The Delta independent., 1906-02-09
"cuuBlNe the NIL Or paespeaJv
nay NE NEVER MEET 4 nltND.
ny uA.o,pr. DAVIS.

/ nj uAHoiD u s's sAHs
Edition. Note The following ives ~ osstion
composed and delivered by > Delts bog. thirteen
,ears old. The thought Is much above tue aver
sge and de.erves especial mcRiion and eon'ider-
alton. Master Davis delivered this q the Eighth
| Grade Exerci.es held short time agO.
A young man stands at the base Of
the Hill Of Prosperity. On o0s stde, a
steep and rocky trail, leads up the
mountain side. and around by prseipice
and chasm, where one misstsp means
destruction on the sharp rocks below;
but oh, what . prize is awaiting the
person who dares to make his way up
that gloomy and awful pathway. amid
the wild underground, from which a
fierce beast might spring at any mo-
ment. And then how wild and wierd
sounds the cry Of the wild eat to the
lonely traveller, on dark. dreary nights
when the wind whistles and naoans as
it rushes through small canyons and
valleys. But what Is it that waits the
person who has the courage to say 81
will" Success. It looks like golden
crown upon the summit Of the noun
tain, As it throws its heavenly glow on
the surrounding country, and seems to
inspire courage and hope In the person
who gases On it, glorious light, On the
other side Of the young man there winds
another path, lined with green On either
side. while flowing along by it. thsre is
q merry babbling stream, with it, cool.
refreshing wsters; but elas TIE path
goes downward. First It Il gentle
slope, but gradually it becomes stesper.
while in the place Of bright hued low
ers, there are stones, and in TIE small
stream, instead Of water, thers runs
blood. The slope soon becomes % slant-
ing, that it is impossible for . person
to turn back, and then, and then, the
climax is reached. The way enda at
the brink Of precipice overlooking the
Valley Of the Shadow Of Death above
which hangs soft thin mist The mist
of death-and the poor wretch who has
been lured to such place frantieally
leaps over the cliff. and deaths myster-
ious arms twine around him, adding an
other victim to the short path Of De-
struction.
Which way would he take? First be
looked up towards Success and then
down to Destruction. II will succeed, !"
he shouted and his strong manly vQiee
echoed and re-echoed among the wild
crags Of the Hill Of Prosperity.
So cutting . sta6 from = near by trse
he turned towards that which many 4
rsrsoa had tried 70 attain Ia vain, bis
fine young face all agiow with youth
and spirit.
After long climb up the steep noun
tain side the path became more rugged
and rocky while deep eaverps appeared
in the cliAs which in whose gloomy
depths the fierce beasts Of Temptation
dwelt and thvived On their countless
victims.
Soon. after struggling on among this
grand scenery. wild crags and along
narrow ledges Of rock below being the
black depths Of DESPAIR where many =
person On his journey Of Life had fallen,
the black clouds of Failure began COW
ering the sky. while the teribls wind
that blows IN "a everyone and which
hurls its victims into the blackest depths
Of Despair began to shriek tAseqgh the
trees that lined the path with its wierd
moaning wall which sends cold ehills
creeping up persoA's back,
As the tFNveler pushed on there was
sudden lpll that ghostly silence that
usually proceeds q ataEsn, but which was
quickly SrVhen, for ere few seconds
had elapsed th.re was = tremendous fash
Of forked lightning which lit up the
whole mountain and even sassasssd the
brightness ~ SVecess itself, followed
by tremendous down-poqr Of sxh.
Rushing torrents aowea everywhere.
whtle thunderine catAracts fell o'er the
path frpm plaeea that Rs enc would
have dFsamsd such roaring walls OF
water could spring.
Louder and louder became the gale
while harder and harder fell the rain at
times blindiRg and aln,ost weeping him
from HIS place Of safety to Destruction.
Suddenly, not far from him. he heard
pssssa shout and through the gloom
and the rain beheld someone advancing.
"Hallo-o-o there, hallo-o-o, he shout
Cd, scrambling alona tewarda the ad-
vasciRg figure which proved to be a
young man, . little older than himself,
OF good countenance. stately form and
true, grey eyes: but alas he was taking
the downward course.
Come, my friend. e. u make err
vsav dovnvsard To The 9raasv uath he.