Year: 1861




cation of Teacher and patrons, is so rare
that dUe notice should be taken of it. 1t
is due to the authorizes to say, that her re-
marks were furnished fer publication BY
request of the audience who listened to it
at the close Of an exhibition,


To my class IN FaJmington


The sure hand of time has brought US
here. A few weeks ago, when first stood
before you, as your teacher, we were
strangers. Not so now -Four months
have passed since that time. l have Of
ten talked with you-have spoken upon
various subjects, to-night-our last
meeting-were | to speak of Life's Mis-
sion it might seem TO you theme of which
poets could talk, but far too complicated
to admit of any practical remarks to this
class Of youthful friends now before me-
To me it appears not So, Is it not appro-
pirate that you pause now, at the close of
this, another era in your schoolday lives,
think of yourselves as you now are, and
what you may yet become? And as our
daily intercourse is now to be changed for
one only of occasional correspondence in
thought and feeling, I would give express
sion to the deep interest this schoolroom
acquaintance has caused me to feel in you.
We have met here in cloud and sunshine
in Encouragement and prosperity-now all
is passed I speak of life's mission, for to
me it is problem, the solution of which
you and I are interested in. We will not
leave it to those who have lived longer and
learned more, or even to him who has
mounted the highest pinnacle Of useful
ness in the literary world. The time when
he should have asked this question is long
past, you are just merging into active life.
Stop and ask 'sWhat can it's mission be 2"
That you are all soon to move IN some
sphere all to fill some station. must be
true and that you all have the power of
choosing what sphere, what station that
shall be, is no less true. Man IS what be
makes himself from the material God has
given. Can you feel that you have no
part in making your future selves? Do
you not build your own mental and moral
structure? You may as well give price to
the uncut diamond as tell what you may
yet become with your powers of mind un-
tried, and personal characteristics uniform
ed. Shall we then, in view of all this, pro-
nounce this theme the concern only Of
earth 5 learned and useful ones? Oh no !
Such have already performed great part
of their mission. They have illumined the
Intellectual world with lights from their
chamber of thoughts, their life may be
nearly spent, they are fast nearing the
goal 1t is now ours to ask what can |
first do with this combination Of mind and
matter, ever alive to thought and action !?
If you would have life smooth and pros
porous, do not forget, that a happy lie is
useful one-that no labor brings so sure
recompense as that Of doing good when
ever and wherever an opportunity pre-
sents itself And this is Llte's t17!e Ms
sion | would not have your desires so
meager as to extend no further than self !;
but would have you adTocate the cause
of truth and right at all times. It mat
ters not whether the world knows your
motive or not-stop not to explain; but
with conscience and reason for your guides
press on. Let the result and the good
you may accomplish by the way tell that
you are seeking Lies Mission, No true
standard can be placed upon the recon-
mendation of others, but upon your own
personal merit.


Place, then, your standard high, and
with determined energy climb till you reach
it, though it be by the rugged and dan
gerous sleeps of opposition. Stock your
minds with the smooth pebbles of reason,
and fear not to hurl them at every ad-
vancing foe. If you do not thus defend
truth, you become drone, and insult God
who made it such, by not developing and
using the mind he gave. When inclined
to Encouragement and to thus undervalue
your capacity remember it is practical
education you wish, and that this consists
in general and useful information, with a
mind trained to do its own thinking
When you would call your situations un-
favorable, and think there are no subjects
for study here, remember the hills, trees,
and rocks of Pennington, with the starry
heavens above you, are just the themes for
thought; and when your hands become
idle, look about for labor which may bene-
fit the world And, as an encourag gine
type of what you now are and may yet be-
come, think that oak in yonder field was
| once an acorn-from the little cone there
burst shoot, which had only to drink the
nourishment kind nature offered, that it