Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1874-07-11
(Reported for the Reglsier,l
A Synopsis of the Ofall0as Delivered
and Essays read at the Fist Com
mencement of Shepherd College.

m3ncement OF Shepherd ColltSe.
As we gave but part OF the pro-
gramme in last weeks issue, we now
give the remainder.
Essay, IA Roiiing Stone by Miss
Ida b. Kearney.
Life has been compared to stage,
on which men, women and children, are
the aetors; to river whose swift. GID
/ ING current carries everything that
touches it On 10 the ocean; but the lie
of many persons might be more aptiy
compared to "Rolling Stone, which
though it gathers no moss, sees many
ups and downs. The life OF all is like a
pebble picked up on the banks OF some
mountain stream. The tiny thing is
admired by every observer and Passer
by, as the most beautiful and the sweet
est thing ever seen. AS years roll On
the pebble becomes stone, and begins
to roll in earnest But dropping the
figure, our pebble is child, the rolling
stone q man. AS an infant he Is fond
led, praised, caressed by all, and declar-
ed to be a little "piece of perfection.
But after awhile its bad qualities are
noticed, and now lis former admirers
would have it hushed to sleep. The
noisy boy continues TO grow, and he is
10 longer the pet Of the household-he
/ is growing restless under his parents
control, and longs 70 be where he Gan
do and shift for himself, without the
voice of his parents Gliding his way
wardness. lie starts out with all the
bright prospects which usually accom-
pany the pnsuspecting youth in the
Journey of life, and tor awhile glides
along smoothly and congratulates him
self upon the bright vista before him.
Happy in hope, he grasps eagerly at the
beauties around him, but on he drifts
and still his hands are empty. Like the
rest of mankind he wants to be rich,
and that quickly, and as he has little
worldly pride, he does not contemplate
for q moment learning a trade, for he
might soil his hands. Following the
fashion of the world, he chooses pro-
fession, and his autcipations are bright
as he imagines himself a lawyer or
Judge. But time passes on and he Is
still lawyer, and having been unsuc-
cessful in his cases be has concluded to
give up law and 90 at something more
profitable. He sees an advertisement
for teacher, and immediately bright
visions of bliss flash through his brain
as he recalls the lines Of the poet
'tDelightfn task TO rea, the tender thought,
To teach the young idea how 10 shoot,
To breathe The enivenng spirit and 70 fix
The generous purpose in The glowing breast"
lie secures the situation, but soon
weares of the "delightfpl task" and
now thinks of being doctor. He re-
moves to another city, but is no more
contented than before. Time passes and
finds him iu his office waiting for prac-
lice. AS living is not to be made by
rocking, necessity suggests to him to
use little stratagem. He starts out
and hurries along as if his very life de
pended on his haste lie soon gains
little practice But, in order to replen-
ish his Golfers, he charges enormous
prices, and soon finds that the people
are not dependent on him alone, for the
city is overrun with doctors. Helingers
awhile amid the scenes of his departed
greatness, grows weary and longs for
rest. lie receives letter from a mer-
chant cousin urging him to be his clerk
but ere he arrives at his place of bus
mess, he finds to his dismay he has
failed. lie is now in large city desti-
tute Of home, friends and money, aud as
last resort, he goes to shoemaking.
After many years spent in vain aspra-
tons, he is at the cohhler's bGneh. The
trolling stone" is fixed. The exterior
is hardened by the rubs it has had, and
the heart by no means softened by the
difficulties it has endured. He is weary
and thinks of no place to rest but at his
own childhood's home, which he so
rashly left. He proceeds thither, well
persuaded that "a rolling stone gathers
no moss
Essay, "The PIrnsures of hcmory,"
by Miss Ella NJ. Kelsey.
Waited up the stream of time, by
the gentle gale of memory, we love to
view the fairy haunts Of long lost hours;
and in Imagination, we are again wend
ing our way along the banks of its sill
very, peaceful and time honored river,
where no sound breaks the serene and
quiet repose, save the music of its wa
tiers as they gently glide onward in
their course until lost in the distance,
and sink into oblivion. Should disap-
pointment arise and darken the fair face
of orr hopes, and change the scene
which nature in her unbOunded wisdom
and power has adorned with so much
beauty and loneliness, then memory
bursts forth upon the twilight of the
mind recalling long forgotten pleasures,
illuminating and cheering our dropping
spirits, and urging us on to new and
greater deeds. She soothes our sinking
souls by her dear dclusions, and diffnses
over the blank pages of futnrity the full
reflection of her vivid bues.
When the bright sun of JOY has shed
his rays upon the evening of life, and
the dtlusive meteors of hope, cease TO
play beneath her pale light, when smil-
ing prospects ale closed by volumes of
clouds we can still penetrate into the