The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1886-07-09
yALEDICT0RY.

/. fhlII8lOlOAN1s . t-is 1
Delivered by Miss Ella J. Conerly,
Commencement Day, Friday,
June 18, 1885, at Tyler
town Normal Institute.
Having been chosen by the
teachers and schoolmates to de-
liver the valedictory / now stand
before you for that purpose.
While / duly appreciate the COM
pliment which has been conferred
upon me / frankly acknowledge
ny,incompetency to deliver it as.
it should be done. When | look.
upon this intelligent audience !
feel my unworthiness the moIe,
and feel more like shrinking from
this onerous duty, but when |
mark the generosity and kindness
which / see beaming from your
countenances / am encouraged to
proceed, as / feel assured that
you will excuse my short COM
ings, especially when | inform
you that this is my very first at
tempt at any thing Of this kind.
Time has registered the close
| of another session OF our school
and has brought us nearer to that
day Of final separation from all
that binds us to earth. 1t is sad
to think that we are SO soon called
upon to leave those whom we
have learned to love. There is,
however, consolation ia the
Thought that we have left nothing
lundone that would fit us for those
graver responsibilities that are te
4 rest so heavily upon us in the
mean future. The joyous laughter
| the gentle loving words OF those
| whom we knew SO short a time
are indellibly impressed upol
memory $ page. How often hav'
N we been discouraged in our eff
| forts to solve some problem, o
\ frame an answer to sumo difhcul
! ! Aquestion; how often have we fel
lthe. temptation to avoid som
school duty; how seldom did W
: Allow ourselves to think of tn
/ lhortness Of the time in which t
Iirepare for the great battles 9
3 ME. How soon we shall ents
i. tae arena where truth and erro
aAe in deadly conflict; shall "
i fulfill the expectations Of love
: onhs? Shall we conquer, or b
i cdnquered? Have we secure
that self-reliance and self-contr'
that are so necessary to fit US *
thpse stations in society, and
fthe church that we shall SO soc
bd called upon to fill? Have y
learned to properly apprecia
thu dignity OF labor? Do we n
consider it Heavens great orc
nahce for human improvement
Then let us not despise this gre
. ordinance, and submit to it on
" asla degrading necessity, but
Y ua ever strive to fulfill it IN t
4 spirit as well as in the letter; f
Is Is fill it in the mind as well as in t
Il. muscle. Let US repair to sol
or feEl Of labor, either mental
er physical as a chosen theatre
II Involvement. Have we learn
thewalue Of a useful life?
J we realize that; in the dischal
s of slife's duties we are co-ope
'W ting with God IN carrying out
all-wise purposes? Are we fu
sensible Of the fact that God
IL no idlefs in the universe !. Let
pauseupon the Threshold Of t
new lifeAupon which we are alb
to enter, and which will call
4ssI !; z the full exercise Of all the facul
ept. of our hinds. Let us consi
to what extent we are prepa
y TO cope with the difficulties !
will arise, or how we shall
but ceed in removing the barr
and that will present themsel'
NTs Have we that culture of intel
!, :. and heart that will enable Y
the rise superior to all that may
, !. der, or oppose our progr
,ars Have we secured those COZ
pies, forms Of thought and speech
are essential elements Of succ
Have we secured that mas
: over our passions and prejut