Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-05-20
GOD ANDMY MOTHER KNOW

into the Mediterranean Sea, was oori
q man whose name is down to this year
1876, spoken with reverence on both
sides of the world.
That name is Socrates. All who read
history aud biography are familiar with
the story of his life and death; but boys
and girls who are not old enough to
have read much may like to hear some
thing about this great name. He was
a wise and good philosopher, and spent
much of his time in publicly teaching
wisdom and virtue to his countrymen.
He also fearlesSly reproyed the folly,
corruption, and oppression which abound
ed iD the city of Athens where he
lived. Socrates had many disciples who
had for him veneratiOn aud love. He
had also enemies, because his pure life
and words of reproof awoke hatred to
the bad. Some of these enemies at
tempted to silence him by ridicu)e.
They caused comedy to ba written
and acted in the theatre in which the
noble philosopher was exposed TO laugh
ter and scorn. Socrates exhibited no
anger at this insult. He even went to
see the play, and when the actor who
represented himself appeared on the
stage, Socrates arose TO show TO the au-
dience the real person whom they were
desired to ridicule.
When asked by spectator if he was
not annoyed by this public derision Of
himself, he answered, BY no means. l
am only host at apublic festival where
| provide large company with enter
tainment.
Finding that contempt availed moth
ing his enemies used stronger means.
They sought 10 destroy him by accusing
him of crimes of which they well knew
he was not guilty. He was summoned
to a trial.
Plato, one of his followers, who after
wards became one of the most eminent
philosophers and writers in the world,
arose TO address the court in behalf of
the accused, but was quickly silenced.
Socrates then made his own defense, in
which he set forth powerfully and clear
" the base character and motives of his
enemies: but the corrupt court did not
desire to know the truth, but only to
sdestroy Socrates. He was condemned
to die by drinking a cup of poison
hemlock.
lie received his sentence with COM
poSure, but his friends heard it with
anger aud grief.
When one said to him, You do not
deserve such a fate, he answered, would
you prefer that deserve it?
AS the time approached when SOcra-
tcs must die, his followers gathered
around him in the prison to receive the
sorrowful satisfaction of their last con-
versation with their teacher and friend.
When his friend Critic asked how he
wished to be buried, he said with a
smile, addressing himself to all the
friends gathered around him:
is it not strange. after all have said
to convince you that am going to the
society of the happy, that Critic still
thinks this body, which will soon be
liteless corpse, to be Socrates! Let
him dispose of my body as he pleases;
but let HIM not at its interment mourn
over it as if il were Socrates
When the time appointed for him to
take the poisonous draught had come,
he bade farewell to his friends, prayed
for his safe passage into the unknown
world, and then drank the fatal cup.
His friends burst into tears, but he was
calm aud entreated them TO show cour-
age worthy of the friends of virtue.
He continued walking as long as he
was able, then lay down upon his bed,
and soon his soul, which had 50 honest
ly and earnestly sought to know truth,
passed TO life where he has learned Of
God, and of immortality what in this
world lie had no way to learn.
This great and good man lived more
than tour hundred years before Jesus
Christ came to bring spiritual light and
knowledge into the world. lie knew
little of the true God. but kept his soul
from the darkening power of evil, and
eagerly sought all the light which was
then given to men, and hoped for
clearer life beyond the grave.
Only the good are tIuely great
How wise was that responce of Soc
rates to the lament, you do not deserve
such fate: Would you prefer that |
deserve it 2
When condemnation falls upon the
good, let us not mournfully complain
that it is undeseryed. No, let us rejoice
that it is SOL When shame and scorn
are heaped upon an innocent man; when
even thick prison walls shut out from
him the light Of the day and the eye Of
love; when even>forced by lis fellows to
death, let him be brave and calm as
Socrates, and triumph in the truth that
be is innocent of the crime of which he
is accused Human hatred cannot des-
troy him, nor even death, if only he
can declare with a clear conscience,
God and my mother know that ] am
innocent
Alas for the shame which cannot be
endured; the sorrow which cannot be
comforted because condemnation is inst !
Many father aud mother have sut-
fered for son or daughter this pain
which has no cure.
Boys and girls VINO may read this lit
tie sketch, if ever blame falls upon you,
you may be calm and happy as was
Socrates, If. like him, YOU have a con-
science clear.
Set watch at the door of your heart,
onl ,si- Tli,.,,o l.,