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THE YOUNG SOUTHERNER
All communications and contributions intended
for this department should be addressed to Mrs.
Louise T. Hodges, 83 East Avenue, Atlanta, Ga.
Words.
“Words lighter than the floating down
That crests the ripened thistle’s crown,
Words deadlier in their scathing stroke
Than lightning bolt that rends the oak.
As the Son of Peace on the raging sea
•Spoke words that stilled wild Galilee, ’
So gentle words have shown their power,
Breathed low in some tempestuous hour.
“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in
pictures of silver.”
On the 6th of March, one year ago, Mr. William
D. Upshaw visited the public school in Vienna, Ga.,
and with characteristic enthusiasm and earnestness
of purpose, spoke to the children, urging them to
faithfulness, diligence and pereseverence in their
studies and in their efforts to lead good and useful
lives. As a stimulus to endeavor he gave them the
motto, (evolved, no doubt, from his own remarka
ble experience) “Let nothing discourage you; never
give up,” and requested them to write to him one
year from that day and let him know if they had
remembered the motto and profited by it.
That the earnest words impressed the children,
and lingered in their minds and hearts, is attested
by the fact that a few days since, upon the anniver
sary of his speech, Mr. Upshaw received a number
of letters recalling the incident of the motto, and
expressing appreciation of his kindly interest and
inspiring words.
I have been permitted to read some of these let
ters, and they indicate an awakened interest in seek
ing the good and true in life, the result, no doubt,
in large measure, of the words so “fitly spoken”
by this genial friend of youth in the school room
a year ago.
If we could at all times rightly estimate the po
tentiality of our words, surely we would be careful
that whether in jest or earnest, they should be
“fitly spoken.”
“Oh, if we could but learn to know
How swift and sure a word can go,
How would we weigh, with utmost care,
Each thought before it sought the air,
And only speak the words that move
Like white winged messengers of love.”
Editor Young Southerner.
As I haven’t seen a letter in the Young South
erner from a boy, and as I don’t like for the girls
to get ahead of us, I will write you a letter.
I like girls all right, but sometimes they think
they know a lot more than boys, and I suppose they
do about some things.
I notice that “Aspirant” wants to write books.
Well, if she does, I hope to read them if they are
any good. I don’t think I could ever write a book,
but I like to read all right.
I haven’t decided yet what my vocation in life
will be. I guess I’ll leave that for older heads to
decide. I think I’d like to be a farmer because
I like to see things grow, and am fond of fishing
and hunting, but I think my parents rather want me
to study law, and I guess I’ll do what they say.
I hope some other boys who write better than I
can will help to hold up our corner in the Young
Southerner. Boys, don’t let the girls beat us.
I won’t sign my real name, because if I did some
of the girls I know would “guy” me.
Yours truly,
Atlanta, Ga. Bob White,
Conducted by Louise Threete Hodges.
A Child.
Holding within a compass small
The mystery of life and death;
Listening to the song-bird’s call,
•Careless, alike' of fame and wealth.
Caring naught for the world’s deceit,
Not yet saddened by tales of wrong,
Earnestly seeking the beetle’s retreat,
Entranced by the brook’s low, sweet song.
Grasping joys as they come to-day,
Taking no thought for the morrow;
Plucking flowers that bloom on the way,
By far too wise grief to borrow.
Having no quarrel with adverse “fate,”
Nor yet with the demon, Doubt;
But knowing well when swallows mate
And the flowers of spring come out.
Germs of passions and power within,
Boundless faith in the myths of youth,
Not yet tasting the fruits of sin,
Judging all by the law of truth.
Compact of faith, innocence, love,
With spice of mischief, mirth and fun,
Os earth, earthly, yet judged by One,
As fit for the kingdom above.
L. T. H.
A traveler once stood at the foot of a Swiss
mountain, which towered above him to the height
of ten thousand feet. It seemed that a tremendous
effort would be required to reach the top. But he
said to himself: “Ob, it will take only one step at
a time!” and before sunset he stood on the summit,
en j°yi n & the magnificent view of the commingled
glory of earth and sky, such as can be seen only
from mountain heights. The goal of life is reached
in the same way—“only one step at a time.” But
these steps, taken as directed by our Guide, however
difficult and wearisome the journey may be, will
surely bring us unto possession of eternal joy and
beauty.—Youth’s Instructor.
