The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1882-10-28
DoE1zBsonv1LE, LOUISIANA OCTOBER q,

L
solitude have we found, not only human sci
| ence, but assomething grander. nobler still
that mystic pearl Of price, Religion, without
which the soul would in vain seek contentmen1
| and happiness. And now, after lapse OF five
years so happily spent in the pursuit OF knowl
edge, must we leave the loved solitude OF oul
Alma Mater, fair and true. All! well may We
exclaim,
| Sweet solitudei we 1--we thy shade,
We love to pause - opens our career.
| To view the checqnered path before us laid,
And turn to meditate, to hope, to fear.
| All! truly have we experienced its joys, fo1
light indeed has the foot of time fallen upon the
flowery path of convent life; and now we pause
| to mediate. to hope. TO fear.
To mediate upon the past with its many
charms; the tears that fill our hearts tell US. we
now feel, how little we appreciated the joys it
offered; to hope-ah! yes, we hope the distant
future which to our young imagination looks
SO smiling, may be as bright as the past; to fear
yes, we fear to launch our frail bark upon an
unknown and treacherous main.
But time has pronounced the stern nat; we
must leave the haunts around which are clus-
tered memories that life shall cherish as the
pearl shell treasures up the soft, faint murmuI
of its ocean home; fresh memories, upon
which the weary. worn heart will rest as rests
the Arab on some palnl-girt oasis to dream OF
Oman's murmuring waves.
Within this sweet solitude, leagued in sweet
harmony, have science, religion and yirtue the
| sister band. cultivated our minds and hearts.
Ere we bid adieu we lould fain give utterance
to the sentiments that fill our hearts. Yes. tits
to you, our kind. indd Igent mentors, we would
tender our most sincere and heartfelt thanks.
You have spared yourselves no exertion, no sac
riice to enlightens minds and guide our
trembling footsteps virtues path. All! the
remembrance of yorE maternal solicitude can
never be effaced from Pur hearts. and as we are
about to step forth into the busy arena OF life,
we promise to try in every way to correspond to
your many lessons. Ii
All! thanks, q thousand thanks! Accept the
gushines of our grateful hearts and believe we
will ever try to prove our gratitude for your
devotedness, by showing ourselves true children
Of Mary, worthy pupils of the Sacred Heart.
Now, at this moment, when thousand gush-
ing feelings strive for utterance tits hard to bid
farewell to scenes consecrated by schoolgirl
Joys and sorrows. But we must say farewell.
All! yes, farewell to the happy associations OF
our childhood; to the vertlant lawns where we
have enjoyed SO manv, many happy strolls with
loved and cherished companions; to the study
hall, scene of many q hard struggle In pursuit
of literary attainments; to you, our dear Old
desks; our books, those constant and loved COM
panions, long, a last farewell
And to the shrine of Mater Admiral bills, where
we SO often found an herb for Marah's bitter
waters, to you we must bid a lasting farewell!
Farewell to those loving companions who
shared our little trials, who partook of our joys,
assisting us in our daily tasks, and whose genial
sympathy robbed each passing cloud of its
gloom and who hand in hand with us, have
tasted the charms Of solitude.
All! yes, to all we are forced to bid farewell
But the lip trembles and the heart sinks as it
fam would say that we'd to ron, kind teachers
and loved guardians Of our youth. You who
have encompassed us with an angelic ministry.
The words of love, the hourly sacrifices, the
daily prayers which led and cheered us on, are
but the shining surface of that depth which the
eternal eye alone hath sounded. and whose re-
ward is not of earth.
From this angel-girded home We launch upon
that treacherous deep which witnesses the wreck
of many vessel
Then, revered pastors. to whom Jesus conf
ded the lambs of His flock, we would address
ourselves. We beg to be remembered in your
prayers and holy sacrifices. Oh! pray with Him
who prayed that " not one of those confded to
your care be lost" that liz an unbroken band we
may encircle you in that fair home where q tear
is never shed end where that word is never ut
tered my unwilling lips would falter now
Farewell, farewell, farewell!!!