections, and which affections
have grown with my growth and strengthened
with my strength, must, TO great extent, be
severed. But wherever my futRre lot may be
cast, shall ever cherish those grateful recol-
lections Of you, with whom have studied and
played and sported in my schoolboy days.
And although we shall be separated in body,
| yet, trust, we shall ever be unus in senti-
ment, one in an honest pursuit to obtain COM
potency Of this worlds goods, one in the pur-
suit of useful knowledge, enc in propagaling
the truths Of morality, and above all, one in ex-
tending the great principles Of Christianity.
! But what shall say to Mr.. Pennewill, the
Principal of our SeminGrium To you, sir, |
owe a debt of gratitude which | cannot pay
Your ability TO Impart instruction, your frmness
in the administration Of discipline, and your un.
paralelied sympathy with your students, have
won for you the respect and confidence of the
entire school. You, sir, are doing a work Sc
cond to none you are laboring TO bring chaotic
nature into order and perfection; your work
sir, is laborinus; your pecuniary compensation
| Is W yOuT ocIN lCteI Uub WullG buls
is the fact, yet doubtless you feel in your OWE
mind that you have other compensation apar
from pGliry pelf. Your constant ext ibiton o
patience and labor of love, have demonstrate
TO your pupils the veracity of the Christian re
ligion. You. sir, have proven TO US that yOI
are not only laboring to develop the intsllec
tual, but also TO impress the heart with those
solemn truths which are so we'll calculated I,
lead the youthful mind to higher fountain
than the springs Of Doctrins.
A word TO the visiting committee. DR.. VIM
Cutnmins and Rev. Matthias Jerman, and
shall have done. Gentlemen, what the char
aud the compass are 10 the mariner, go ha
your gratuitous and indomitable attention beef
TO our school. You, without fee or reward
except the reward of an approving conscience
have labored assiduonsly TO advance the char
acter Of our school; you have held up the ha nd
of our worthy Preceptor, and thereby encour
aged him in his arduous duties; your visit
and your lectures have been as incentives L
excite the scholars to greater diligence in tn
performance Of their various duties.
May the school long be blessed with you
visits and efficient labors.
In conclusion, bid my fellow.students, m
worry preceptor, and the visiting committee
an affeetionate farewell.
THOMAS E. HUNTINGTON.