Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1904-03-10
EDUCATIONAL BUREAU
Under Direction of KATE MARKHAM POWER.

but the grandparents OF many VINO Will
read this page got all their learning
and much Of their religion meath the
weather-worn roof Of old Zion Hill
a learning and religion which taught
them how to bear their part in the life
that has gone out, in overwhelming
circles. from the schoolhouse OF this
old Scotch settlement. In those old
days. before things had commenced to
be "up to-date'-when each man tried
to do a little more than his neighbor.
instead. as now, of seeking to do a lit
tie less, and when there were only
rural schools in Mississippi with a
few exceptions)-a commodious and
comfortable building was erected on
the crown of splendid hill, and the
interior was admirably furnished, for
those days. All around the chosen
hill the forest monarchs stretched pro-
tecting arms, and at its base the clear
waters of a bubbling spring shone,
mirror-like. In a bed Of MOSES and
ferns
Who can say Just how much or how
sweet an influence these stately trees,
the myriad wild flowers. the multitude
of singing birds and the cool, clear.
ripping water Of the old school spring
have had. through all the passing
years, upon the hundreds OF men and
women whose childhood days were
spent so close to scenes like this? NO
one, | am sure, can estimate the lnHu-
ence of nature upon the clear and open
mind of childhood. Nor does 1t lie
within the power OF cruel time. OK
even sorrow, to kill the precious mem
ory of such days. In proof OF this III
l may be pardoned personal refer
ence), one of the most touching Incl
dents in the long, full life Of our be-
loved grandmother-a life far richer
than most in it's mingling of sorrow
and jcy-was the radiant smile on her
face as she gathered close to her breast
an armful of palmetto leaves and
ferns which l had brought to her
when she was almost ninety years old
from the old schoolhouse spring. In
Amite county, where, as a little blue
eyed girl, she had spent her school
days under the stern tutelage of ore,
very Scotch, Aunt Jeanette
Think you these memories would
have sweetened fourscore years il
then-as now--the schoolhouses had
been bald and bare and ugly-two
small for the free movement of rest
less, growing bodies, and the grounds
were but hard surfaces of clay, or
rough, uneven sod? All, no. 1t took
the perfume that was distilled from
riot of wild bloom to sweeten all those
years; 1t needed the soft, gray, lace
like veil of the beautiful Spanish
moss (Which weaves its garlands to
tenderly cover the gnarled limbs and
aging body of the grand old forest
kings to dim whatever Of harshness
there might have been in the picture.
The quiet scene grew into moving pic
lures with the flight through awaken.
ing memory of the scarlet tanager;
the thievish jay that steals from
heaven the coloring for his coat; the
soft brown hues Of the timid thrush,
and the tender gray Of the dove; and
the musical drip of the water as 1t
fell over the little dam Of pebbles and
sticks and mud echoed the sounds OF
that far time in faint, sweet tones.
Ere this, old memories had her, and In
their tender, guiding hands she was "a
child again, just for that night and
Wandering. with reverent joy. through
the dim and Swallowed aisles of God S
first temples" gazing upward at more
glorious traceries of light than any
Cathedral window had ever showed
her; breathing a purer incense than
was ever swung by white-robed altar
boy, and drinking in the flood OF mel
ody from throat of thrush, of lark, OF
hooking bird and all of natures choir.
And all because she held close to her
heart the same old flowers that she
had gathered as little girl, beside
the old school spring.
Arbor Day.
There is another thing OF which
must take time to speak, this week,
and that is the bill which is before
the legislature creating Arbor Day.
Almost every State in the Union now
has it's Arbor Day, and at that time
each school prepares program which
largely deals with the beautiful things
and the useful in tree and plant life.
A few years ago We would have been
laughed at if We had suggested the
creation of Arbor Day as anything
but a holiday for pleasure. But time
changes all things, and especially DO
a few years change our forests IN
Mississippi. Where, ten years ago,
dense woods scarce allowed the pas
sage of small animals, are now great
stretches of open country from which,
as a rule. outsiders have cut our tim
Der. pocketed the money and gone to
pastures Cor to forests) new, leaving
us the knowledge Of what depths of
folly we can reach when blinded by ig-
norance or prejudice. Of course, the
establishment of Arbor Day in our
schools Is not going to renew our for
ests this year or next, but 1t will teach
orr children the value and impor-
lance of tree planting, and will also
teach them many valuable lessons as
to the best methods to use in growing
trees. the most desirable and most val
liable timber, etc Why, in one year
the school children of New York plant
ed 10000 trees, every one OF which
had been chosen with an eye to Its
value and planted in ideal surround
ines. In these Eastern and Northern
States Arbor Day has grown to pc the
great holiday Of the year, AFTER christ
mas and Thanksgiving.
Next weeks letter will go more
fully into Arbor Day and us uses
provided the teachers and pupils are
sufficiently interested in the idea TO
make it worth while. And my Only
means of knowing how you feel is to
get a letter from you, telling me what
YOU think about 1t. l hope to receive
a great many before | write next time
Your friend,
KATE M. POWER.
202 Amite street, Jackson. Miss.
n Wasn't in the Book.