Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1905-05-18
The Mountaineer'S
Dream
BY HUGH A. G. WALKER

r HE air of sleepy quiet which had
brooded over the little valley
town for year had changed to a buzz
of excitement. Commencement was on
again at Watauga college; the town
was full of enthusiastic alumni and
visiting friends from every corner oil
the surrounding country.
1t was on a different errand that
the two Arvey brothers had come
down from their home on Stump
House In their white-covered wagon
Only month before their father had
died, leaving his large family depend
ent upon the two grown-up sons, and
they were at Watauga for the purpose
of Strengthening up his small business
affairs and making certain arrange
ments concerning the management OF
their little mountain farm.
This required only a short time
however, and on Tuesday morning
they found themselves drifting with
the crowd toward the college, wholly
ignorant of the exercises going on
there. The scene on the inside was
a revelation to both, for never before
had an Avery, from Stump House,
been within college building. There,
upon the high old rostrum, sat the
young men of the graduating class,
clothed in their best, the center OF at
traction to all the vast assembly be-
lew. One by one they stood before
the audience, and with fervent, rustic
eIoquence delivered their graduating
speeches, each of which called forth
enthusiastic applause, loads OF flow
ers, and a crash Of diseoPGant
music from the noisy brass band
in the gallery. Then, when the
speeches were all over, the gayly be-
ribboned diplomas were handed to
the graduates by the president, after
which came more applause and an
other rapturous burst Of music from
the gallery. The scene-impressiTe
to those who were most accustomed
to Watauga commemorative
one which remained forever fadeless
in the memories of the mountaineeI
brothers.
The Arveys' journey home that aft.
erneea was an unusually quiet one
For hour after heur neither spoke;
both sat gazing In a kind Of trance
upon the mountain scenery which had
been familiar to them from childhood.
No sound disturbed the stiffness ex.
eept the rumble of the wagon and
the hoof-strokes of the little mules
upon the finty mountain road. 1t
was the older brother who broke the
silence.
"Tom," he said. "I'm gwins tel
stan on tibet same platform some
day an say my speech an git my
paper"
1--WE sworn the same, Gus" came
the laconic reply; "the Arveys heV
got ter be heerd frum."
1t was doubtless fortunate for the
brothers that they could not compre-
bend the obstacles that lay between
them and the deers Of the college;
both had times of Encouragement,
and it required the strongest deter
mination, combined with frequent
visits TO Watauga for fresh inspira-
ton, TO keep them faithful. At the
end of three years, however, by per
sistent labor and with the aid Of the
teacher at Double Springs, himself a
Watauga graduate, they had pre-
pared themselves for entrance into
college.
AS it was found impossible for both
to attend at the same time, the
rather delicate situation arose of
deciding which one should first enjoy
the coveted privilege.
Il spose, Gus, bein' the oldest, you
ought to be the first to 60" Tom
suggested, rather reluctantly.