North Georgia College - Cyclops Yearbook (Dahlonega, GA)

Page 30 text:

Part II. of Senior Ctlass Exercises After exercises in the chapel the Battalion was formed on the campus, while the i radiiating class and fac- ulty assembled around the hole in which was to be set a beautiful Columbia poplar. This little tree was not of an ordinary type but one that bade fair to be the most beautiful tree on the campus. Besides the love the Seniors had for it for other reasons, they were especially proud of it for its beauty. Tnto the hole where this tree was to be set, Seniors were looking with downcast and serious faces, thinking of the days in the distant future when they would visit their dear Alma Mater and parade the campus and take a fond and loving look at their class tree. They expected to note the growth of this tree and compare it with their own growth. Oh, how many pleasant reminiscences tliey expected this tree to present on their arrival at Dahlonega. It would bring forth a thought of Senior ' s serenades, and a recollection of seeing ' 06 painted promiscuously, staring you in the face from every corner. In direct connection with this train of memories would come a thought of a Junior dancing a jig to the music of Peachtree sprouts given for his butting in at one of their meetings. After the liattalion had fired volley after volley in salute, the prcjfessors eacli put shovelfuls of dirt around tlie roots of this tree : then each Senior seriously grasped the shovel and tinislied the planting. Prayer being offered, the audience dispersed. 28

Page 29 text:

To the Cjlass of 06 . 1.. .lACKSdN, iir . Manv years ag ' o, not far frnm tlic city of Dalilonega, there sprang ' from the bosom of mother earth a tender ami dehcate sprout. By the aid of the sparkUng morning dew, the rains, and the sunshine of heaven, the little sprout was soon standing like a mighty giant in the forests, with its branches jxiinting towards the heavens. defying the lightning, thunders, winds and storms of the elements. Heneath these broad limbs and in the shadow of this mother tree there appeared a tiny shoot which in the course of time would become a tree of greatness, in grandeur and beauty like the mother tree. . ' ow we have come to plant this little tree in the fertile soil of the garden of our Alma Alater as a lasting memento of the class of 1906. Likewise there have come from the mothers and fathers of our country who. like giant trees, stand in mighty forests of human action, boys to be cultivated and nurtured in tiie fertile soil of this institution by the care-takers of this great nursery of human thought and action, until we are almost like budding saplings to lie transplanted in the great forest of humanity. This act of our transplanting we symbolize today. As the roots of this tree shall grow forth and absorb nurture from the life-giving projjerties of mother earth, as its branches shall stretch out and find nourishment from the elements, as it grows in beauty and casts out its foliage to shelter humanity from the scorching suns of summer, as it grows strong in root and branch and is enabled to face bravely the storms and the blowings of the future, may each and every one of us be so transplanted and grow that we may be firmly rooted an 1 grounded in the iirinciples of right living and right thinking. ;Ma - we so gather strength from our environments that we may become giant oaks in the forces of human action withstanding the many tempests that co ne. gracefully yielding to the unseen powers of exist- ence, at the same time radiating the spirit of kingly manhood wherever we may go. When the King of Terror comes and we are called upon to part, ma ' the portiere which se])arates this world from the future world be drawn aside that we may enter in, touch the hand of the I Inly One, and hear from the lips of the King of Kings, Well done, thou good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joys of thy Lord. ' 27

Page 31 text:

J art III. of Senior Cjfass Exercises For only a few hours was this tree, so sacred to every nieiii1x-r of the g-ra(hiatin.L;- class, to stand unmok ' sied. Certain members of the B Class had conceived the idea that it would he smart to pull this tree up. In their attempts to be ' Smart Aleck they had not exercised enough skill to keep their plans secret. So when the night came on, the Seniors agreed to put some member of their class on guard to save their tree from destruc- tion by boys who do things thoughtlessly and rashl -. While the remainder of the Seniors were eiijoxing a ball immensely, and as their light, fantastic, slippered feet were moving to and fro in the mazes of the dance, their poor brother, who had been posted on guard, chilled by the icy winds of the season and half persuaded that no one would bother around his post that night, crept into the dormitory to warm his frost-bitten toes. After sitting by tlie fire a few minutes, he determined to be a faithful soldier and continue his dutv until re- lieved by fellow class-mates. On reaching the door to make his exit, he found his much-cherished tree stand- ing by the door-way, with its twigs cjuivering in the night wind, wee])ing as it were, that its fond hopes of a few hours before, of becoming the envy of every tree on the campus, hail been so ruthlessh brought to an end. 29