Year: 1860




"High School" For easy naturalness
and simplicity of style, and felicity and
vigor of thought, [ think it seldom
equaled, and Gerry seldom surpassed, by
those beginning in the truly difficult, yet
desirable art of composition.


Your CORRESPONDENT.


VACATION.


The close of the session is at hand
We have passed through our examina-
tions, and this evening performance will
close the present session. tits near mid
summer and nature is all inviting to the
tired student, who has been so closely
confined in the school-room from the
dreary days of winter. The vernal flow
ers have come, and some, alas, have al
ready faded and died. We have been en-
gagged in the school-room, and the many
months have formed an attachment
among the students easily discernable but
not so easily dissolved. Now comes va
cation with all its pleasures-perchance a
few troubles. Vacation! what pleasant
word it is! Deeply as 1 am interested in
education, much as am attached to nv
schoolmates, and however much pleas
ure I may find in my studies, yet the an
nual return of the summer vacation is
always expected with delight, and hailed
with welcome. The evening bell of the
last day of the term is the signal for me
to throw aside my books for short time
and enjoy the many pleasures of the va
,al IL.
country. How beautiful! Nothing
could promise more pleasure to the wea-
ried spirits after term of confinement
in the scboo!-room, surrounded by nu-
merous text books, and just before us a
huge blackboard staring at US, as, il
were, like black cloud before thunder
storm. But what sound is more full OF
cheer to the tired student and the more
tired teacher than vacation. To the first
ittells of release from study, visit home
the joyful welcome of parents, brothers
and sisters and the enjoyment of many
vacation pleasures too numerous to be
mentioned. To the teacher it is the well
come signal Of respite from toll. He
halls vacation with joy because he then
becomes for time free man.


There is a prevailing opinion in the
community, that the life of teacher, il
not lucrative, is at least very easy. This
can never be true of an instructor who
does his duty. Much physical exertion
it is true, is not required, but there is a
mental employment that is more op-
pressive than labor of the body. Some
persons regard nothing as labor, which
does not exercise the muscles, not in
Gliding those of the vocal organs. But
such individuals might easily ascertain
by trial, that the most severe demands
on the physical system, are those arising
from long continued mental exertion.-
But teachers labors are really both
physical and intellectual, the employ
ment of the voice is not only fatigueing
but also calls into action more muscles
of the system, than several of the mere
physical employments. Yet there are
some troubles mingled with the pleas
ures of vacation. Mothers warn
daughters to the kitchen, and to attend
to various household duties, for they
think it as necessary to know how te
prepare good dinner as to acquire any
other accomplishment. Although, te
some, very unpleasant duty, yet it is
one which all ought to perform cheer
fully, for what use would our education
be, if it did not prepare us to enter into
details of domestic life. But to those
who consider work great task, vacation
has but few charms. And therefore
when it is time to return to their books
instead of being refreshed and ready te
return to their work with new zeal, they
are discontented and unhappy. 1 thinl
that we ought to study hard and improve
every passing moment, so that when VIZ
are advanced in age there will be ne
cause for regrets for time misimproved
But now, my schoolmates, the time ha!
come for us to part. Perhaps some of u:
will never meet again on earth, but we
will hope for the better, and wish yor
all happy vacation and hope to set
you all in the school-room at the com
mencement of our next session. W.
can never pay the debt of gratitude WI
owe to our teacher for the interest hi
has taken in the welfare of each one O
US. But may we each one endeavor tt
fill our stations so as to reflect credit or
him, and for short time we now biz
him adieu. My friends: When I 10 ol
among you, I behold many who have
come out this evening to parcipitate il
our pleasures before separating for shor
vacation, for which kindness you have
our most sincere thanks, and may eacl
one go to his home benefited by ou
we'll meaning, but poor entertainments
MoLLIE LALLANCE. b.