The Choctaw Freedmen Part 36

"Plain to the eye and gracefully combined."

"The pen engraves for every art and indites for every press. It is the preservative of language, the business man's security, the poor boy's patron and the ready servant of mind."--Spencer.

Train: The hand to be graceful, steady, strong; The Eye to be alert and observing; The Memory to be accurate and retentive; The Heart to be tender, true and sympathetic.

Promptness. Promptness takes the drudgery out of an occupation. The decision of a moment often determines the destiny of years. Every moment lost affords an opportunity for misfortune. Punctuality is the soul of business, the mother of confidence and credit. Only those, who keep their time, can be trusted to keep their word. Tardiness is a disappointment and an interruption; a kind of falsehood and theft of time.

Vices. The four great vices of this age are Sabbath-breaking, gambling, intemperance and licentiousness. These must be fought all the time, like the great plagues that attack the body, tuberculosis, leprosy and small pox. The gospel will save any one from all of them; and some day it will sweep them from the earth, as they are now kept from heaven.

"A Sabbath well spent Brings a week of content, And strength for the toils of the morrow; But a Sabbath profaned, Whatso'er may be gained, Is a certain forerunner of sorrow."

To be a leader is a praiseworthy ambition. A leader is one who wins the confidence of the people so that they are willing to follow. Our Lord Jesus gave the secret of leadership, when he said: "Whosoever would be first among you, shall be servant of all;" and again, "The Son of Man came not be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

America. America is a land of opportunity, where the poor boy secures a home and later may partic.i.p.ate in the government. Most of those, who are managing the world's work to day, were poor boys yesterday. If you are in the school of adversity today, do not be discouraged, "thank G.o.d and take courage;" for you are merely on the same level with those, who by their energy and thrift, are making sure of success tomorrow. When Lord Beaconsfield became a member of Parliament, and the other members did not care to listen to his youthful speeches, he said to himself, "I am not a slave nor a captive; and by energy I can overcome great obstacles.

The time will come when you will hear me."

Books. "The first time I read an excellent book," said Goldsmith, "it is to me as if I had gained a new friend." "Books are the pillars of progress, the inspiration of mankind. They exert a wonderful influence and a mighty power, though silent," says John Knox in Ready Money, "in lifting up humanity and making progress possible." They enable the reader to converge and a.s.sociate with the n.o.blest and best minds. In them we have the thoughts and deeds, the experience and inspiration of all the great ones of earth.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FRUITS APPROVED AT OAK HILL IN 1912, FOR THE HOME ORCHARD IN SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA.

_Peaches:_ 1. Mamie Ross; 2. Waddell; 3. Alton; 4. Capt. Ede; 5. Carman; 6. _Early Elberta_; 7. Illinois; 8. Elberta Queen; 9. Belle of Georgia; 10. Champion; 11. Late Crawford; 12. Late Elberta.

_Apples:_ 13. d.u.c.h.ess; 14. Maiden Blush; 15. Wilson Red June; 16.

Delicious; 17. Jonathon; 18. Wolf River; 19. King David; 20. Stayman Wine Sap; 21. Ben Davis; 22. Mammoth Grimes Golden; 23. Black Ben; 24.

Champion; and, Missouri Pippin.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE FLAMES CONSUMING THE OLD FARM HOUSE, LOOKING NORTHEAST.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE BRIDGE OF LIFE.

The Bible elements of a good character: their two-fold foundation, and bond--the Sabbath.]

Good books, that breathe the best thoughts and experiences of others, are trusted friends, that bring instruction, entertainment and contentment to the home. As companions and counselors they supply a real want, that makes the home more than merely a place for food and raiment.

"Writing makes an exact man, talking makes a ready man, but reading makes him a full man,"--that is a man of intelligence. A man is known by the books he reads and the company he keeps. Let some of the world's best books find an inviting and permanent place in your home.

Books and voices make a glorious combination. No one can tell what good books and good voices may not do. The Word of G.o.d and the gospel of our Lord Jesus, have come to us in the form of a book, and we call it by way of pre-eminence, "The Bible," or Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. Our attention has been directed to them by the living voice.

Let your tongues proclaim the glad message of divine truth and redeeming love. The Holy Spirit will record the results in the Lamb's Book of Life.

Read and preserve the books.

WIT AND HUMOR

"Laugh, and grow fat."

"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine."

Aunt Dinah: "How long hab you dis set of dishes?"

Mother Hubbard: "Let me see; I've had 'em--four girls and a half."

Mike: "Do ye believe in the recall of judges, Pat?"

Pat: "That I do not. The last time I was up before his honor he sez: 'I recall that face.--Sixty days.' I'm agin the recall of judges." Life.

Bishop: "Well, Mr. Jones, how do you like your preacher?"

Deacon Jones: "He's de best I eber seed, to take de Bible apart; but he dun' no how to put it to gedder agen."

A Swede, that had not yet had time to learn our language was accused of throwing a stone through a plate gla.s.s window. When the lawyers failed to enable him to describe it's size the judge asked:

"Was it as big as my fist?"

"It ben bigger," the Swede replied.

"Was it as big as my two fists?"

"It ben bigger."

"Was it as big as my head?"

"It ben about as long, but not so thick," the Swede replied, amid the laughter of the court.

The German's trouble with the English language.

Visitor: "Those are two fine dogs you have."

Cobbler: "Yes und de funny part of it iss, dat de biggest dog is de leettlest one."

Cobbler's Wife: "You must mine husband egscuse; he shpeaks not very good English. He means de oldest dog is de youngest one."

x.x.xI

RULES, MOTTOES AND COURSE OF STUDY

WALL MOTTOES

I. OAK HILL MOTTO

Time is precious Time is money-- Do not stand idle, waiting, Do not keep others waiting, Do something useful.

Be a busy, silent worker, Shun the idle, noisy shirker.

II. RULE OF ORDER