Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1941-04-11
"SOME BY-PRODUCTS
OF LIFE"
No. 2
BY Eben Hearne

a figurative sense, might be cansid-
cred as by-products of life.
Having lost my parents before
had reached my majority, l was COM
PEELED to some extent, to be the archi-
tect of my own fortune and career.
Like thousands of other boys, who
after graduating at High School, and
who, not being able financially, to at
tend a college, accepted clerkship
in what would, at this day and time
be called a Department store. Here
I spent three years and one half.
Of the by-products of that period,
I will mention only few among the
many which stand out in memory.
One was the active part I was privi-
legged to take in the work and SER
vice of the church of my forbears
and of my boyhood, which consumed
a good part of my time on Sundays
and, at times, more than an evening
during the week. That work has left
cherished memories all down through
the over sixty years that have inter-
vened.
Another by-product was vacation
of three weeks most of which were
spent in Baltimore, it being my first
extended visit to that city, one day
Of which was delightfully."- spent in
the city of Washington, D. c.
The third by-product was twelve
days. visit to Philadelphia in attend
ance at the Worlds Fair, which was
held in celebration of the Centennial
of the Declaration Of the Indepen-
dence Of the thirteen colonies from
the British yoke. The thrill contrib
uted by that great Exposition left
lasting impressions and memories
that have stood by me all through
the intervening years.
On account of the close confine-
ment indoors being detrimental to my
health, I felt compelled to resign my
position in the mercantile business af.
ter a tenure of three and one half
years.
My next venture in business con-
Quoted me into the realm of educa-
tional work. Having learned that
vacancy in the Principalship of an
Academy about eight miles from my
boyhood home, I made application for
the position, and to my delight, was
unanimously elected by the Trustees
of the Academy to fill the position.
entered upon the duties of the Prin-
cipalship of the school at the begin
ming of the following Fall term. In
that school work, I spent five of the
happiest years of my life and form
ed acquaintance that have existed
without interruption for over a half
century. The life in the farm home
Of a charming family, with whom
boarded, and the work in the school,
which required a five day week Of
only six hours each, greatly improved
my health. Before the school year
expired, had gained nearly thirty
pounds in weight. That fact demon
strated clearly what fresh country
air, recreation, and outdoor life will
accomplish for a person formerly
cooped up in store. I visited my
home usually ever other weekend
and frequently walked the eight
miles each way. I led an ideal life
in association with a score and more
of obedient pupils, some of whom
were young men in their late teens
and strong and stalwart abundantly
able enough to pick me up and carry
me any distance they might choose;
but they, during the school hours
were, obedient and studious and it is
a pleasure to think of our congenial
associations; the memory is sadden-
ed by the fact that number of them
have been called away-some of them
cut off in the prime of life and some
in middle life and older life.
1t is great satisfaction to realize
that I had the love of the pupils, the
cooperation of the parents of the
pupils, and the confidence of the COM
munity.
The memory of those five short
years is particularly sacred to me and
have furnished continual inspiration
and consolation as the years have
passed by.
In my third chapter or article, ]
will attempt to rescribe some other
of the events or happenings that are
connected with the five school years
as by-products.
To be continued