The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-11-20
AN ALLEGoRY

Senator Drane, in his remarks il
chapel at high school, November Is
spoke N part, as follows:
A traveller, small in stature ant
weak in body, starts upon Ions
journey in the early morning, when
the sun is just peeping above the
meadow grasses; the traveller is full
of youthful vigor and ambition. For
, a time he runs; then growing
weary, but still DESTROYS of overtak-
ing a fellow traveller who has made
an earlier start, presses on, having
always, in his youth full inexperi-
ence, only one goal in sight-Grad-
uation Day.
AS the sun gets hot and the road
gets rough and dusty, occasionally
he pauses under a greenwood tree
! to rest and refresh himself beside
the still waters which ripple around
the foot thereof. He bides a time,
having realized that the 1.-THE green
wood Tree is only station, called
in school grade" realizes that
the goal Is not yet; takes up his
burden and resumes his journey
Day by day he tolls, and night by
night ne studies and burns the mid
night oil, planning as to how he
can cover more of the road on the
morrow, having always in mind
what he thinks Is the end of the
Graduation Day" Poor
traveller! At last, after twelve mile
posts have been passed. the goal is
reached; Graduation Day is at
hand ard all the little pleasures and
eScitemenfs which go with it. Then
ne has a disappointment-probably
the first serious disappointment in
his young life; for when the goal is
reached he finds that the companion
whom he has followed has gone on.
This, he finds is not the goal at all,
1t Is only short resting place and
only the beginning of the real Jour
ney.
Beyond, are rocks and hills and
green meadows and orchards, kind
friends reckoning and evil eeniuses
lurking to waylay him. Fame and
fortune. in the distance, almost out
OF sight, apparently near the end of
the road. and as he signs and wines
the sweat from his brow and re-
sumes his journey, Fame and For
tune like will-o-the-wisp, always
seen tn travel, too, remaining lust
beyond his reach. Poor traveller,
He travels on and on. He thinks
he needs help, SO, pausing for time
he wooes a maiden fair, and per
suades her to join him in his trav
els
For time they travel hand in
hand to the music of weddings
bells. care free, only that Fame and
Fortune still elude them. One day
the young wife whispers in the fell
loW-t"aveler's ear; they pause in
their journey and begin to plan for
another who will come to Join them,
and SO. they seem to lose some of
the miles they have travelled to
await the coming of the little
stranger who will for few years
travel with them before taking a
by-path and pursuing his journey
alone That pause in the journey
is the sweetest resting place of all.
The little traveller comes, and
brings with him load of joy and
sorrows, of sunshine and shadow.
and childish tears and baby laugh
ter, thereby making them loiter on
the way. Happy travellers.
At last the burdens of the way
so heavier: the little traveller crows
foot-sore; lags behind, the journey
is slower. and he is seen no more.
Sorrowful travellers,
In the weight of years the older
travellers backs begin to bend be-
meath the load; faint marks accu-
mulate around the eyes; the frosts
of the winters settle upon their
temples Still they travel on and
on. looking for the goal. The old
man. growing weary, falls asleep in
beautiful place called Gods
Acre" where thousands of weary
pilgrims who have travelled thus far.
bide in silence for time The lit
tie wife grows lonesome; fingers
near, then silently passes through
the gates and sleeps by his side un-
til hey both arise, and in the dawn
ing of the morning. see affair the
Eternal City-the real goal; where
wisdom sits enthroned: where per-
feet peace abides - "Graduation
Day" at last Happy. thrice happy
travelers-their journey is finished
and the cycle of life is complete