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[title page]
Vol. 1st Motto No. 1.
The Golden Gate
Terms
Liberal Contribution.
———
and
M. H. Knight
the scholars in
District No. 15.
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[p. 1]
Conundrum
No 1
Why is this school room like the State of Maine Ans. because it contains Augusta
What is the most stately of all edifices
Ans. A. Temple
Why is it so slow travelling this road
Ans. Because there are so many Gates
Why is this school room so dark
Ans. because here it is all Knight and no day
Why is a tobaco chewer like a goose in a duth [dutch?] oven Ans. because {it} he is always on the spit
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[p. 2]
Editorial
Kind parents and friends
Will you listen to us
While we read you this piece
This volume encompass’
Our number is small
As you plainly will see
But still the more credit
It will to us be
If we are successful
In presenting to you
A wreath thats well filled
Tho’ it be simple, but true
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[p. 3]
Marriage
In {Papperr} Paper Mill Village June 1st by Rev. Mr. Davis Mr. John Wilson to Miss Hannah A. Gates of Alstead
This youthful pair is now united
Their vows at Hymens Altr plighted
May neither e’er regret the union
But ever live in sweet communion
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[p. 4]
Chapter I.
A death at sea
Cleon
The morning sun rose proudly up,
And shone with luster round:
Resounding woodlands echoed far,
With many a joyful sound.
Upon the dark Atlantics breast
A ship lay rocking, where
The gentle breezes wafted, long
The dark deep waters there.
Upon a couch reclining lay
A pale and wasted form,
Whose palid features told too plain,
The deathful archer’d come.
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[p. 5]
A few fond friends had gathered round
And dropped a silent tear
They saw that death his seal had set
On one to them so dear
We bade them a long and last farewell
And told them not to weep
Then sallied back upon his courch
And closed his eyes in sleep
His gentle spirit took its flight
To purer realms above
Where ever reigns sweet peace and joy
And never ending love
Mayflowers
Belgin
I think the mayflowers are very pretty
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[p. 6]
indeed; they have two colors pink and white and are very fragrant I love to walk among the pretty mayflowers and gather thim I have plucked a great many this spring and made them into boquets which kept a great while I hope I shall every spring have the pleasure of seing the sweet little mayflowers
Stanzas
Cleon
The fields with green were covered
the mild winds gently blew
The merry rills were rippling
With murmurs soft and low
Within a room was faded
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[p. 7]
By death’s relentless hand
A fair and gentle maiden
She’s gone to the spirit land
She’s left this world of sorrow
She’s gone to dwell above
Where all is joy and gladness
And all know endless love
The home she’s left behind her
Is now O, very drear
For hard it is to sever
With one to them so dear
She’s left a darling sister
And brothers dear to weep
And mourn her sad departure
In death’s long dreamless sleep
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[p. 8]
“She’s left this world of sorrow”
That gentle form is lying
Neath the cold grassy sod
But she in Heaven is living
With a true and living God
Tobacco Chewing
Leslie
How often do we see young men just entering into manhood that use this vile and unwholsome weed
How strange it does seem that capable and healthy young men should destroy their health by using this It would not be so great a nuisance to others that do not use it if those that do would swallow the juice, but they
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[p. 9]
must torment other{s} people some as well as themselves I make use of the word “torment” because I think it must be as much as that to them who use tobacco Oh, it does mak me so nervous to sit near any one that keeps spitting all of the time {and also} if those who use tobbacco would not be so very filthy about it it would not be quite so bad; but some dont know any better than to spit any where, where they happen to be or if they know better they do not do better and that makes it so much much the worse: some gentlemen, as they pretend to be, would as soon spit on a carpet as anywhere else I do not say they all do so
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[p. 10]
there are a few exceptions, but they are few and far between
Smoking is not quite so filthy a habit as chewing, in my opinion, but it is just as bad for the health {Altho’} those who smoke carry the smell with them at all times which is very annoysome to some people But I trust I am wearying your patience so I will end this epistle and make room for others, which I presume will be more interesting than this is
Lines
Cleon
It was one cold and stormy day
The snew was falling fast
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[p. 11]
A starving child passed by the street
And through the raging blast
That passed so angrily aloud
with a long [changed to “low”] {with} and mournful sound
She passed {e}along with steady step
Untill she reached a lane
And when she spied a human form
A rich but sinful man
dressed in garments rich and warm
He heeded not that little form
She stepped into the proud man’s path
And with a smile she said
Please will you give a starving child
A bit of cake or bread
He listened not to hear her cry
With hurried step he past her by
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[p. 12]
She looked around she saw a house
A poor but shackled frame
With courage new she hastened on
A bit of bread to gain
At length she reached the college door
Wherein were others who were poor
She shared with them their scanty meal
She lived with them in love
Till God invited her to come
And dwell with him above
Now she’s gone to {illegible} that land of rest
Where she’ll be forever blest
dress
Obi
All some people care for is to dress if they can get on their siks [silks] satins
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[p. 13]
and broadcloths {it is all they care for} they are satisfied they think they are gentlemen and ladies then surely but to come to the case in hand they are just nob^o^dy at all but a mess of flirts I have seen those that would try to nip at a great rate but ^could not make it go off^ throw up their heads twist round and make awful work of it but as to me I like to see folks appear natural
Chapter vii.
Lines
I love to see the birds that sing
So sweetly on each tree
And hear then their joyous songs
So happy and so free
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[p. 14]
I love again to look upon
The trees so pretty now
Their branches robed in clothes of green
And bending to the ground
And most of all I love to see
A sweet and smiling face
That looks so happy and so gay
& Wears a smile of grace
A. H. W. Always Has Wisdom
E. S T. Eliza Speaks Timidly
M. H. K. Maria Has Kisses
L. A. T. Lucy’s Awful Troublesome
K. S. G. Katie Still Grows
C. L. G. Caroline Looks Good
L. J. K. Lura Judges Kindly
E. D. K. Ever Dutiful and Kind
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[p. 15]
J. A. K. Jennie Always Knows
M. U. K. Mary’s Ugly to Katie
A. S. K. Angie Shows kindness
A. F. K. Abby Fears Kittens
E. D. K. Elmore delights to kiss
E. S. K. Elbridge Seeks Knowledge
O. A. R. {A.} Oscar Always Run
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[p. 16]
[Here the handwriting changes.]
Pride and Humility.
No two feelings of the human mind are more opposit than Pride and Humility. Pride is founded on to high opinion of our selves. Humility on the consiousness of the want of merit. Pride is the offspring of ignorance Humility is the child of Wisdom. Pride heardnes [hardens] the heart Humility softens the temper ^and the^ disposition. Pride is deaf to the charms of concienens [conscience] Humility listens {to} with reverane [reverence] to the monitor within. and fianly [finally] Pride rejects the council of reason the voice of expereance the dictates of religion. and many seek for {relig} riches and honors of this life to {gratly} gratify the Pride of the heart {f} but when they have obtained it how doese it make many of them {apea} appear. Why it lifts them up
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[p. 17]
makes {many} them feel them {selves} themselfs above there fellow men. for when they meet them they cannot speak to them. they look upon them as some low beings, when perhapse they have a mind which is far in advance of theirs. While Humility with docile spirit thoughtfully receives instruction from all who address her in the garb of truth.