The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-07-10
ValedictOry Delivered at the D. D. 6 b.
Institution, June 9th, 1867.
Ladies and Gentlemen:

In obedienc,
to duty, which I owe. not less to tn,
faculty of this Institution, than to my
own heart have consented to appear
before you this evening.
Just upon the eve Of going out into the
world, of leaving the sacred arms of my
Alma Mater, | should indeed, be recre
ant to every sentiment Of flial piety, did
| I turn my back in Indifferent silence upon
her; nay, owe her too much veneration
too much gratitude, too much love for
that
Under kind and benefcent dispense
ton of Providence, the labors of another
| scholastic year have been conducted sue
cessfully, and happily to close; and al
though we are, all of us, in the most san
guine hopes and full Of the most joyous
anticipations about meeting, in very few
days, our little brothers and sisters in &C.
stacies of delight, upon our own native
thresholds; and although many perhaps
are destined to receive the welcome heav-
en- inspired caresses, and bepedictions of
tender and devoted mothers still there
is not one of us who can lay his hand
upon his heart, and say, that he is COM
pletely happy. Nor is this strange; for
who can stand, perhaps for the last time,
in the presence of class mates, whom he
has learned to love, and teachers whom he
!, has learned to revere, without a profound
" melancholy emotion.
But we must bear in mind the motives
that called us together, and the sense of
duty that has quickened our energies in
the accomplishment of our common ends;
and as pilgrims, after they have paid their
pious duties at shrine, return to look af-
ter their interests in the world, so, we
must go forth again and fulfil our desti-
MES.
As individuals, we are amenable to man,
and accountable to God for our actions.
AS we have, by nature, hearts susceptible
Of moral culture. SO, also, have we, by ma
ture, minds capable Of intellectual I'M
provement, notwithstanding our physical
disabilities and in that high and holy
Providence that doeth all things we'll, the
means have been devised for our educa-
ton; and be it said, to the imperishable
honor Of our learned faculty, that, in this
Institution, the system Of education has
been so far perfected, as to exercise the
human understanding, without the medi-
UNI Of sight, upon the most abstruse scien-
ces that have ever been elaborated by the
genius Of man.
entered this Institution ten years ago,
and remained here four years. It is true
that in that long time, l covered the whole
course then appointed for the blind. But
that course was circumscribed by such
narrow limits, that [ should be ashamed
is describe it, except, in contrast with the
exhibition you have witnessed this even
ing.
In consequence Of series Of fortunate
mishaps, returned about ten months ago:
and what was my surprise, to find that all
barriers were broken down, all obstacles
removed, all difficulties overcome, and that
there was spread out before me, course
as boundless, and as fattering as eyer
greeted the prospective gaze of student
at Oxford. The bird which had so long,
and so vigorously struggled in his cage,
beating his fettcred wings against the OBJ
stinate wires, has at length burst his
bonds, and is soarif aloft in the illimita-
bic fields of blue
As inmates Of this Institution there
fore, and as sharers in the abundant har-
vest of good fruits that it has brought, it
is indeed; our duty to be sincerely thank
full to that Guardian Power, which has, SO
nlanifestly made it the object of His pc
cullar care; for with what good reason
can we congratulate our fellow citizens,
and our mother State, that this humane
Institution at least has not been permitted
to sink into insignifcancc, to fall into d.
lapidation and ruin, or like so many Gle
giant public and private residences that
once adorned Virginia's hills and valleys
ITO leave the blackness of ashes to mark
where they STOOD
And the wild mother screams Ger her perish
ing BROOD"
So far from this, indeed it has not only
bravely withstood the tide, of ruin through
the storm of war, but even in the very
midst of desolation around 1t, it has au-
vanced with giant strides to degree Of
perfection to which no similar Institution
under the sun has ever attained
Within its walls, for the last ten months,
we have been blessed with the most album
dant facilities for engaging in the most de-
lightful occupations that have ever called
forth the energies Of the youthful mind.
Here, it has been our rare fortune to
strole together through the beautifully d.
versifcd walks Of science; and that too,
far away from the busy whirl of the out
side world, and far beyond the influences
of political fanaticism and notwithstand-
ing the great intellectual work that has SO
deeply engrossed our attention, we now
feel that all the sweet influences Of home
have been at work, forming those links of
tenderness which will ever bind and con-
centrate our grateful affections upon our
common home But now indeed, and al
most unawares our labors are ended, and
the time has come when we must bid adieu
to home and friends, to the sequcstored
walk and shady grove around the Pierian
spring; when we must begin our lonely
journey through hostile world !; but we
will not be alone
ssHe, He will be with US and cause US to stand,
Upheld by his righteous, omnpotent hand. E