The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1916-10-05
HOME CIRCLE 0LUMN.
A HOLY CALLING.

workroom, then it is that older minds
revert TO the teacher and to the abid-
ing influence of school life. Parents
are always anxious to get acquainted
with the teachers of their little ones
knowing full we'll that in the develop
ment and formation of their charac
tiers the teacher is, to q great extent
their model. 1t recalls TO our mind
a legend we read recently Of how-
err A beautiful snow white lily, tall,
pure and stately. A legend quaint, but
full of happy teaching: Shy chance
this lily was found growing in field
where there was no paniOnship-
OF her kind, but instead of other flow
ers or lilies like herself, she was,
entirely surrounded by common weeds,
among which were growing BRAN bles,
nettles and other noXious plants. But
day by day, as the gentle dews OF
heaven moistened her thirsty leaves
and the life-giving rains of spring
and summer sought out her roots, she
opened her buds and grew taller, I'M
til at last she unfolded her pure white
flowers to the caressing winds, the
sunbeams of summer nestled in the
very heart of her beautiful snow-white
chalice and the breezes bore its frag.
rance with them as they wandered on.
And so, day by day, as pure and
stately, the lily dwelt among the weeds
and humble plants of the field. They
learned to look up and TO admire the
in the heart of each lowly plant grow.
ing about her roots, there sprang up
the desire to be more like the lily,
whose tender grace and gentle, win
ming ways they all so much admired.
But then there came a change, trans
formation, and the beautiful, stately
flower was no longer a lily, but was
transformed into lovely maiden, a
teacher, while the humble weeds and
plants clustering all about her devel-
oped into child faces with earnest
wistful eyes and smoothly braided
or softly flowing locks of brown, gold.
en- or laxen hair. But still, as before,
the teacher was among these children
as the pure, stately lily among the
plants of the field, inspired by the
spirit Of her mission, living her own
life, going in and out among them
from day to day tshe became to them
model, inspiration, an example and
guide. a city set upon hill cannot
he hid. OF course this is but home
ly little legend, and yet surely there
are valuable lessons contained in it for
any teacher. Next to that Of IA parent
theirs is the highest, hottest calling.
In many, in fact almost every voca-
ton has its responsibility attached but
to very few is their responsibility of
teaching. Whether you realize or
not, and indeed, whether or not you
wish it, from the moment when you
first assume the pOsition-when you
stand among your pupils in that school
room, you become to them the object
OF deepest interest, power for good
or evil. Your manners, your ideas
are studied often times more diligent
y than the lessons in the text books,
and are often remembered when these
are forgotten. Remembering then
that your labors are bestowed upon
immortal souls does not the mind call
for good thorough examination as to
your own worthness. "No man liy-
eth unto himself and no man dieth-"
is most wonderfully true in the case
of teacher, and one who possesses
the qualities Of purity, unselhshness
ana sincerity Of character, are often
as conscious in their surroundings as
the stately lily among the common
plants of the field. But these are
qualities which anyone may attain
and cultivate and they are quail.
ties, without which no one ought to
ever assume the position OF teacher.
Possessing these qualities your in
iluence is bound to fall upon your pu.
pills for good, and not upon them alone
but upon all with whom you come in
contact. But wanting these, the lily
has lost its beauty, fragrance and pur-
ity, and has no longer power to in.
spire the hearts OF others or fill them
with longings to attain the treasures
she does no herself possess. But it
will never be giveI US in this world
to know the extent Of our influence,
as one Of the minor poets said;
This learned / from the shadow of a
tree,
Which to ard fro did sway upon the
wall
My shadow sef-my influence may
Where | may never be.
But il honest effort is made TO i'm.
prove upon the talents given, especi-
ally if, in time Of weakness, refuge
is sought from the Uniailing Source
OF strength, then each Of us should be
content to await the final great re-
vealment in the light Of which each
shall see as he is seen and know as
| he is known.