Salem State University - Clipper Yearbook

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The Discontented Dandelion. HERE was no reason why the dandelion should have been discontented, for her house was a beautiful garden, where stately roses and brilliant peonies nodded and blushed in the warm sunlight. Carefully kept paths wound in and out, and in the center stood a merry little fountain throwing drops of shining water upon the quiet grass and the happy flowers. But neither the soft, green grass nor the beauteous roses, nor even the sparkling fountain could bring joy to the heart of the lit- v f W 'if - f. 'v eil ' tlD dl . 9 - 55:34-'1 ' .l'uii4. l'- 6 an C Kin . . H5 y n A-a i ffin-if , -5 A robin had a nest in the tall elm tree - 5-if .. . . - 1' ' , gui G if' -' ill' ll-E' near the fountain but every morning when he - if 'L iv' PQ , vt . , 1 y gfi- 'g il had sung his song, he went away over the gar- den wall into the great Land beyond. There ?f? ill I' i, ff were bees in the garden, who could roam from Q- , gf it flower to flower at will, and they, too, could fri.-ve re- 'f ' f 1 . . 5i:,f 1 :fI?,'f ig3? L ,.7,i? M l-y cross the garden wall. But little Dandelion 3'iVLQ:'ig i .,l could do nothing but stay in her corner of the garden and sleep and wake, and dream and wonder what was happening in that mysterious Land beyond the Garden VVall. Perhaps she had brothers and sisters in that country. Once she asked the Poppy who lived beside her whether there had ever been other Dandelions in the garden but the Poppy said that there had been none there since she could remember. She did not tell her that the Gardener if T Q pulled up the other Dandelions and left her only because I she was hidden in the corner of the wall where he could it fp, ' if-3 , not see her. i Wil K fx One day when she had lived in the Garden for a long ffl if time, she saw a handsome visitor coming into the neigh- ' l ,tif QV borhood. This was none other than the gay Mr, Butter- tl ll J, X fl A fly, coming to pay his respects to the flowers. r I X A A , U Heis very well worth knowing, my dear, said the ffl ll Poppy, for he has traveled far beyond the Garden Wall 'J' Iwi I 7 and seen many things about which even the tall Sun- U ef' 1 ' 1 y flower knows nothing. I F 3 2 ,,,'q.' Very bright and charming the Dandelion found him as Q i 2 g he poised jauntily on a blade of grass and told of his adventures in the Land beyond the Garden XfVall. How many things there were to be seen, if one could only travel about and find them! Tall plants with things growing upon them, which creatures like the Gardener plucked and ate 3 great pools of water, much larger than the fountain's basin, large enough, in fact, to hold the whole Garden, even the wall-if only one were not obliged to stay in the corner, always. The Dandelion sighed so profoundly that even gay Mr. Butterfly was touched. ' 9

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Beckwith Memorial Fund, as a slight token of the esteem in which Dr. Beckwith is held. The money is to be used in rendering financial assistance to promising and needy students. Contributions may be sent to the secretary of the committee, Miss Fannie B. Deane, State Normal School, Salem, Mass. Mr. Beckwith was married December 29, 1879, to Miss Mary L. Sayles, a success- ful teacher at Adams, Mass., who, with one daughter, Miss Frances S. Beckwith, a recent graduate of Vassar College, survives him. Dr. Beckwith was a man of great vigor of mind and body and morally he was of the sternest integrity. In whatever he undertook he displayed these characteristic qual- ities of mind and heart, and he excited in all who came in contact with him the same sterling qualities. Personally, Dr. Beckwith was the type of a rugged, hearty, jovial man. He was a delightful companion, steadfast in his friendships, and so keen a judge of human nature that a few hours of acquaintance with anyone was sufficient to enable him to analyze with great accuracy both his character and ability. He hated hypocrisy and double dealing in any form and loved to call things by their right names. He was too honest and straightforward to become a successful diplomat and his want of tact may have lost him a friend at times, but never one worthy of the name. His power of depicting character in a few brief sentences was something unusual and he would sum up all the good and bad traits among his friends and acquaintances in almost a single sentence and leave but little unsaid. He dearly loved a joke, and bright, indeed, was he who could get the best of him in a duel of words. He was quick at repartee and his hearty laugh gave life and cheer to any circle of which he wasa member. He was a member of the Universalist Church and for many years one of its trusted officers. He loved books and surrounded himself by the works of the best authors. He was not a financier after the frenzied pattern of today and cared nothing for money except for what it would bring to him, and was perfectly content with his modest salary, provided it would meet his necessary expenses and purchase the beloved books he cared for. Dr. Beckwith died at his home in Salem, Mass., October 13, IQOS. In his dczith Massachusetts loses one of her strongest men and ablest educators, the many teachers, a wise counselor and guideg his family, a devoted husband and loving father, and his many friends, one whose place can never be filled, although his example will never die. The funeral of Doctor Beckwith was held at Salem. Doctor Beckwith delivered the address at the memorial service in honor of President ffapen of Tufts College, closing with these words-a tribute his many friends would render to Doctor Beckwith himself 1 So, when a good man dies, For years lieyontl our ken, 'l'he light he left behind him lies Upon the paths of men. 8

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Surely you do not wish to leave this quiet spot ! he exclaimed. Oh, yes, she replied, if I could fly, as you do, and the birds do, and the bees. You do notiknow what it is to stay always in one corner. He reflected. There was a time when I could not fly, he said. Then I went to sleep and when I awoke I had wings. Perhaps some morning you will awake and have wings. But she only sighed again. 'fl am different, she said slowly, I couldn't have wings. Hethought for a long time. Over the Garden Wall I have seen flowers like you. She felt her heart thumping hard and she listened eagerly, as he went on. 'f They are like you, yes, and sometimes I have seen them with wings. Be patient and sometime you can cross the garden wall, I am sure of it. However, though the mere thought of it made her tremble with anticipation, the little Dandelion was far from sure of it, and as time went on, she told the Poppy that it must have been a mistake. The Butterfly did not come again. They decided that he must have died, and the little Dandelion, remembering the stories of the great creatures in the Land beyond the Garden XVall, felt that, after all, the Garden was very beautiful, and the flowers near her, very lovely, and that it was quite worth while to live in her snug little corner and drink the golden sunbeams and the sweet dew, and make nectar for the bees. And so she did. But one bright morning she awoke and found it all different. VVere these her N, , babies, these dainty winged folk, or were they fairy children who had strayed by mistake into the stately Garden? Q Even as the little Dandelion watched them, bobbing and xr 5 I fluttering, they went up, up, past the Poppy and past the :-- , .7 4' - Sunflower, and over the Garden Wall. J ,110 1' The little Dandelion reflected. It must have been I f g f, upon wings like theirs that I came here. Then when I had ' A 'tri' ' ' 551, found a home, I no longer had wings, for Idid not need ff 1' them. So it will be with my little ones in the great Land beyond the NVall. So she lived happy and contented in her sunny corner, where the Poppy and the Sunflower and the radiant Peony nodded and smiled, and where the bees, and the birds and the joyous fountain sang the livelong day. M. A. 'o6. ln