The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1891-02-11

make . melton to hne an absent
member.
Now last but not least comes
Sam, Is we knew him then, hut
now we know him by another title
Prof. WilsOn-who stood by tho
short stops place and watched It
with vigilance, and II the batter
sent the ball that way 1t was stop
ped short Of its intended journey
He Went into y ball game with tho
same zeal and earnestness rs he
does anything else now, and was
the life Of the club and In whose
prolific brain the name Of the club.
originated and WAS planned. He
would reach forward with his bat
as II anxious to meet the half way,
which he would send of between
the pitcher and third base, scorch.
ing the earth tO its intended desti.
nation. Though time iu his un.
weary flight has numbered fifteen
years since then. yet as II but yes
terday do I remember at whose
suggestion we obtained the It'll. OF
Reckless" He said itsutted US,
and 30 1t did. That one has since
then taught beaighted people Of
true way In which to go and led
them to higher and nobler thoughts
than that Of Shipping thsif idol
gods. In the meantime his health
was undermined, and he was COM
PEELED to seek recreation from the
hard toll of his missionary labor.
So, contrary to his, own will no
doubt, he returned from that dark
land to his own native land, and SO
far reg lined his lost physical
strength as to fill an hon0red chair
in his "alma mater" These years
have polished some of thtt number
in thought and broadened our ideas
to some extent, but that one
has by his untiring zeal aud
energy climbed to heights IN the
literary world that few young men
ever reach, and not one other of
that famous club has yet, attained.
Often do tllii,k of the wonderful
changes which have taken ,tplace
since then. Almost his many. pro-
fessions and vacations are r.pre-
scented by that club, as there were
members.TFilteen long years h I'VE
come and gone sihce then. which
makes US feel as five were getting
to be old old men, yet the raven
not changed to silvery locks, Meth
er are there "silver threads among
the gold" sy ~ eyat4 toa iliI
That reunion did not only revive
memories of scenes enacted on the
1 ball ground, bat memories of that
grand old Athenisn literary society
were stirred also. III believe with
one exception We were allmembeis
of that beloved society. Although
.lthe ya,ica Of the. one who penned
these simple lines, was not heard ID
echo and re- echo up and down those
classic halls on yOnder hill MS long
and lou !, rs did the voice of some
of the other members of the club,
yet there are memories of those
days which l will always hail with
joy. But there are some thoughts
connected with them which are
fraught with sadness. The sun OF
our existence has about reached
its zenith, and is gradually ap-
preaching the west.
l will say to Mr.. Parham and his
accomplished wife, that it gave me
great pleasure to meet with you
in your elegant home on that Occa-
sion, and that it is my utmost de-
| 'AO V"oV JOu uoy hVO w AiPO OAu
age, and enjoy happy and pros
porous life, and when your heads
are bleached by the frosts of many
winters and your eyes dimmed you
may be possessed of the same buoy
ancy of spirit as you are at the
monday of your life. And when
the sun of your mortal existence
sinks beneath the western horizon
it may be said of you swell done
good and faithful servants"
And to my comrades would say
let Us strive to emulate him who
christened that organizatin espec-
tally religiously, and when the last
out has been called by the great
umpire of the great game of life we
will have made a better score in
that game than we otherwise would
have done, and we viii receive a
crown of life.
JOHN A. GODDARD.