Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-02-11
At Our School.

Ed. Register visited our public school
a few days ago to see how the pupils were
were progressing in their studies.
l noticed the nice desks, the walls covered
with black boards, the teachers who seemed
to be so Interested in their progress:
thought to myself, 'tSurely, the lines of the
boys and girls of the present generation are
cast in pleasant pIaces,o but whether they
are in pleasant places depends entirely upon
your own efforts-it is as you make it, chill
dren. When the teacher handed me book,
and the exercises were gone over on the board,
my thoughts turned to other days long since
past; my own school days.
l can almost read ones character by his
figures on the board; they are marks of neat
ness, earelessness, or painstaking. When 1
took my first lessons in hunting, my I'D tu-
tor said to me, You must always look for
tracks" man may go out and hunt all day
and not know where OF when to look for
game, for he has met looked for tracks; but
if he finds tracks and has not the patience to
follow them, but PUSHES ahead, he may be a.
likely to go the wrong way and return at
night without any game. So it is with the
boy or cir! who goes to school with no object
IN view, except isimply to pass away the
time; there you have lost the track. Sup
pose some morning, when the earth is COW
cred with snow all untredden, you leave
your home for school, on your way this aud
that thing calls your attention; you step
aside to look at it, Or perhaps you stray away
off to look for some rabbit or partridge; look
back at the track you have made; it is tell
tale, not straight path to school, but so
crooked. So it may be all through life, if
you begin with the crooked path, if left to
your own inciinations. Follow the straight
and narrow way which leads to life.
Another thing enjoyed very much-the
little ones singing. 1t is an accomplishment
which no party nation can monopoize;
all can enjoy 1t. Dear boys and girls, do you
eyer realize that''beyond the river''you may
meet those dear teachers who are now train
ing you for the various duties of life and join
with them in singing the grand anthems
W lille listened to those little voices do you
wonder that very tender chord in my heart |
was touched? It brought to mind the first |
time l ever heard my little children sing. |
had been very sick long time, when, well |
enough to sit up, one evening they sang flor
me the beautiful little soug-j
There is a happy land,
Far, far away
10 familiar to you all; ii made such an i'm
preston on my heart as no other has ever
lone. A few weeks ago L was in the coun-
ry and was invited to go to church in the
evening. When we arrived the congregation
we're singing that song. | shut my eyes and
Istened. | could see the little faces and
lear them singing that same littla song.
When looked around the schooI-room at
he smiling faces of the boys and the sweet
aces Of the girls, I wondered how many
we're as smiling and sweet to father, mother,
brother and sister at home: that is the place
o find out the true character. We can all be
;ood and sweet away from home, but how
many are willing to give up nice book or
herished treasure to help the tired mother
IT quiet the little one? That is the place to
ee what kind OF tracks yo4 are making, |
low many OF you ever stop to think Of that
Iearest of names-nother. What an infiu-
nee the word "mothar" has over the world;
low often amid the cares, troubles and anx-
cites the thought of mother will bring sun
uiut. ueI lOlm Will rise you ana
ook right into your heart and eyes, when
OH are tempted to do wrong, and how offs
n she has played for you, you will never
now till all things are revealed. Then
Be kind to thy mother, for thee::w1n she pray:
As long as God giEeth her breath;
In accents ofkindness then cheer her lone way,
E zen to the dark valley of DEATH
And don't forget to be kind to vogr .aaeh-
:, fer Tou vii! naEeE khees what it is to have
he care Of ! room full Of pupils until you
ef, t tried 1t yourself. Then you VIII be sor-
Y and ashamed of great many things you
night have left Gndoae, you will sxmpa=
htae with shem. DQn't forget to say ''good=
norning.n Give them pleasant smile; 1t
osts nothing, If you have a kind work to
ay, say it a0ts: don't wait till they cannot
ear it.
And now let me thank the teachers and
cholars for the pleasure they gave me,
Il. Il. T.