Bethel University - Spire Yearbook (St Paul, MN)

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8 THE ACOKN es us a lesson worthy of consideration, nevertheless it shows the strength of evil on the other hand. We hold it as a nuisance and a detriment to the community. We may consider it analogous to the immorality and corruptness that is found all around us. such as the saloon, cigarettes, political graft, etc. The manner in- which the dandelion spreads is similar to that of evil. Only a little wind can carry it miles. When once in the air it keeps right on and we would find it quite a hard task to keep it in check after it once ripened and began floating about. So it is with evil, we must have it in our control before it reaches the stage of maturity, otherwise we will find our cities, homes and friends ruined by this curse, just as we find the most beautiful yards spoiled by dandelions. And so we as a Christian people ought to work earnestly and diligently before we find ourselves in the slough of despond where there seems to be no way of escape. Ruth Larson—'14. DISAPPOINTMENTS. For every victory there is a defeat. There is no gain- without a loss. For every conqueror there is a conquered one. For every gratified wish tnere must be some disappointment. Disappointments come to everybody, rich and poor, in one form or another. What is a disappointment to one is not so to another. We are always expecting them, and yet wo arc always hoping that they will never come. How often we sit down and think of how happy we would be on this little sphere, if there were no disappointments. If we could have everything that wc wanted, how happy it would mako us, at least that is what most of us think, but alas, that can- never be. Oh. the suffering, the sorrow and heartache that disappointments give us. We grit our teeth, clench our fists and some of us moan and groan, because we think that we are getting more than our share. We all seem to think that they are an unnecessary evil which is put in our path to make us stumble and life as a who!© miserable. Did you ever stop to think that most disappointments are blessings in disguise? The man who is a cheerful loser is a whole l°t bigger than the man who is always the winner. He has to fight a good deal harder to keep up courage than his opponent. He has the eyes of the world upon him and no one is afraid to say “there gees the man whom so-and-so beat.” Oh! how those words must rankle in his heart! Didn't he fight just as hard as anjone else would have fought? But he does not let himself stop at such remarks; he squares his shoulders, lifts his head and cheerfully goes forward to do the work before him in spite of the torture that is eating out his heart. That is the kind or men we want. On-e who is able to bear a disappointment cheerfully is also able to bear victory when that conies. It is the storms and blasts that beat against the pine on the hillside that help to make it strong and straight. It is the bearing up against the elements that will make it an honor to all the trees of the forest. Should there always be sunshine and fair weather the tree would grow up and have little chance against the storms when they did come. Disappointments are the blasts that try to uproot us. without them we could never grow up to be strong men and women. They are the refiners thru which we must pass to make perfect character. We find that one who has been disappointed and has stood the disappointments bravely ami cheerfully is a much stronger person as to character than the one who has not had any to contend with. Annie E. Johnson—’ll.

