Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1895-04-18
the world rejoices in the shout:
Thanks be to God that giveth
as the victory through our Lord
Jesus Christi"
MISS SARAH A. PEARSALL.

among US. AS d. GSdCHS VI UA0
young, I wish the youth Of our
community to know the lesson
of Sarah Pearsall's life.
Short was her life as men count
time, incomplete as men count
completeness. But God thought
her work was accomplished, and
early called her to rest and to
her reward. Measured in noble
aspiration, measured lin heroic
endeavor, measured in success
full achievement, Miss Pearsall
outlived many times, the major
ity of those who reach three
score years and ten.
I first knew her as a pupil in
the Goldsboro Graded School
when [ first became connected
with the school as a teacher in
the fall of '89. I was impressed
with her faithfulness and con
scientiousness. She never vol
unteered an answer to a general
question, but when called upon.
she never failed to give correct
one. She is the only student
who ever received from me the
grade Of 100 (denoting perfec-
tion) on an examination paper
and term-stand.
After finishing at the Graded
School, Miss Pearsall taught
in the county both as a means of
support and in order to pursue
her studies farther at some higher
institution. For this delicate girl
she was never strong while [
knew her-had a most vigorous
mind, an Unsuitable thirst for
knowledge, and an all-conquer-
ing determination to attain unto
higher and still higher culture.
After three years of teaching,
at an age when few young wo-
men even in the most favored
circumstances would consent to
enter school again, Miss Pear
sail, with what she had been able
to save from living expenses, out
of a small salary for a few
months in each year, together
with a small amount borrowed,
entered the Normal and Indus
trial school at Greensboro. She
had won at a competitive ex-
animation one Of the Wayne coun-
ty scholarships offered by that
school. Her course there was sim
liar to her course at the Graded
school, and perhaps no student at
the Normal School proited more
from the years work than Sarah
Pearsall. For one year was all she
could spend there.
Last summer she was
elected a teacher in the
Goldsboro Graded School, having
handed in the best papers in a
competitive examination; 10 this
instance, as always with her,
winning her way by her merit.
from her life is the possibilities
of an invincible will. Few girls in
Goldsboro have the difficulties to
surmount that she had: a timid
disposition, poverty. health
growing from bad to worse. Yet
few girls, or boys, in Goldsboro
have reached the state of educa-
ton and culture attained by
Sarah Pearsall.
Imay, with propriety, speak
Of her poverty. 1t is necessary
, in order to understand the wo-
man and to appreciate her life.
Hers was the honest poverty
for which no oneOneed hang his
head" And she did not. She
never asked for help. Yet help
came to her. The most beautiful
i. lessons of her life are shown in
her relation to certain friends,
who knew her worth, her ambi.
ton, her struggles, and her
: needs, and who desired to help
i, her. One of her former fellow
J., students, a most generous, big
hearted young woman, sold
some jewels, the most valuable
possessions she owned, anc
wished to make Miss Pearsall a
-present of the proceeds that she
might go off to school. Though
Miss Pearsall refused to accept
this gift, she was induced to take
it as a loan. And it was by
> means of such aid, mainly from a
former school mate, and former
teacher that Miss Pearsall was
enabled to enter the Norma
School.
S These facts r. given for the
Iliobt thau throw on hnr charac
ter and for the general lessor
:. they teach. Those who knew
her best, valued her highest
:, trusted her most, were the mos
. anxious to help her. She JUST
flied their confidence. In ever,
way but physically she grey
and broadened at the Norma
School. Had strength permitted
|, she would have made an envi
S able name for herself as a teach
ger. But even with the hand O
death upon her, she did life work
and did it we'll. Though sh
q lived not a year after leaving tn
g Normal School, she paid all debt
contracted in going there, eve
c those which she had assumed in
stead of accepting them as gifts
} and died owing no one, saw
debts of gratitude for love an
'. kind attention given her. No
can it be said she owed them, 70
= Indeed she returned love fo
love, and those who ministere
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