The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-07-23

hearts ofhis, pupils, the Alumnae OF
the AthanaeIIn Ianong whom, ! am
proud to number myself his memory
is brighter aud fresher than new
born hope.
The memories of those halcyon days
gather around me the many bright
| scenes of my childhood, and awaken
the young hours, when an infant mind
hung about his teachings IS Oracles.
And to-day, j see before me faces of
those who bear me witness to the
many happy hours spent within these
classic walls-aRd Whe with me will
testify to the noble and untiring eff
forts of our beloved Principal and
his giftet wife, to rank this Institution
with the first in the land.
Rosy youth has given Llace to noon
day life with some of us, and many
a fair form has gone to swell the num-
ber8 of the silent cities of the dead,
yet, the many who live whether they
be the daughters of our own state, or
fro ~ the Orange-scented South, or the
! fair fields of the West, or whether
they be from the far off Northern
States, still they cherish the Femem-
brance of those other days, when our
footsteps were directed with unswerv-s
ing patience in the paths of wisdom,
All was brightness, and peace, and
prosperity. But alas! change a
drefitt change; the clash of arms, the
deep-mOuthed cannon, the thrilling
notes of fife and drum, as patriots
brave and true, hurried from the en-
brace of loved ones and home, all pro-
claimed a nation risen againt itself.
The dusky wings of war lowered over
the land, and night of despair set
tied upon every heart: changing the
music of young life and of peaceful
home, into the bugle blast of battle,
which seemed to sound for hope. a
death-knell, and sing requiem to
departed bliss.
Teachers gave up their charges,
aud pupils returned sadly to their
slopes. and delightful retreats, was
here and there dotted with the white
tents of the enemy. Instead of the
merry notes of happy children at play
and the trilling echo of merrier birds,
was heard the "tattoo" at nightfall,
and the sound of "revielle'' at break of
day, and the heavy tramp of soldiery
pressed this classic soil.
This beautiful hall with its hadsOme
Duric porches, and picture-lined walls,
together with its rare meteorological
cabinet, and splendid Library, with
its five thousand or more volumes; all,
everything seemed given over to the
ruthless hand of war, and the star of
the Columbia Athen8um sunk, as all
thought, in the great ocean Of ruin.
But where amid all this was the
founder of this institution? Did he
sit with folded hands as if his work
were done? No! he was found where
duty called him-with his family in
the hands of Providence, he Joined
his fortunes with the boys who wore
the grey, It's useless to speak of
those dark days, we all know. \ sad
ness creeps around our heart-strings
and we would fain forget.
Once again, this land still crimsoned
with the blood of the martyrs, rested
in the arms of Peace; and Hope, will
ling tOtake up her abode with Us, fold
ed her wings.
In September 1865, the Rector, with
renewed energy and hope, reopened
the doors of the Athen3um and began
his labOrs; but soon the last scene for
him in LIES great drama was closed,
when he Obeyed the summons to go
from earth away.
Truly i'll a line from one of his ia
v0rite authors, could it be said OF him
that he was Firm of word, speaking
in deeds, and deedless in his tongue.
His heart and hand both open, and
both free; for what he has he gives. /"
And she too who had lived and la
bored with him-is gone.
] remember, in the summer of 1870,
to have witnessed her last commence
meut day She seemed gre atty affected. |
Could it be that she had PRESENT.
ment? Could she have foreseen this |
to have been her last examination? [ |
know not, but | do know that her last |
words, as she wreathed with pure |
white flowers the brOws of the young |
graduates, were the most beautiful, the |
most elOQeunt that ever fell from wo- |
mans lips
The shimmering light of u dying !
sunset rested upon her pale brow, and |
women wept, and strong men shook |
with emotion, as her last sad farewell |
was spoken.
The mellow tenderness of her voice
penetrated every heart, and memory
still bears lingering echo of its sweet
ness.
Her work is finished
Together they rest The gentle
zepbyrs whisper CT their graves, and
1
They are gone, but their mantlas
have fallen upon the shoulders of their
while their memory
will love ever to Iinger i'll the hearts of
the people, it remains with them to
emulate the example, and to perpetu-
ate the characters of their illustriOus
parents.
And nobly have they begun the
work, and faithfully have they dis
their duties, The AtheneumI
to-day ranks pre-eminent among iu-
situations of learning; nearly eight
thousand young ladies have quenched
their thirst at this fountain of knowl-
edge; may it continue to prosper. May
the Star of the Athen8um meier grow
pale, bnt brighter and brighter glow
each succeeding year.
And now, young ladies, word to
you. y cluster of rOsebuds from this
garden of girls, you go forth into the
world, and it lies with you what kind :
Of world it proves.
Think not to float on waves of pleas
ire; for,
Pleasures are like poppies spread,
You seize the flower, the blossom is she'd"
Nor to fiutter like butterflies in the
slipping only the streets of
ife-fOr ''Life more than breath and
luick round of blood, tits a great spirit
md busy heart"
Go forth, bearing IN mind life has its I
tuties its cares and its sorrows. Go :
Is earnest, useful, thinking women. :
"He most lives who thinks most :
cells the noblest, acts the best. Re :
member, life is not the mere act of -
raadipO tba mill of habit fO nat aDJ ! =