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THE' ACORN 7 seem to think it impossible to acquire an education -because they have not sufficient means. We hear this statement so often, • It takes so much money and unless ). have quite a large sum saved before commencing, I might as well give up.” You may ask this person, Why don't you work your way through?” Yoii receive the same old answer, ‘‘Oh! I could never do that- These poor human beings! They rorgei that it is creditable for them to work; their bodies and their minds are benefited by it, and those who can and will work will be advanced by it. Then within the school realm we find so many ‘‘can ts.” Students can’t set their lessens because they aie so difficult! All afternoon and evening is either wasted in-some foolish manner or spent in talking about those hard lessons. Consequently they come to class the next day without them. If these people had buckled down to good, earnest work instead of talking about it, they would at least have been able to do something. Suppose our teachers should say, “l can’t spend my time and patience trying to instruct these pupils because they are so stupid. They are too slow in grasping nr.- idea.” Poor students, if they did! I doubt whether we would get rar. suppose our ministers should sav, “l can't preach to these people; they are so Indifferent! Suppose our missionaries should say, We can't leave our homes and go to the foreign field because there are a thousand obstacles in the way!” Suppose all our writers should have said, I can't.” We would have had none of our beautiful literature . We can do a number of things that seem impossible if we try, but if we stand shivering on the brink and think of the cold and the danger, we will get no further than the shore. Let us not be afraid to leap into the cold water and we shall feel the invigoration of the plunge. —Esther Sundfelt—’14. A LESSON FROM THE FLOWERS. As I sat in the street car one morning gazing out thru the window, my attention was caiied to the many thousands oi dandelions which grew so abundently on either side. I was very much impressed with them and began to wish that more people had some of the qualities which this 1 lower possesses. This mean little flower brot to my mind two lessons which we all need in order to become more successful in our work. The first one was the tenacity and courage that it displays. No matter how people try to destroy or injury it, it still seemes determined to try again. I presume many of us have dug up dandelions in our yards and to our surprise the next day we found the little yellow heads sticking up from amongst the grass as if to say, ‘‘I am still holding fast, you've not discouraged me yet. If the stability that this flower shows would be exercised more by all of us we would be' better orr. great many people are easily discouraged. The first opposition that comes to them they are willing to be subdued by it. In order to become successful inen and women, we must not be discouraged by every little hole and think it looks as tho it were a big mountain. It takes a great deal of strenuous work to exterminate the dandelion. As it were, it seems as tho our superfluous energy were in vain. We find them growing along the well beaten path, by the side of railroads, and in similar places. Places where almost every flower has given up to live. It teaches us that in spite of our disadvantages and environment we can accomplish something in this world if we will never give up. •At tlie same time that this flower tcacu-

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THE ACORN S The Acorn Entered as second class matter October 20th. 1000, at the Post Office of St. Paul, Minn., under the Act of March 3rd. 1870. Subscription Price 50c per Year All articles contributed to the Literary Department should be addressed to the Editor-in-Chicf, and all business- comtm.....itions to the Business Manager, Bethel Academy St. Anthony Park. Minn STAFF. Daniel Strandbcrg 14.. .Editor-In-Chief Sitonn Findon 'l l..... .Associate Editor Victor Larson '16...Bus. and Adv. Mgr. Charles Themanson '15 Assist. Adv.Mgr. Victor Sword '15—Circulation Manager Prank Rhenstrom '15... Swedish Dept. Esther Sundl’elt ’ll Alumni . 1 Oust Larsor. '1 Annie Johnson '14 Theresa Tornblom 14... .Society Notes Dora Tornblom '15 Ruth Larson 'll Exchanges Rose Nordstrom '10 A WORD OF THANKS. With this issue the “Acorn” concludes its sixth year. During 1913-1914 great interest has been shown on the part of every member of the stafl and the students as a whole, in the work and betterment or the paper. We can without hesitation can it a year of financial success. In spite of the large sums of money our friends are subscribing toward the new school building, they have also been loyal in helping our paper on. We wish then to express our thanks to all the businessmen of the Twin Cities, who have advertised in The Acorn, and to all our friends, who have helped us in a direct or indirect way. We are also greatly indebted to our business and advertising managers, Victor Larson and Charles Themanson, for their good work in connection- with the paper. It is the wish of the present staff to extend to the next year's staff their best wishes for a successful year . — A.w. — VACATION. We are now nearing the close of the schooldays for 1913-1914. and are scon ready to leave our work at Bethel; many with the good hopes of again taking up the work next fall, others with that hope lacking. I am sure that we all feel that the year has passed very rapidly, which we probably did not expect at its beginning. The school has at this time a large number of students to represent it. bet us please remember as we take our vacation, to live so. that we will be good representatives of the school, because, keep in mind, the school is judged by the individuals that attend it. Bethel Academy needs every student’s cooperation. There are maiiy young men and young women, who would be greatly benefited by their coming here, so students, one and all, let us remember to BOOST our dear BETHEL, and to work in its interest by making it known to all whom .you meet during vaca-