The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1889-03-23
vALEDIcTORY ESSAY,


DEAR TEACHER, ScHooLMATEs AND
FRIENDs: lis with deep solemnity
and sadness Of spirit that / attempt
to stand before you to deliver these
parting words. Friends, we feel
that this is great blessing that
God has bestowed upon us by per-
hitting us to assemble here to-day
to witness the close Of our school.
While this has been day of pleas
ure and happiness to us, and as the
closing hour of our school term is
here, we feel sadness within our
hearts that the time is so near that
we, as teacher and scholars, must
part. Dear friends, four months
ago to-day, at the beginning of this
school term, with books, states and
dinner baskets on our arms, we left
our homes bound for Oak Grove
school house, with the hope in our
hearts that we would have success,
full term of school, and with the ex-
pectation of meeting our teacher,
whom we had never seen. When we
first met we felt as strangers to each
other, and, not strange to say, this
feeling existed but short time
Every day we met, the chords of love
and ties Of friendship were bound
closer, We, as schoolmates, cannot
refrain from expressing our graft
tude to God for giving US good,
Christian teacher. We as scholars
and teacher do realize how manifold
and great our joys and pleasures
have been together
| And now to-day we must bid fare
we'll to another school term. But
there are sweet remembrances that
will not be effaced from our memo
ries as long as time lasts and reason
holds her sway. How many times
have we mingled our voices together
in the sports Of school boys and
girls! How many times we have
romped and laughed togetherl How
familiar has become the merry laugh
and prattling of the little girls and
boys, and the chatting of the larger
ones! And oh, how many times we
have recited and sung together. But
alas! now these are gone; yes gone,
but not to be forgotten. All these
have only entwined the chords of
love more firmly around our hearts.
But to-day these must be broken !;
we must separate for a while, or
maybe forever in this life, for we
know that each passing season bears
with it many changes. And we
know not but that this will be the
one that some lovely flower in our
midst will fade, or some sweet voice
will pass away.
And now, dear schoolmates, we do
not realize how precious time is, and
how we should improve it, nor do we
see the joys of our school days until
they are over. How many hours
have we employed in porting over
hard lessons until our brains became
wearied; but application to study is
what prepares us for future useful
ness. Time and again has our kind
teacher, with our welfare at heart,
entreated and admonished and in
sisted that we should wisely improve
these opportunities. And oh, did
we heed his counsel? Can we say
we have striven with earnest endeav-
or in the improvement and culture
of our intellect? Then let us ever
be willing to plod along cheerfully
upon the pathway of knowledge,
though at times it may seem rough
and uneven.
4 Dear schoolmates, our school days
are the most happy and eyentful
part of our whole life. Then our
minds are the freest from the cares
and burdens of life, and our hearts
the most joyous. The springtime OF
youth is strewn with flowers and
sunshine. The seasons return again
and again and the flowers change
with the months, but youth comes
twice to none. While we have 1t VIC
, think little of it, but we will never
cease TO look back to it fondly when
, it is gone. 1t is only as it fades
that the shadows come out and show
US what we have lost. Shoolmates
it is in our school days that QUA
!, minds are the most receptive. The
: impressions then made and the hab
it's formed will largely decide oul
future destinies. Truly, we have
had a pleasant school term, indeed
and we know a profitable one. We
have gained respect for our teacher
and love for each other. Never in
the history of our school has the
time passed SO pleasantly.
Schoolmates, we've been long together,
Through pleasant and cloudy weather.
It's hard to part when friends are dear,
And perhaps it will cost sigh or tear.
: The ties that hold us to our sur
roundings are continually breaking
/ No year is like that which preceded
it, and since all things and relations
change, it is we'll for us to learn t.
] enjoy to the uttermost our present
e since the opportunities must ceas'
j and the ties Of school days must b
7 severed. We should make the mos
! of them while they surround us, fol
/. change is written on all transitorJ
7 lives. 1t will be only when we hav,
E sundered the last bonds that bint
us to this life that we shall be wher'
e there is no more regrets over thu
8 pleasures that are gone, but swee
enjoyment Of eternal present.
~ Dear schoolmates, if it should b.
: that we all should never be school
! mates together again. may it be oui
$ happy lot to be enrolled with tn,
e School of Redeemed Saints tina
shall assemble beyond the shores 0
Time. Dear teacher, if we neve
, meet you again in this school room
and your lot is cast elsewhere, MAJ
: you always find kind friends whcr
: ever you go, and may your future b.
; bright and happy. Dear teache
!, and schoolmates, with my best wish
es for your future welfare, | now biz
4 won farewell