Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-04-17
OUR EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS
neminIsceRce.

ReminIseeRce.
Az look adown the vista
Toward life's early morning light,
Many quaint and pleasant pictures
Pass before my mental sight.
can see the district schooi-house
Where, a child, l hrst essayed
Footsteps In that rugged pathway
Which no royal hand hath made.
Ncstllng close 10 foot Of hillside,
Swallowed DER by stately trees,
Stood the simple shrine Of learning,
Stained and dim with rain and breeze.
Humble in lie plain e1ternais,
with itH clapboArds painted red,
with its little frost-worn chimney,
And the low and open shed;
With its school-room, bare but cheerful,
With associations dear,
With it's high unpainted wainscot
And low ceiling, cracked and sere;
with its furniture 40 clumsy,
Carved by many q steahhy knife,
Showing In Its battered surface
Years OF wear by restless life;
with its floor 40 worn and followed
By the tread Of children's feet;
In what paths do they now travel
Where the scenes their forms now greet
With Its stove, so large aud rusty,
Cheerful friend on winters day,
Warming frosty toes aud fingers
Fresh from lively fun aud play;
With its scanned and wooden blackboard,
Famous field for young arts skill
Field for wrestling with hard problems,
Taxing all the young minds will;
with its teachers desk capacious,
Hoarding many a captured toy,
- ms lna N.N.a uU.1 L.. E..I.
Now, alasl barren Joy.
And the teacher, truly mentor,
As she leads her flock along,
Giving words Of help and courage,
With patience calm and strong;
Giving words Of admonition
To some careless. wayward sprite,
Seeking ever, mid great trials,
To deal justly and Alright.
with the rod for eyil-doers
Standing grim against the wall,
Eyed With many furtiye .Rlances,
Wond'ring where II next will fall.
with its plain, unshuttered windows,
Lighting faces young aud bright
Faces scattered past recalling
By the years' resistless might.
Now the hum Of restless motion
Doth to sleep young eyelids send,
az auu htAIlltut
Closer Ger the page they bend.
Aud the recess-joyous frolic,
With It's loud eIultant din;
"SnAp the whip, and "stump red llonn
Two old cat and my one in"
Ahi how memory's vision moves me,
As the best-loyed forms return:
Oh. the free aud careless childhood.
With no burdens hard and stern.
on low and tiresome front seat
Sits q small and timid boy;
With his little slate aud primer,
Strives At learnlnga ways 90 coy.
Stands With other little urchins,
Toes upon a crack so straight;
Tells the teacher, With much effort,
All about the OK 20 great;
Looks around in large-eyed wonder
Al the older classes call;
Hears the words Of mighty knowledge
A. from ready lips they fall
Oft has heard those bare walls echo
Mimic tones 20 loud and bold,
AZ on Afternoon Of Wednesday
Many hero's tale was told.
Tales Of chieftains, lords and ladies',
Speech Of sAges, orators,
And, perchADce, some thrilling story
or our blessed freedoms cause;
Bold PizArro. hApless Rolla,
And the Douglas, fierce and strong;
Cicero, the noble Brutus,
Aud the Afric's tale Of wrong.
Thus the years sred on and DER him,
With their shifting lights and shades;
But will not seek to follow
On his course through all the grades.
HAPPY thus be comes before you,
To be scholar still essays,
But the lessons that he learneth
Now are taught in sterner ways.
Marked aHd striking are the changes
Which the rolling years have brought,
Aa the mind With eager striving
Has enlarged the neld Of thought,
Aud in contrast strong and vivid
Is the school house limned above
To the modern stately structure,
Proof so strong Of careful love.
Now, as one who helped the guiding
OF the building We have wrought,
Let him here give true oppression
To his feeling and his thought.
Hopes twill meet your warm approval,
Hopes that all our children here
May receive those truths immortal
Wisdom gathers year by year.
Hopes that many gArnered treasures
OF the ages past aud gone
Here may be most kindly welcomed,
May their minds with grace Adorn.
Hopes that many generations
Here may sciences heights ascend,
May receive that moral training
Which all learning should attend.
Hopes these many skilled devices
For their comfort AMI their health
May to them prove boon and blessing,
Give TO them the better wealth.