The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1879-06-19
Respectfully Dedicated to Miss Ella
Alternately
BY REv. r.5. DUxoAE.


''What is to be our destnyg Ate we to en-
ter upon LIES arena mere butterflies of fash
ion. silded ornaments of society, to fit as
moths around the lights of the ballroom,
the glare of the card table, and scoreh our fee
bic, newly fedged wings in the blaze Of the
worlds wickednessl Are we TO pass thro'
this great world so fraught with noble op-
portunities, with blinded vision, deafened
ears and obtuse sensibilitiesf Il is to be
hoped we may answer these questions in the
negative-that we may realize our mission in
life and endeavor to fulfill it, Valediotory
Essay Martin Female College, June u, 1879.
All robed in white, surprising fair, a blusl,-
ing maiden stood,
With foot put forth to span the chasm 'twixt
girl and womanhood,
Behind her lay her childhood's patti, all
bright with mother-love,
And memories sweet of Him who came with
peace-braneh from above.
A fathers heart, erfiowed with love. was
beating warm and fast
His child had realized his hopes and reached
the goal at last.
Sisters, bright eyed, angelic, pure, bent DER
with listening ears,
To catch the words of truth and love that in
the long, long years
Should serve to point their little feet along
the path oflife,
Lead safely through all conflict, toll, temp
And now she holds within her hand her es-
say tremblingly,
And reads: my classmates, what shall be
our future destiny?
Must we as, fashions butterflies on life's
arena be
As ornaments that gild the wall of proud 80
cietyl
Must we around the ballroom fit as moths
within the light,
Then spend in penitence and gloom the rem
nant Of the night
And shall we scorch the new-fedged wings
we've spread for heavenly homes
In the card tablets lurld glare whence 50
much sorrow comesg
Shall we pass through this wide, wide world,
this whited harvest field,
With blinded vision, spend our lives to reap
painful yield?
My classmates, may fondly hope that in
our lives may be
living negative sublime To all eJernityf'
Fair maid, | hatter not, but praisa thy viz
tues so divine,
Thy aim to give thy life away upon thy Saw
ior's shrine
Along hfe's dangerous sea there lies full
many horrid wreck
OF pleasure yachts whose headlong speed no
friendly hand could check.
human wreck oh, what a sight What
CHASTITY, frightful forml
Whose bark upon some unseen erag has
dashed AMID the storm.
No Spirit pilot at the helm, no anchor in the
vail,
No Rock on which the heart can rest when
worldly pleasures fail.
l seem to stand upon the shore, see your
vessel proud
Move out upon lite's ocean calm, rejecting
meier q cloud.
Lol in the east cloud appears no larger
than the hand,
But gathering fast, its murky depths, in flu
rious terror grand,
Belch roaring thunders through the seams
made by fierce lightning's fash,
And through the storm. 'gainst bowling
waves, see thy vessel dash.
l hear thy faint voice in the storm: "My
God, trust in Thee
I've laid my all down at Thy feet to all eter-
nityr'
Harkl hi h above the roar Voice that once
on Gallilee
! Commanded boisterous waves be still anc
Gained a raging sea,
Again said; "Peace, be still!'' and lol the
storm with shattered crest
At once obeys and dissipates into the distan
west.
The sun in glorious splendor shines wher,
clouds have disappeared,
| Thy pure bliss braided robe see, and al
that thou hast feared
In Heavens own brightness is resolved:
hear thy loud acclaim:
'sI have triumphed through Jesus blood
BEST be ais Holy name!"