The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1882-04-26


there is the aged mother, whose head
is silvered over with age, and stand
ing on the thresktold Of life, who
exclaimed when she heard il "ol
why did he kill my baby" and now
the man who is stained with the gore
Of this Nation is standing and plead
ing with uplifted hand "That he was
inspired" May'God hasten the day
when all of these ruinous tempta-
tons will be swept from our land
and our country becomea country Of
love. SO now as / tell you these
temptations are coming up on every
side with out.stretched hands beck
oning you to come aud partake Of
their baneful fruits, which if you do,
will poison you forever and ever,
Mark well your footsteps, for vipers
and scorpions surround your paths.
Your future prospcrityis your only
hope, and the star Of your destiny.
The star of destiny is now a beacon
for you upon the river of life. 1t is
shedding forth its beam of light, il
lumining the darksome waters which
surround you. 1t is guiding you as
the pillar of fire guided Moses and
the children of Israel, and to each
and all l say "Be watchful of the
snares and temptations that sur
round you on every side, heed them
not, but look forward, labor and fa-
tigue not, steer your vessel Alright,
and by and by you will come to the
star of your destiny, which will lead
you into the port of prosperity and
happiness, bliss and never dying
fame, srd will shine brighter and
brighter, until the perfect day..
We have been laboring here this
term of school. You have been
studying to learn. With a few ex-
ceptions | give you all merited credit
for your attention to studies and good
recitations. Those of you who have
best improved your time, will receive
the greatest reward, and in few
years when you become men and wo-
men you can look back to your school
days and say "How glad l am that l
improved we'll my time in school" }"
And if there are any Of you who have
not improved well your time in
school, you will look back when you
are grown up, and say, GLOW 1 wish
| had improved my time in school, y
Then you will say "o days of my
youth, return" but alas, they return
no. more. So now let ME entreat you
to improve your time while young,
if you do not no one will for you.
You are now beginning life, and if
you but well improve your time, you
will surmount al! difficulties and
gain the hill Of fame and shout with
exultation II have fought the fight
| have finished my course, and there
is laid up for me crown of fame"
We must educate or we will perish
by our own posterity. If we DO not,
short will be our lives from the era.
die to the grave. There is necessi.
ty for it. The American children re
quire it, and if we do not educate our
Nation will go down amid the roar
ing of waves and the lashing of wa
ters 10 be forever swept away and
cast upon the shores of oblivion.
Education is for you all, and all who
will partake of it can have it freely.
1t is free gift to you all. And I
thank God that the American child.
rem can receive this education with.
out bowing unto tyrants subjugation.
1t was from district schools that those
men sprung, who have made Nations
tremble and Empires groan. He who
drew the lightning from the clouds
and girded the globe with flaming
fire, came from the district school.
Those who first stood in the halls Of
our country and banded together the
ties Of North, South, East and West,
redeemed us from .tyrannical bands
and proclaimed freedom throughout
the land to all of the inhabitants
thereof, were from the district school.
Some Of you to whom | am speaking
may in short time occupy the high.
est position in life. Your voice may
be heard throughout the Legislative
halls or may occupy the chair at the
head of the Nation. Or, you may