Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-07-08
From the Lynchburg News
HOPE DARE
Uas a Word to Say to the "Sweet Girl
Graduates

Uas a Word to Say to the "sweet Girl
Graduates
They are gathering homewaId on every hand,
The sweet girl graduates-Happy band
No cares their current OF joy to STEM,
The world looks couleur de rose to them.
And now, girls, what arr y5n going to
do? The schooi room is shut ,uT from
view. text books and class Rotations are
done with, the black boa.d b IS been wiped
over and put aside. Your having finished
SCHOOL, is only an indication that your
education is fairly commenced. and that
you are preparing to turn your advantages
to practical account. The school-room has
laid the foundation; it is for you now to
build the superstructure. Education is
never completed in this world and l am
one of those who believe it goes on through
eternity. But what are you going to do?
Set your face towards the frivolities of life,
and beud all your energies to catching
beau?" tell you, girls, life is an earnest
thing, and half the beaux that are caught
nowadays are not worth angling for
Those that are will come up in due time
and seek you. Bide your time. You have
come home ''for good" you say, and we
may truly indeed hope it may prove for
good, and in your book of life new page
is turned. The golden gate of childhood
dreams is passed through; you are entering
the royal province of womanhood, the
broad and practical domain of real life
The transition may seem little confusing
at first. 1t will be hard to realize that
from a condition of careless freedom you
are now in a state of grave responsibility.
This is nevertheless true. You have re-
turned homo deeply in debt, and to dis
charge that debt will occupy to the fullest
extent the remaining span of your allotted
wears, be they many or few. You are in
debted to the great Author of your being
for whatever talents you may possess, and
under Him to your parents for the oppor-
tuni.ies of applying those talents in acquir-
ing an education. You may never know
what it has cost your parents in the way of
self-sacrifce and denial to send you to
school. The little curtailment necessary at
home will never be reckoned against you,
and yet in how many cases do they exist
Father has to worry over finance, while
mother must economizs in household ex-
penditures, in order to give the children the
advantage of the best schools. And even
where means are ample, and this is un-
necessary, how often does mothers heart
hunger for the presence of an absent child,
particularly when sickness overtakes her
and she yearns in vain for the caressing
touch of tender, soothing filiai hand. All
girls believe me you can never over esti.
mate filial gratitude. You can never over
pay that debt which goes on accommodating
arrears. Take care that you delay not your
IF / hn ic
past for any requital. BLESSINGS brighten
as they take their flight" and of none other
can this be more truly said than of the
priceless blessing of mothers presence
and love. Wait not for it to be withdrawn.
Wait not until the clods of the valley are
heaped above her head, before you realize
the sacred obligations you owe to her IN.
selfish devotion and care, whose love sprang
with your first sigh and watched and
| tended your helpless infancy. Be mindful
of her comfort; bear her burdens, respect
her opinions; value her counse,s, and give
her your unreseFved confidence. No other
tie can substitute this. There is world
Of truth in the old adage, fyou may make
hosts of friends; you can have but enc
mother" See to it that your course be
such as to gladden. and crafty her loyal
heart. If you have brothers, be such a
sister as will elevate in their eyes the
standard of womanly excellence and virtue.
If you have father this side of Heaven,
be the light and light of his home and
heart, for in this way only can you cancel
10 the smallest degree your filial debt
You are chargesble also with mission to
society, which no woman can disregard and
remain true to her God, her parents or her.
self. That mission is to make the little
world in which you move better world
for your being in it, Bear yourself in such
a way as to she'd on all around you the
pure, sweet, sustaining light of a gentle,
gracious and refined spirit This duty ad.
mits Of no compromise. If ones influence
be not positively for good it is difficult to
prevent it being positively for evil. Let
yours be the beacon star of good example.
Give out kind deeds, helpful words and
tender sympathy in loyal measure, and let
no associate, man or woman, be able to say
that acquaintance with you is other than a
privilege and blessing. By such course
your sphere of influence will enlarge as you
grow older; your name will be enrolled
among those who have blest and benefited
mankind; the morn of life 80 bright with
promise will close at evening like the set
ting Gun, radiant and glorious in decline.