The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-03-06

boys, who had left for the spring work, drop
around and conclude to stay. The noon in
termission is uncommonly long. 1t begins
rather before the usual time and it is un-
accountabiy extended. Every one does have
such an excellent time playing, and the day is
so delightfully."- warm.
Then come the exercise and the exhibition.
The big girls have a curtain stretched across
the end of the room and behind it is impene-
trable mystery. There are a few lessons on
drilled topics, so that parents may be proud
of children who answer wonderful things
correctly.
And when that is done the curtain rises and
Miss Annie Blackstone recites "Stay, Jailor.
stay, receiving very formidable applause
when she bows and signals the curtain to 90
down. Benny Collins recites "The Sailor
Boys Dream Katie Jones and Emily Bolten
sing 'Oh, Come, Come Away" as duet and
long John Smith thunders through the "De-
fense of Catalne" Sandwiched in between
the big people are exercises from all the little
youngsters, whose mothers, and fathers, too,
possibly. are present and one-act drama is
presented to the entire satisfaction of the
audience. And then, somehow or other. when
the last song of the school" has been s,l4p.
when the curtain has been lifted and lowered
for the last time, when there is sense of
grounding this side of port, that unspeak
able teacher is up and talking.
For theflrst time the sense of punils tokea
In this larger fact that "last day of schooln
means severance cf ties, u farewell to some
things that were pleasant, u loss of this man.
and it is loss. 1t must be. for looking back
from this height not Il thing can be called
wherein he did wrong On what basis sat
the framework of his bad character no one
can see, for not memory there retains 81
charge against him. He is crying a little
himself The women are all crying to see
him cry. The big boys blow their noses to
hide the rise of tears, and the big girls dry
their eyes very daringly.
There is luncheon spread all over the
desks and benches later, and from wagons
hltched along the road outside come baskets
iu!l OF country dainties. There is an abund-
ance of honest cheer The windows and
doors are open, for the afternoon is so warm.
Ana then come farewells, when the teacher
shakes hands with boys who have hated him
bitterly all winter. Boys who cordially honor
him now, when he just misses being tender
in his goodbye to the girls; when he finally
rounds out the work with mingled grief and
pleasure, locks the door, gives the KEY to the
Commissioner, watches the bundle of books
and bundles of pupils tread SLOWLY awav.
hearts big with the greatness of 'the last day
OF school," and then turns from the whole
picture forever.
Modern schools have added many features
the Old system needed. No doubt there are
better results from graded work, since the
| books say so. But there is no last dav of
school so stupendous in its interest, so strong
to weld friendships, as the last dav of school.
which has drifted more than one-third of a
century into the past.
or course examinations are good things
since all the teachers have them, but they do
not lend gracious blessing to the last day of
school. They spill drop of bitterness into
the pupils cup of bliss of this final day of
long companionship, and they make promo
ton very dearly purchased. OF course they
are good. OF course they are right This is
conceded by every Teachers Institute in
various states. But that or the city style, or
stage effects. or decorous absence on the
part of parents, or Il promised departure, has
deprived creation of its "last day of SCHOOL,,
NJ r.