“My best teacher in mathematics when I was
a boy,” said Arago, “was the little sentence I
chanced upon one day when feeling unusually dis
couraged: ‘Go on, sir; go on.’ ” It is this power
to “go on” that brings success to any boy or
girl.
In a previous issue of the Golden Age, mention
was made on this page, of the state U. I). C. medal
contest among the schools. A communication has
been received from Miss Mandeville, Chairman of
the State Committee, giving some information re
garding the contest, together with a list of the per
sons who have charge of the local contest in each
county. Following is the communication:
U. D. C. Medal Contest.
Interest in the State U. D. C. Medal Contest
has been shown to an unusual extent this year.
Many schools expecting to enter as many papers
as came from the whole state last year, and nine
teen counties offering special prizes. The following
is a list of such counties together with a list of per
sons in charge of the local contest.
1. Carroll County.—Miss E. Mandeville, Carrol
ton.
2. Pike.—Mrs. L. K. Rogers, Barnesville.
3. Chatham.—Mrs. L. G. Young, Savannah.
4. Richmond.—Miss S. G. Stokes, Augusta.
5. Bunte.—Mrs. E. C. Blount, Waynesboro.
6. Jefferson.—Mrs. J. C. Little, Louisville.
7. Lowndes.—Mrs. Howard Harris, Valdosta.
8. Houston.—Mrs. H. M. Holtzclaw, Perry.
9. Thomson, Ga.—Mrs. J. B. Neal, Thomson.
10. Morgan.—Mrs. J. T. P. Austin, Madison.
11. —Upson.—Mrs. S. H. Mullin, Thomaston.
The Golden Age for March 22, 1906.
12. Thomas.—K. T. McLain and R. E. Lester,
Thomasville.
13. Decatur.—Miss Annie Campbell, Bainbridge.
14. Chattooga.—G. C. Brown, Trion; W. L. Gam
ble, Summerville.
15. Floyd.—Mrs. J. A. Rounsaville, Rome.
16. Oconee—Jas M. Majors, Bishop.
17. Muscogee.—Miss Anna Benning, Columbus.
IS.Habersham.—C. W. Grant, Clarksville.
Any school desiring information as to the contest
should write to the person in charge of the local
contests. In counties where there is no one in charge
all inquiries should be sent directly to the Chair
man of the State Committee, Miss Eugenia Man
deville, Carrollton, Ga. Miss Mandeville will take
great pleasure in giving all the information pos
sible.
The Fairest Flower.
“God smiled and the flowers bloomed,”
Some poet grandly said;
And woman was the fairest flower
That raised her dew-kissed head.
William D. Upshaw.
The Juvenile Protectory.
V e understand that the Central Juvenile Protec
tory Committee have very good reason to view with
satisfaction the services held on the first Sunday in
this month. The Rally was unique in some respects.
Upwards of fifty speakers addressed seventeen differ
ent congregations on the same theme: “The Care
and Training of Wayward Children,” with especial
reference to the plans proposed by the committee
of which the Rev. Crawford Jackson is the chairman.
This plan contemplates the erection of an extensive
Central Protectory for wayward children in the
'Southern States, “under philanthropic and religious
control, thoroughly unsectarian and utterly divorced
from politics.” The object in view is one that ap
peals strongly to every one who sees the necessity
of doing something to stay the increase of juvenile
crime. Some of the churches where union meetings
were held, are still to be heard from; but so far as
returns have come in they have been helpful finan
cially to the work, and what the committee views
with even greater satisfaction, is the fact that thou
sands are now interested in the movement who never
heard of it before.
Crawford Jackson has already done a deathless
work in reclaiming wayward children who are now
walking in the path toward useful citizenship..
Our Heroes.
Here s a band to the boy who has courage
To do what he knows to be right;
When he falls in the way of temptation,
He has a hard battle to fight.
Who strives against self and his comrades
Will find a most powerful foe;
All honor to him if he conquers,
A cheer to the boy who says “No.”
There’s many a battle fought daily
The world knows nothing about;
There’s many a brave little soldier
Whose strength puts a legion to rout.
And he who fights single handed
Is more a hero, I say,
Than he who leads soldiers to battle
And conquers by arms in the fray.
Be steadfast, my boy, when you’re tempted,
To do what you know to be right,
Stand firm by the colors of manhood,
And you will o’ercome in the fight.
“The right,” be your battle-cry ever
In waging the warfare of life.
And God, who knows who are the heroes,
Will give you the strength for the strife.
—Phoebe Cary, in Youth’s Instructor.
L. T. H.
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