Year: 1872

Ladies, Gentlemen, Kind Teachers and Fetlo,o P,t-


pills.


/ address yoa now ut the suggeS-


ton of no one; but it is the dictate of


my own conscience which prompts


me to make this one demonstration of
gratitude, which so justly owe you,


my kind, generous tutors. l do not
go away from among you with light
and merry heart; but, on the contrary


with a heavy one but the remem-


brance of the kindness with which /


have always been treated while among
you, will ever make the past a pleas
ant theme of contemplation, and


though "Time shall flee away on


Eagles wing" you shall. assure you,


be cherished first among those pictures
which hang side by side on memOry's
walls,


" The flush OF youth soon passes from the face,
The spells of fancy from the mind depart,


The form may lose its symmetry and grace,
But time can claim no victory Ger the heart"


Oh that 1 could justly reward you
for your labors. What q source of
pleasure it would be to me. Now that
[ am about to shake hands with those
who have taught me, deaf mute, to
speak and write to others, which God
in His wisdom, has created me with
out the power of speaking and hear
ing, can scarcely refrain from giving
vent to my feelings. Suffice it, how
ever, for me to say that | consider the
Deaf and Dumb Asylum the noblest
work of man; and it should be looked
oil
to those who eXerted themselves to
erect it. Long will their names be re-
membered and cherished III the minds
of those who have received instruc-
ton within its silent walls. What
would our republican form of govern
ment and boosted freedom have been
to Il mute, had it not been tor the eX-
ertions of those philanthropistS who
conceived the idea of instructing them.
added to the lal,Ors of those kind
teachers whOihaye furnished us with
language by which we can speak
and write TO our fellow creatures. But
for the instruction we have already re-
ccived. We should have been in
state of utter darkness, rs iI were
scarcely able TO make known our
slightest want. As it is, We are en-
abled 10 transact business and make
for ourselves a competent livelihood.
Should we fail to tender our thanks,
we should be acting in direct Opposi-
ton to all the finer feelings of the hu-
man heart and the prompting of ma
turc, which teach us to be grateful for
an act of charity rendered. Therefore
with all the sincerity We possess, do we
offer our thanks. Should the wheel
of Fortune ever revOlve in such
manner that should be q chosen fa-
vorite, nothing could afford me more re-
al pleasure than to contribute largely to
aid in quickening the progress of this
earthly tabernacle of true beneYOlence.
As it is, my glad heart will always
vearn towards those who first placed
the germ of knowledge i'll my mind,
and after the seed was SOwn, took so
much care in the cultivation thereof
They are, in every sense of the term
true specimens of God-commissiOned
philanthropists, moved by the high,
est sense of duty, actuated by the no
blest motives, and led on by the
warmest hearts that ever thrObbed in
mortal breasts. This and other sim
liar works stand arrayed in bold char
acters as the noblest monuments of
glorious efforts to impart instruction.
The tongue of the graceful pupil,
should never cease its laudation till
silenced by him who rules the destiny
of man.


Science, Arts and Literature would
have remained as marble stand,n to
the mind of the mute, had it not been
for the skill and energy of our teach
ers whose greatest care it was to instill
knowledge and truth into the dormant
minds of their unfortunate pupils.
Long will their names, together with
the names of my friends generally of
Staunton, and especially Rev. Jos. ID.
TYLER, who preached the word of God
for our benefit, be cherished in my
mind, whether in prosperity or adver-
sity. / sincerely hope, the education
l have received at this Institution
may be of great value to me. in aiding
me to get along well in this world, but
in enabling me to prepare
for that better world where 1 can hear
and join in the singing and praises of
the redeemed.


To this end, l must continually
strive to inform myself through read
ing and study. TO get correct man
ner for writing. must closely observe
the style of the books and newspapers
which read, and give particular at
tention to the meaning of the words
therein employed. must not think
that, having gotten through here, my


ducation Is completed, but endeavor
to read my Bible, which will point me |
the way to Heaven, and / must en-
L., l,xvf. IN
10 improve my mind, that l may grow |
wiser as | grow older. / am about to |
go forth into the wide, wide world and |
many trials and temptations will ne
cessarily fall to my lot, but fully con-
WINGED that He that tenlpers the wind |
to the shorn lamb" will take care of |
me. shall endeavor to live in such a
manner as to merit His approval, and
all will be well. To this finally we
should submit ourselves before God, |
with a great deal of pleasure and a !
smile of gratitude, thanking Him for |
bestowing blessings upon us from time
TO time. We should avoid bad compa-
ny. or we will loose our good names. |
We should believe and obey the Lords
word. We should be very careful, in.
common conversation. how we make
between persons. We
should not seek to be praised or fla
ercd; deceit is a wicked thing.


Prof. Turner has honestly advised
bis pupils, and said that we should be-
nave respectfully to the authorities,
md habituate ourselves TO treat s:ran-
gers modestly and civilIy at all times.
feel very grateful to him, as an excel
ent teacher as instrueting me, and
wish him great happiness aud pros
Derity. Fg