Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1922-07-20
!. II. PORTER WRITES
CONCERNING HIS PUPILS

The following written by F. r.
Porter. was read at the recent picnic
and reunion of his former pupils:
For me to attempt to teach the
bright and intelligent. as ! did the
noble boys and girls of 40 years ago,
would be like old maids attempting
the mothers tasks, as they are not
fitted for the work but may l call
you all my jewels, metaphorically
speaking?
aTeach" is derived from the
Anglo-Saxon word .'taecan," and
one Of the many synonyms is "tell,"
to admonish. Herbert Spencer
tersely says, "The learned ever lost
no time" so"Let us, then, be up and
doing with a heart for any fate;
still achieving, still pursuing, learn
to labor and to wait Repeat this
poem as of long ago and teach it to
your young children. You mothers
and fathers are the greatest of
teachers The impressions of early
childhood are indelibly impressed
on the young and plastic mind and
time can not or will not erase them.
Since / last stood before you l
have endeavored to still be teach
er across the entire continent. and
when | state ito you,. as most of you
know. I have not been IL teacher for
almost a quarter of a century, it
it may seem paradoxical. but the
clause in the last paragraph is true
Every moment of our lives, we are
all teachers in the broad field Of
battle around us on all sides, ever
exerting an influence for good or for
evil. Now, I want to preach you
two sermons, neither original.
"Preach' is derived from the old
Norman French and Spanish word
"predicar," to preach, to give ear
nest advice. May I advise you from
the lips and words of others?
When the writer had occasion sew
eral years ago, he became much in
terested in the English system Of
schools and had many occasions to
endeavor to go to the basis of their
school curriculum, and on this trip
to the states, being one of many
such trips, we came in contact with
bright young teacher in the city
of Chicago. We had occasion to
comment, as we thought, on the
many meritorious plans and meth
and Montreal and attributed part
of this work to the systematic en-
forcement of legal Jurisprudence en-
forced by the Governor-General and
the Marquis OF Landsdon. He re-
piled. eyes. that is very true, as
YOU have stated, they were both
great men in the light of many pub
lie men. but, what have they done to
benefit humanity" Ponder please;
what are we all doing to benefit hu-
manity? Now this is my first ser
mon. and the second now follows:
A few years ago, the writer having
almost reached his journeys end
from a long and circuitous trip to
the east, and arriving at the city of
Cleveland, called Akron our head
quarters, and made inquiry if any
matter of importance required our
presence, and if not we would ex-
tend our trip farther to~the west, to
look after some. business previously
reported by letter, whereupon we
were promptly informed by tele-
phone that they deemed it necessary
for me to come to Akron at once as
business of vital Importance de-
manded our attention in Florida.
The writer hastened to Akron on the
first train. weary, worn and tired Of
living. When we arrived there we
learned to our bitter chagrin that a
certain machine had been moved out
of the jurisdiction of our mortgage,
and the machine had been attached.
We then knew well that trouble
was lurking in the future, so we
b. @1y
Fla, to learn to our extreme chagrin
that the machine had been attached
by the mortgagee's creditors and he
had been left with only one mule
from his team and he was cam
vassing the entire county, which was
almost as large as the state of Del
aware. After investigating, we
found that the machine really had
been attached, hence we hastened
in pursuit of our man by rail, and
while waiting for railroad connec-
tions, we found some leisure time to
mediate and ponder on our forlorn
and helpless situation. We whiled
away those weary and long minutes
of time, which seemed hours, in
making slow and measured strides
up and down the platform, when we
encountered group of men and
women seemingly highly entertain
ed by small philosopher of the col
ored persuasion, whereupon we ac-
costed him in the following man
ner My friend, you seem to be
quite happy and contented," and he
replied in quick repartee tipping
his hat, "Mister, should / not be
happy, we all has our trouble in de
battle for life, but if we are cross, |
crabit, and peevish-when we are
dead and done gone, our friends i'll
we have any, are glad that we are
dead and done gone. but if we keep
happy and cheerful, when we are
dead and done gone, our friends |
who will be many are sorry we are
dead and done gone and to be with |
them no more. You look like a |
gentleman Gall white men in the !
South are supposed to be gentlemen |
until their demeanor proves other !
wise) that was happy and had no
troubles, but I expects you has trou-
bles as well as de rest of us, but |
you says nothing about it,"
Are these not sermons by the |
wayside, worthy of our careful re-
Election and calm consideration? Are |
we all doing all we can to aid our
brothers and sisters by planting a
rose in place of thorn for the ten-1
der fonf9 VTn nocc fhrouoL, I.,x