Year: 1859


/ Nr. Editor: / do not know that ever
were the days of my childhood recalled
more freshly to my mind, than when
attending the exhibition given by the
school children Of this townlast evening.


They all, from the oldest to the
youngest, seemed OWE, each with the
other to please parents and friends.
For anydays the "rising generation"
had been early and late rehearsing and
preparing for this, to them, great event.
| doubt if any college ever witnessed
more commotion on commencement
day" than took place at this time Not
withstanding the badness of the roads,
the hall was filed to overfowing; and
the receipts of the evening will material
ly aid in procuring books and apparatus
for the school. | doubt if any one
present ever paid his dollar more freely
or willingly for any object than for this.


AS the scholars came forward to per-
form his or her allotted part, how quick
ly their eyes sought the countenances of
those whose approval they had striven
SO hard to gain; and the tones, at first
low and trembling, seemed to call on
each of us to remember that once we
were as they, and ask our approval and
encouragement.


The nervous and quick tones of the
boys as they rehearsed those same dccla-
nations that were once so familiar to
us,-the low musical tones of the girls
as they modestly performed their parts,
struck chords in our hearts which had
not vibrated for many years, and dis
posed us to ''pass their imperfectious
by"


To my mind, no theatrical perform
ance can ever equal school exhibition;
there is reality and freshness about it
which no theatrical troupe can ever at
tain.


The singing was one Of thebrightest
features Of the performance, and equalled
in sweetness Of tone and correctness of
execution any that ever | had. heard in
California


"My New England Home" was beau
tifully executed and raptluously received
by the audience, and recalled to the
mind Of many IA one present his own
New England home. 'sIIome Again"
and several other familiar airs were in
terspersed through the exercises and
well received by the audience.


Truly the parents of these children
may feel proud of them; they all, from
the little lisper of four or five years to
those nearly grown up, showed that they
had made good use Of their time, and
give promise that in future years they
will be a credit and ornament to our
noble State.


From these and such as these will
arise cur future leading men, and it
must be ard undoubtedly is a gratifca-
ton net only to the parents, but to us
all, to know and see that the children
are improving every opportunity to ac-
quire and lay up knowledge, to 1T them
for the several stations in life they may
be called upon to Eli hereafter.


When our forefathers laid, found
ations Of Common Schools, they did
more to perpetuate the glorious institu-
tions of our country than has ever been
done by any scheming politician who
has ever fourished.


Then, if we have the future good of
our country at heart, let us always up
hold, sustain and foster the common
school let the example of our glorious
New England, in planting the blessings
of education throughout the land giving
to each and oaI, to the high and the
low, the rich and the poor, an opportunl-
ty of storing their minds with knowl-
edge, be followed by us; till, wherever
are found the dwellings Of men, there
in their midst shall be found the COM
mon school j. p.





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