The flowers of Texas are abundant and lend themselves for adorning public halls with charming effect. For each of the public entertainments of the week the chapel had been given a new array of flowers and green, with variations striking and beautiful. This morning the chapel seemed brighter than ever.
The only graduating address was upon "Literature and Authorship, with the Valedictory." The young speaker, only nineteen, has already made his mark as a writer and speaker of decided merit. A visitor of distinction said, "It would have done credit to our State University."
Everything now points to the coming year as one of prosperity. While it is true that the Sam. Houston College is expected to open in September, and is to be a near neighbor, and while it is certain that the denominational whip will be used to bring into it pupils of its own denomination, it is also true that there is work enough for them and for all, and we wish them God speed in their work. There will not be too much light upon the darkness.
LINCOLN ACADEMY, KING'S MOUNTAIN, N. C.
BY MISS L. S. CATHCART.
Lincoln Academy closed its year's work on the last day of May. We have no building that will possibly seat over four hundred, with every foot of space occupied, and as we have to plan for a thousand, we take it for granted that the day will be fair, and prepare platform, seats and awnings in the woods. The rain drove us from our work the previous day, but the morning of commencement day was clear, and with the early dawn we were at work, and by eight o'clock the grounds were ready for our friends, who had thus early begun to gather. Within doors the beehive was preparing to swarm, packing trunks, emptying straw ticks, cleaning out rooms. By half-past ten the friends of the school are gathered in great numbers, and our pupils form on the veranda of the Home to march to the grounds and give the song of welcome.
I do not wonder that fathers and mothers look upon the school as it marches to the ground with pride, for in neat, but simple clothing (most of the dresses of the girls having been made in sewing-class), and bearing in manner of walking as well as in every feature the impress of work done during the past months, such a company of young people is an inspiration; and one can but thank God for the planting and fostering of such Christian schools all over our south-land.
Songs, recitations and dialogues are well rendered by the school, filling about three hours—and no one too tired—and a stirring address is given by Rev. O. Faduma, a native of Africa, on "Some things needed for the development of the colored race."
As we look back upon the year of work we feel that we have been abundantly blessed. We enrolled two hundred and nineteen pupils, not more than some previous years—we cannot for want of room; but they came earlier and stayed longer. Almost without exception good work was done by the entire school. About twenty confessed Christ as their Saviour. During the year we had not one case of serious sickness. These are among the great blessings of the year whose work is now closed. I do not think I should say the work is closed. A common expression among farmers here is, "when the crops are laid by," between hoeing and harvesting, while they are growing: That is much the way with our work, it is "laid by" to grow. Our pupils are teaching, working in Sabbath Schools, "speaking for temperance," and proving themselves in other ways. "They are growing," and we rejoice.