The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-04-29
THE TWO MOTTOES.
by MARY Cl.CIL.

lHCn OuC BpuRc bravo ttOcatluB, tho captain
OF the gate,
To every man upon this earth death cometh
soon or late;
And how can man die botter than facing fear-
full odds,
For the ashes Of his fathers and tho tomples
of his gods 2"
So spake the chosen orator at this
first commencement Of the. new High
School. But the young orator was over
powered by his desire to win laurels as
member Of the first graduating class.
Parents and grandparents who were
interested in the exercises. grew rest
less and excited, and one old lady seated
. Oh the bench which skirted the gallery
walls, raped her fan vigorously on the
shoulders of yo ng man standing be-
fore her IN the aisle, commanding him
to stand back,-he was so tall she could
not see! Franklin Stark, for that was
the young mans name, complied po-
litely, but his hardened face wore an
expression of more concern than amuse-
mcnt rs he apologized to Matilda War
ner Immediately behind him, for shut
ting off her view Of the stage. 1t pained
him to be guilty Of tho smallest rude
ness to a lady such as Matilda seemed
to be.
6 1t is impossible," he said, {" for me
to see much and conform to the old Ia
dy's direction, but l have no right to
make my neighbors suffer for that.
Matilda could see better from where he
stood than from her present place.
Wouldn't she change plaCes?'
But Matilda Is even more a stranger
to US than to Franklin Stark; and
while the orator is glancing at his notes
Of Lord Macauley, rather to recover
from his embarrassment than to refresh
his memory, we note her appearance.
Notwithstanding the thoughtfulness OF
her face and the quietness Of her man.
ner. 1t was that of delicate girl OF
eighteen. She wore neat calico suit,
collar tied with drab ribbon and a
straw hat trimmed with drab; the cos
tune relieved by a cluster OF pink gera.
NUNS worn at her belt. But 1t has ia
ken longer to write this than for the
orator to resume his really eloquent
rendition of tho lay, than for Matilda
timldly to accept the proposed change.
eft Is hard for the teachers" observ-
ed Matilda In reply to some remark OF
Franklin's, hard for them to induce
The children to remember their instruc.
tions."
How do you know ?" he queried,
"have you ever taught?"
"No, returned Matilda, 81 haven't
been to the public schools In five years,
and | haven't been anywhere sincei"
WELL" responded her companion
with conscious Importance, 81 haven't
been to the public schools for longer
period. l attend the Seminary. Why
don't you 60 somewhereW he added,
noting that Matilda sighed.
My father keeps root, herb and
flower stOre," answered Matilda. 81
attend tho flowers and care for father"
"Then how do you know about the
troubles of toachersp''
81 suppose l feel for them because
intend to teach myself"
1t will be hard for you to become
one with what you are doing now,' in.
terposed Franklin. 81 don't like work.
My father tells mo to 60 to college; but
as think the course difficult, have
given the idea up. The same for study
ing medicine. iii consult case in re-
gard to what become. If do not Of
lend my father, he will make mo rich
merchant like himself. 1t is rs we'll tC
take the goods the gods provide aud be
thankful"
"1o me-" Matilda replied, nothing
Is sweeter than that which ! earn by
hard labor. do not think you will
alsoavs be Satisfied with doing and be-
ing that which is simply the easiest,
but with that which Is noblcst and
BEST"
Franklin was silent long time after
Matilaa's earnest words; then he inquir
cd with apparent lightness whether he,
gcraniums were gathered from her ia.
theirs pots, and being answered in the
affirmative, asked where they lived, as
he wished to purchase rootlets for him.
self. After the first interview, and not.
withstanding Matilda was some years
Ounger lhan himself, Franklin often