The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1883-06-23

have sped almost with the rapidity Of a mo-
ment, while with daily increasing interest, we
pursued our difficult though pleasant tasks, in
this retreat of science, peace and virtue; leav-
ing it now with regret; for here indeed, were
clasped around our youthful hearts, the golden
links of sincere affection. Here our eager
spirits sought to quench their thirst, at the re-
freshing fountain of knowledge; here, too, we
have learned to preserve our immortal souls
| from the rust of time. and wisely to lay up
treasures, for tho bleak winter Of edecaying
years, yes, here we have been taught to appreci-
ate the priceless boon of a christian education,
that faithful companion which will enliyeu
the tedium of many u istless hour, cheering the
lonely heart; when the rose of health has fed the
i fair young cheek. when the once firm. elastic
| step has lost its graceful tread. and moves but
with slow unsteady motion; when buoyant youth
must yield to sllyered age, the culture of the
mind Will amply compensate for all these
losses. Aware OF this; and encouraged by de-
! voted guardians, we have strlyen to acquire
those attalnments betting the duties, that
await us in the future Never did knight more
proudly exult over his jewelled spur, or poet
prize the laurel wreath more highly than, we
esteem these golden honors which to-day
| crown us as ylctors. with glorious success;
and yet, perchance, we had yielded the prize;
| flowers of affection and kindness, the therny
path of learning: it was their bright smiles that
led us steadily upward; to the glistening sum
| been our sorrows, feetlng as the mlsts the ris-
| ing sun dispels: numberless the joys clustering
| around the even tenor of our way, as roses that
I
| Eden, restless ambition oft made our thoughts,
our feyerish aspirings, outstrip the rapid fight
of time reaching at length this day, when des-
tiny with touch of its mystical wand, opens
| for ua, the portals of youths promised land.
| Still, as we pass from the fairy realms of girl
hood. as we :! stand upon the threshold strange
| OF woman Is life, and In fancy's mirror, gaze up
on the dim vista of coming years, our hearts
fondly cling to the past, tho thrice happy past,
its crushed and faded gariands send forth fra
| GRANGE, that will remain until we bid adieu to
| earth forever
The flowers of the future though fragrant and fair
With the pasts withered leaflets, may never compare;
For dear is each dead leaf, and dearer the thorn
In the wreaths that the brows of past years have
| worn.
But time presses; why linger when full we'll
| we know all lingering is vain? Delay serves
| only the more to endear our childhoods home.
| Over the swift flow of time we possess no pow
tones must breathe Farewell! We must leave
thee and go forth To tread the worlds broad
pathway unaided and alone. AS yet, life ap-
| pears delightful, journey replete with attrac-
tons, and eagerly, our eyes strain forward.
bidding the lovely scenes at distance hail."
but anon. there comes to mind the warning that
pleasure vain, with love and friendship false,
may unite their charms to captivate our young
hearts and draw us into the gilded snare of
frivolous enjoyment. But, though the worlds
bewitching yet .treacherous smile may seek to
lure us from our duty, we trust that our life's
| chosen part may never bring blush to the
brow, nor pang to the heart of our loved alma
tremblingly embark. threaten to enguH our frail
barques, the remembrance of this hallOwed spot
will CLEAN the wide waste Of waters as a
beacon whose unchanging, light will guide us
home to heaven. Dear classroom, scene of
earnest but pleasant toll, what memories you
| recall; memories tinged with clouds Of only
passing sorrow; and You, old bell. goodbye
never again Will you summon us from our de
hghtful rambles or merry chats meath the shady
trees, to the grayer duties OF school-life. All!
willingly would we listen to the soft whisper
days OF cIouGless joys; but, alas! the spell is
broken; fate repeats her stern command. bid
ding US loose the bright chains that bind US to
the past.
Beloved classmates, cherished companions,
the strong ties that link our hearts together
must soon be severed; with this day our inter
gotten, Your familiar images shall be en-
shrined as dear remembrances; your names re-
main as household words; neither time nor dis
tance shall efface the record of your love and
Kindness. Our places among you may be va
cant, but our hearts are still united; our voices
may no longer mlngle with yours In merry song
with you when you think we're far away" Oh.
then forget us not; pray for us each morn when
you kneel before the shrine of Mary to beg her
blessing on your labors. Most kind and revered
Father we fully appreciate your condescension |
IN honorlng, by your presence, the triumph of |
your children. May we ever remain docile to |
the teachings Of our holy Church. and thus
we have witnessed during our stay IN this blest |
home have not been devoid of salutary in |
tiuero,; And to you, dear devoted teachers,
beloved Sisters how can we breathe a last adieu! |
Words are powerless to express the emotions of |
our hearts, how shall We thank you for long |
years of untiring labor in our behalf? Your |
firm and gentle guidance. your unwearied |
patience will remain in fond and grateful re-
membrance in our hearts, whilst the magical |
charm of your teachings in virtue will power |
holds no meet recompense for devotion disin- |
terested as yours, may He whose cherished |
spoqses you are reward you with an unfading |
diadem in His own bright home above. Al
though we may no longer be the objects of your |
zeal, We hope thatlthe sound of our parting |
words may hnger to remind you Of your absent |
pupils. May you long be spared to train the |
minds OF dear ones whose happy privilege will |
be to claim IN future your tender care Alas! how
sadly we shall miss the approving glance that
seemed like sunshine to our souls in by-gone |
pay tribute of grateful affection to the one |
whose absence from this festive scene we bit |
terly deplore; we miss her bright and placid !
smile; her memory clings around our lonely |
hearts like holy and precious remembrance |
that fondly we em5alm with tears. Her spirit
seems to hover here to cheer and bless this
parting hour. Our mothers, too, still lovingly |
claim her as their friend and guide; they too !
roamed here in girlish glee; her hand it was
that formed them to science and virtue, whilst |
from our infancy we were taught to revere and
love her; but now we look in vain for her in
places where she was wont to be-among the !
flowers. beneath the trees, but above all in the
ever the guiding star of her life. Yes, dear Sis
ter Austin, our hearts must indeed become in
sensible to hottest affections we forget thee!
To Us, thou hast ever been mother loved q |
friend sincere, the Guardian Angel of our
town; priceless are the honors conferred on us
to-day, still they lack thy sanity touch. But in
long blessed by your presence, the Christians
never falling hope gives promise of meeting
those we love in that glorious cline where sep
aratIon IS unknown. And now
Thy children in sadness must break the sweet spell
That will linger around them wherever they roam,
Farewell, dear companions, loved Sisters, farewell
Farewell Song-Chorus. ............Wy man
Plano-Miss E. Landry.
Franchises E. Landry and Il. Rougeau,
Where all did so we'll it is difficult to par
ticularize without feeling that one perfor-
mer may be given undue prominence over
another; hence we shall content ourselves
by saying that the essays we're read with
great expression, the vocal and instrument
tai music was all that could be desired and
the little sketches, GA Scene in Fairyland"
and Brides Ball. we're beautiful and
charming in the extreme. The scene in
the first named sketch where two pretty
ilttie MISSES, Ella Maufln ana Lena Neoef.
are crowned respectively as Queen of the
Flowers and Queen Of the Fairies was es-
pecially enchanting. The tableaux exhibit
ted great taste in design and marked skill
in execution, and all the youthful perfor-
mers, even down to little Follie Comstock,
Lucy Prudhomme, Mrs Weber's daughters
and such tiny folks, sustained their respec-