I thought I had posted this before, but I just did a search in the Archives and didn't find it. If this is the second time around, I apologize. Laura (If you don't enjoy the ornate prose of 19th century letters to the editor, skip to the report from the schoolteacher.) This article appeared in the FREDERICKSBURG DAILY STAR on 29 March 1882 (p. 3, col. 3). Title: "Letter from Garrisonville" Stafford County, March 24, 1882. Corr. of the Star. A superficial thinker might suppose that, out here in old Stafford, this bleak weather, with the March winds whistling through the budding orchards, and the cold rains chilling the early potatoes in their hills, and cutting off all hope of green peas for Whitsuntide, we have few interests over and above the ordinary concerns of common everyday life and labor. A mistake, my friends, and a grave one! We are not a comatose people, by any means, although we live in the very heart of the old Virginia pine-hills. On the contrary, we are excessively wide awake; our eyes and ears both well open; and keenly alive to every change in the outside world; whether it be in the shape of bonnets, and the extent of crinoline; or in the rise and fall of political dynasties. We have our social pleasures, too; on a small scale, I was about to say, but I’ll take it back, and say on a medium one; for, to tell the truth, we do not care to confess ourselves small in anything. A tree is judged by its fruits; a man by his deeds; and a neighborhood by the status of its educational institutions. And this last remark brings us right down to the point in question. On last Wednesday, the 23rd ultimo, at Ebenezer Seminary, the annual examination, and closing exercises of the public school, for this half term, took place. En parenthesis, it is a pity we cannot have a whole term. We deserve it, and the rising generation needs it, and we trust our great men, who sit in high places, will look to the matter. However, half a loaf is always better than no loaf at all; and Mr. Randall, our competent and enterprising young teacher, is endowed with that rare and most admirable faculty, which enables a man to make the most and the best of limited advantages. The closing exercises were highly interesting, and the children did their faithful teacher great credit; acquitting themselves so well in all their studies, that the superintendent, a scholar of the old regime, declared himself well pleased and highly entertained. A self-made man is always progressive; and Mr. Randall, pushing constantly ahead himself, with giant strides, carries his pupils wi! th him at a pace that is quite astonishing. His school comprises all ages, sexes, and sizes. Young men with tall heads far above their faithful teacher’s, and little chits who have to be mounted on benches, to enable them to write their names on the black-board. The day was a chequered one as to weather, made up of storms and sunshine, and seasoned in doors with that charming variety, which is the spice of life. Among other pleasant and amusing events, was a little incident which struck me as being somewhat prophetic. A little fellow, more intent upon fun and frolic than his books, was called up by his teacher, and asked to write his name. He dashed it off in flowing style, beginning with the prefix, "Hon.", to the amusement of every one present. In the midst of the laughter the thought struck me that the little fellow’s funning act might be looked upon in the light of a prophecy. Who can tell, but this same urchin, who prefixed the "Hon." to his name to raise a laugh am! ongst his school-fellows; or some other boy, perhaps, from Ebenezer Seminary, may win and wear the "Hon." in the coming future, as the well-earned reward of noble deeds. Who knows, but their faithful teacher, laboring now so faithfully and unselfishly, sowing the good seed which must in time yield their harvest grain; who knows, but in the years to come, he may go up to the city of magnates, to hear some of these self-same boys, now keeping such an uproar about his ears in the little country school house, make a noise on the floors of the National Capitol? Stranger things have happened. -- A Rural Scribe. A REPORT FROM EBENEZER SCHOOL, 1882 This article appeared in the FREDERICKSBURG DAILY STAR on 29 March 1882 (p. 3, col. 2). Title: "Ebenezer Seminary" Garrisonville, Stafford Co., Va. Mr. Editor: I closed the Ebenezer school (No. 1), of Aquia district, on March 22d. The patrons turned out with good things to eat without stint. The pupils passed a rigid examination answering every question without a single exception. The day passed off quietly, and every one seemed to enjoy himself. Many of the parents are very desirous that I should teach the remainder of the scholastic year in a private school, but for the present I am otherwise engaged. Sorry that I cannot continue, for I glory in teaching. The following is a list of names of my best orthography pupils, and the number of words each missed during the term. I had a method by which every word in every lesson was examined, for every word was written upon slates -- each pupil writing every word: [Transcriber’s note: Rather than attempt to reproduce columns here, I am listing the names as given, then the number of words spelled and the number of words misspelled by each student. I have done the best I could with numerals and letters that were sometimes hard to decipher.] T. J. Waller 2160, 25 J. W. Waller 1800, 43 F. M. Embrey 2520, 47 N. P. Jones 3015, 1 G. H. Jones 2925, 51 E. F. Jones 1440, 81 M. M. Embrey 1935, 57 V. G. Garrison 2700, 77 R. E. Gill 1395, 39 W. S. Gill 1575, 35 C. F. Norman 2205, 35 M. Musselman 180, 9 O. Bridwell 1080, 98 W. Bridwell 900, 83 W. Honey 2340, 39 W. Carter 1359, 31 M. Brammel 1485, 23 T. West 1665, 8 R. L. Embrey 2340, 38 E. S. Evans 900, 21 J. R. Evans 900, 24 E. M. Honey 1190, 63 O. M. Maxfield 865, 69 S. Evans 675, 10 [signed] E. M. R. [the schoolteacher, Mr. Randall]