Year: 1874

FELLOW TEACHERS:


The memories of the past are full of
shadows and sunshine; they bring into
review the landscape OF life, over which
pass the alternate sungleams and cloud
shads of passing days and years. Now
the valley and hill-the cottage and way
side-all are aglow with pleasant recol-
lections and smiles of friendship and pic
tured hopes of brighter future; anon, a
dark cloud shadow passes oyer, and the
smile Of joy which lighted the path of
life, vanisbes like the dream of the sleep
er, and then, perhaps, deeper gloom
still, gathers around the wayfarers, until
the wing of the tempest wraps all in q
midnight from which there seems no
morning. bright with new born hopes,
and a sky all radiant with promises of
a brighter day; while low on the distant
horizon of the past, hangs the dark cloud
from whose rent bosom so lately CLEANED





harmless now, and dreaded no longer.
Such is life. Such is life my fellow
Teachers, and such has been our expert
ence in the past! 1t has been the chequer-
cd ground flow ofouy profession, alterna-
ting in good or evil, joys and sorrows,
midnight and MONDAY, hopes and fears.
There is pleasure in the retrospect that
evil must perish, and that good is eter-
nal,-that shadow and sorrow and gloom
belong to the past, and that promise of an
Immortality of positive enjoyment.


Nature struggles for this, muscle and
brain toll for it, while the heart and atfec-
ton "hopc ON" and "hope ever" wait
ing and looking for the Auroral beaming
uf day that shall know no clouds, nor
storms, nor midnight. when ignorance
prejudice and iiliieracy shall give place To
that culture, refinement and standard of
education for which we have SO long and
faithfully labored. VIII that day ever
come-eper? Hope whisperS-yes, and
then the heart grows strong again to toll
and wait for H. But the past is past,
Eighteen Hundred and Seveniy-four is
gone, and we bid it farewell without
lingering regret.


We turn To Eighteen Hundred and Sew
erty-fve and bid it welcome, for in its
trcasure-house are garnered hopes that
NAV yet be realized. There, is much to
do in the year on which we are entering.
There is to be much of thought, Of ankle
ty. of watchful care, of persevering and
toisome effort. TO advance the interest
and promote the prosperity of our pro-
tession, and of the rising generation.
With what trembling of anxiety should
our labors be performed i'll the school
room, when they are to mould the future
men and women Of our land and nation!
Thoughts put into print become immor-
tai, and countless years may not reveal
all their influence for good or evil. Shall
our labors performed in the school-room
during 1875, be such as, dying We shall
not wish to blot?"


We all expect to form many new friend
ships during the year 1915, and also revive
many old ones. While such is the case,
let us welcome them all with the new
year, and letus endeavor to make our al
lance one of mutual pleasure and profit.
Those of you who are yet young in the
profession, have much to learn, and much
to do, if you would attain an enviable dis
tinction in the profession, or make your
self useful in the great army of teachers.
Remepber, "There is no excellence with
out gicat labor and toll )" and the triumph
is only secured by them. Honor, useful.
ness and distinction are the fruits of will
ing and persevering effort. Is not the
prize worthy of the sacrifice? If you
think not, my young friend, better at
once retire from the profession and bid
perpetual adieu to your vocation as
teacher. The year 1875, upon which we
are just entering is pregnant with impor
iant events. We cannot see the end from
the beginning But the days will pass
we may not stop them; the current OF
lie rolls the swifter the farther 1t goes.


We can not pause. but


- roll round with the year,