Hendersonville High School - Laureate Yearbook (Hendersonville, NC)

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12 THE MOUNTAINEER hopes and resolves which this occasion should arouse in our hearts. We have been taught by “line upon line and precept upon pre¬ cept” that “We are not here to dream, to drift,” but that “we have hard work to do and loads to lift,” and that we must ‘ ‘—build the ladder by which we rise From the lowly earth, to the vaulted skies,” and “mount to the summit round by round.” We must hope, we must aspire, for “Aspiration is Inspira¬ tion,” and, above all, we must not rest because on e goal is won. “Life is sweeping by,” the “distance beacons”—and we “still be up and doing.” Let us then resolve to make this a Commencement Day in very truth, a day of beginning—the beginning of lives ded¬ icated to duty, pledged to high ideals and noble aspmations. “Forenoon and afternoon and night. Forenoon and afternoon and night, Forenoon and-what? The empty song repeats itsself. No more? Yea, this forenoon sublime; this afternoon A psalm; this night a prayer— And time is conquered, and thy crown is won.” And now, the time has come to say farewell to you, our faithful teacher, our beloved Principal, our kind and efficient Superintend¬ ent, but, ere I say the last word, I would tender you, one and all, the loving thanks, the grateful acknowledgement of the class of 1916. You have guided our faltering steps, comforted us in sor¬ row, encouraged us in defeat, rejoiced in our success, pointed us to “more stately mansions,” and the memory of your teachings will be with us in the coming years, and our love and gratitude will follow you. And now, with a heart full of pleasant memories and grateful thanks, I bid you, Comrades, Friends, Teachers a last fare¬ well- Loee English.

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THE MOUNTAINEER 11 Valedictory Dear Teachers, School-mates, Friends: I am conscious of mingled feelings of joy and regret as I stand before you this morning to bid you farewell, in the name of the class of 15-16. Of joy, because our four long years of arduous work are ended, and the goal so ardently longed for, attained. Of regret because we must sever the links formed thru long days and months of com¬ panionship, both in play and work, and because our accustomed places will know us no more. And yet, tho we shall, in the coming- years miss the daily communion that has been so pleasant, we hope and believe that the years will but strengthen the friendships. “The years have taught some sweet, some bitter lessons. None wiser than this, to spend in all things else, but of old friends to be most miserly.” I also have a very realizing sense that we, the Seniors of Hen¬ dersonville High School, shall never again meet as school and class mates in these familiar halls, and, so it is, that the joy of this, our Commencement Day, is blended with regret—aye, and something of fear and questioning too, for we realize that this is indeed a Commencement Day, and we stand with our faces turned to an un¬ tried, unknown future, in which, somewhere, a life work awaits us, and we fain would draw back the curtain that veils the future, and know What and Where. I trust that as we glance back at the record of these years of High School life, we may each be able to say “I have fought a good fight” for “The moving finger writes, and having writ, Moves on; nor all your piety nor wit Can lure it back to cancel half a line, Nor all your tears wipe out one word of it.” Classmates—These four years have left their impress on our lives. We have w orked and played together, and now, ’ere we sep¬ arate to go each his appointed way—some, perchance, to renew your studies in higher institutions, some to “learn to labor and to wait” in the great School of Life, I ask you to share with me some

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THE MOUNTAINEER 13 The Senior’s Farewell Oh Freshmen, Sophomores, and all Who may toil thru the long four years That lead to the end of a High School career, The commencement of our hopes and fears. We’d like to advise, if we only knew how, Or leave you some message of cheer, But the day, the day that we longed for, while yet ’twas far, We now greet with sorrow and fear. The world that alluringly bec koned and called Now looms both lonely and wide, And fain we’d know if trouble and woe Are in wait for us just outside. We regretfully think of our four happy years, And we envy each each one of you Your day and months in the old High School, Your pleasures and duties, too. We beg that you’ll sometimes give us a thought As we go on ahead to the strife, Gladdened and strengthened by memories sweet Of those years of High School life.