The Russellville Democrat., 1882-06-29
ESSAY.
Written by Miss Nora Bradley
 and Read at the
Closing Exercises of the Dover
 High School, June 9, 1882.

l
 Our sunny days and gladstone schoolgirl hours are passing rapidly away. Time with his swiftly flying feet is bearing us on the journey of life with lightning speed to our final destination. Soon for us school days will be ended, and we shall enter up on a new life and take upon our selves new duties. Our old life will then be only memory; but. the manner in which we have spent it will live with us and mould our thoughts and actions in the new life ] to come.
 Our old life''-how have we spent it? How have we improved our gold en opportunities? Is there no neg lccted duty or deed of unkindness which comes to haunt us in the lone ly watches of the night, and like Banquo's ghost will not down" at our bidding? Have we always spok- en the kind word to the suffering ones of earth-thc kind word of sym | pathy which costs Us so little and is to them sweet as angels whisper at nightfall? Ever faithful Conscience answers "No.! ye hAe fallen far short of your duty. Ye are weighed and found wanting Had we but listened to the gentle warning of this God-giyen monitor, the precious wool four lives would bear no stains, no flaw in it's breadth, but we needed not, and the delicate fabric which should have been formed and color cd with lights and shadows most yariable-the while indelible as life, renecting each it's own peculiar hue as bright as living lines of light, is all darkened and blurred with the dismal shadows of misspent time.
 But this is ''our old life Can we not, from experience, make the "new life greater blessing to our friends and ourselves? Yes but we must first possess q priceless gem. It is not found stored with gold and diamonds, pearls and other precious stones, nor does it glitter on the Con querer's Grown, nor yet in the lighted halls, where giddy circles whirl and seek to hide their inward woe. You ask, where, oh where, may this prec ious jewel be found? Hark Hist! I hear a voice speaking low, but au- dibly, "the names of this priceless gem, the Pearl of great price, Re l ligion, and was bought with the prec- ious blood of our thorn-c crowned Christ, and we may have it or not, as we choose; it is the gift of our loy- ing Father to his errlng children. l Then, too, we must cultivate our hearts carefully, for every thought and action of q life is but 8 rehec- tion of the heart mirror. A heart that is free from guile, or jealousies, or enyy's scorching fires, where deeds of darkness never intrudc, a heart that is checred by Hope, sweet daughter of the skies, who bids us Hook aloft," when storms of sorrow rise, and adverse winds assail our drifting barque, heart that is full of love to God and man, where sweet contcntment reigns and spreads a softly radiant light OCT life's check cred scenes, a heart thus filled need have no fear
 Full well we know some shadows fall across our Brightest days-some l bitter mingled with the sweet, but we must remember that life is not an empty dream" where pleasure 1 dwells in rosy bowers, or flies on | every passing breeze. True happi- ness k often sought, but never found. It comes to Us when duty is done, to bless. Then let us seek the faith where duty leads, nor fear the con sequence. 1t may sometimes be dark and dreary, thorns may pierce, our feet weary. fortune frown and friends forsakc. Then, like holy incense. will rise to cheer and comfort Us the fragrance of each duty done, each 1 deed of kindness, or word of love we've spoken, though our frail bark may drift OCT seas to Us unknown we'll feast on purest happiness.
 But, oh, in this new life if we resist the sweet wooings of conscience how like Plutonian darkness will be our future! Sin will flush the face with earthly stripes, sad regrets rob the eyes of sweet refreshing sleep, dark forcbodings leave their foot prints and discontcnt make his deep dark lines of care on the furrowcd brow. How doleful this How charming that! Yes sweet, loyelier far, than sunsets golden hour when light first stoops to kiss the shades which tell of coming night,
 Let Us then cultivate our hearts and minds in all that is good and make our lives beautiful anu useful here and thus prepare to enjoy the hereafter. Let us put off the old habits with the old life, and begin the new with the standard of our as- pirations set high above it's former mark. Let us drink, yes, quail the waters the never failing spring where knowledge guides in wisdom ways and duty's path makes plain. When shadows cross our path, let hope be guile the hour, and faith in God still shed its heavenly beams to dispcl the gloom of earth born cares, Let us