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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. 11