The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1872-05-16

| lighting the stern battles Of life, in different
parts Of the land, the sparks Of recollection
viii, no doubt, often illumine the ponderous
sides Of memorys urn, TO such an intensity,
that il win diffuse its steady rays over the
distant past, and light up, in all their orig
mai beauty and distinctness, the scenes enact
ed here When l reflect your uniform
hdelty 20 me, and the testimony you have
given me of your friendship and appreciation
by cheerfully and honorably bestowing upon
me every gilt have asked at your hands, my
heart goes forth in gratitude and love toward
you, and In my earnest desire and fruitless
effort to give these sentiments expression,
am forced TO exclaim: Would that my tongue
was gifted with the eloquence OF an Apollo,
and attuned to the sweet voice of a siren, that
l might elothe the feelings that clamor within
my breast for utterance, in language more af-
fecting than the silent tears of mother, more
beautiful than the wreath painted by the
hnger Of God on the brow OF heaven, and
more enduring than the aged rock on the
ocean, at whose base the pillows are destined
to break harmless foreverl But this is, alas
impossible These emotions must continue to
heave within the narrow limits of my own
breast, whenever RECOLLECTION touches the
cords Of memory, until flushed forever IN
eternal sleep.
Sirs, you are now at a point in life when
aspirations spring up in your minds like
plants from the exuberant soil. These bid you
move on, more high in the progress of time,
happiness and fame. Do not crush these aspi-
rations, if they be honest and laudable. Do
not curb your noble thoughts. Chill not your
youthful enthusiasm. Check not one of your
earnest longings to be good and great, These
lend an irresistible force to action. These are
the seed that bring forth great deeds. Foster
them with and tenderness, and follow
them on through Hfe's battles and revolutions
mounting, at their bidding each obstacle that
presents its grim side, moving constantly
higher aud swifter, until spriEging upon the
summit OF greatness, you plant your banner
upon the dome of Fame's proud temple, with
hIa ito a1rHa hfah anI1
and so well, emblaZoned upon its silken folds:
Excelsior Excelsiorl
Life is before ye, and now we stand
Eager to spring upon the promised land.
Daring and triumph, pleasure pain and Joy,
Friendship unwavering, love without alloy;
Brave thoughts of noble deeds and glory won,
Like angels beckon We to venture on.
Life is before ye, from the fated road
Ye cannot turn, then take ye up the load,
Not yours to tread, or leave the unknown way,
I e must go o er it. meet ye what ye may;
Grid up your souls within you for the deed
Angels and fellow spirits bid ye speed,
What though the brightness wane, the plea
sure fade,
The glory dim, Oh not of these is made
The awful life that to your trust is given,
Children of God, inheritors of Heaven"
Duty to him who made you, duty to an anx-
ious father and a beloved mother, duty to
yourself and country bids each of you, with
imperative voice, Strike row Strike long
Strike deep Strike everl Strike until the
scintillatiOns from your minds illumne the
dark places that yet remain in the field of
thought
Territory is yet left untrodden by the foot of
the orator, the philosopher, the physician the
mechanic. Go search it, find II, blaze your
way into its secret precincts, and erect a
monument to your names. l, for one, will
ever bid ii rise, rise until ii battle its head in
the bosom of heaven, and the mornings ear
lest light gild its stately brow, and the en-
purpiing smiles of the dying day linger and
play on its summit.
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