There were examinations in all studies pursued during the year; and the commendable degree of faithfulness and zeal which has been the marked characteristic of the scholars, was evinced at the close.
The advanced grammar-class ended its lesson with the correction, on the black-board, of a letter by a colored candidate for office, recently published; the class gave rules for its criticisms and explanations.
An algebra-class was reported by a Southern lady of high intelligence, who had taught that branch for a number of years, as the best she ever heard, doing credit to any class or grade of scholars.
The exercises of the primary room, also, elicited much comment on the careful drill that had been bestowed in the endeavor to convey the spirit of study, and not alone the “letter” thereof, although the “Busy Bees” were not far in advance of that fundamental branch of education. They could readily grasp the _fact_, in the physiological lecture, of the different parts of the body, although their undeveloped articulation could only pronounce the arms and limbs as the “upper” and “lower ’strumties.”
A white gentleman of much educational experience, who has charge of an academy for young men, left his own duties to be present during the last day; and his final address to the pupils was pleasingly commendatory of their progress and attainments.
In his original and epigrammatic manner he told them to go ahead, and get beyond these lazy white boys, who liked to have so much done for them—for you can do it! He had tried to shame his boys before, by telling what the Emerson Institute scholars could do, and he surely could now. He concluded, urging them not to forget to bring, and the parents to send, the little tuition money which came due once in a while, and was so small a recompense for what they received.
A paper was read by two of the oldest scholars, entitled “Emerson Institute Ledger,” for which the subscription price was readily paid, which was announced to be “undivided attention, payable in advance.” Some members of the audience offered to pay for the paper if it could be regularly issued.
Addresses by ministers and others followed the examinations; the school sang “Gathering Home”; the circulars announcing the next year’s school-work were distributed; the hope was expressed of seeing the familiar faces again after these intervening months of vacation; the Lord’s Prayer chanted; the benediction; warm and tearful words of farewell between pupils and teachers, and the doors closed upon another year’s work.