Curiously enough, there were no eighth-grade pupils present.  These were assembled in Room 1, on the floor below, seated behind the desks that had been theirs during the school year.

“Young ladies and gentlemen,” began Old Dut, rapping on his desk and rising.  As he looked about there was a curious expression on his face, and some water in his twinkling eyes.

“I am going to take occasion to say the last few words that I shall have a chance to say to you confidentially and in private,” continued the principal.  “I am conscious that I am taking one of my last looks at you all as my pupils.  I might call this the dying class, if it were not for the fact that, for most of you, to-day will be the real birth.  You will go forth into the world to-day, the larger portion of you.  You will leave school behind and tackle the world as budding men and women.  You will begin soon to grapple with the work, the problems, the toil—–­the tears and the joys that come with the beginnings of grown-up life.  Those of you who are to be favored with a chance to go further in your education, and who will be schoolboys and schoolgirls yet a while, I most sincerely congratulate.  For those who, on the other hand, will step straight from Exhibition Hall into the world of work—–­aye, and the world of deeds and triumphs, too—–­I bid you to be of good cheer and courage!

“Be bold, true and loyal!  If you have any wonder, any misgivings as to what the world and life may have in store for you, I tell you that these are questions that you will decide mainly for yourselves.  It’s the hardest thing in this universe to down any man or woman who faces grown-up life with a good and honest claim on the good things of existence.  Yet on this subject one word more.  Uprightness of heart, of word and deed are not alone sufficient.  There is one more great quality that you must link with general honesty and loyalty.  Castle Great cannot be stormed except by those who move forward with backbone—–­Courage!  Be bold, steadfast, unwavering.  Never lose anything that you justly want through fear that you can’t get it.  Go after it!  The soldier is the type of courage and a good one.  Yet you don’t find more than one of our soldiers of life in a military uniform.  There are soldiers, boys, in every crowd that you mingle with on the street.  Be one of them yourselves!

“Boys, be brave, but be gentle.  Remember that the bravest men are gentle as any woman.  As a soldier proves his courage by his conquests, so must you prove your courage, if you have any to show, by your achievements in the life that starts to-morrow for most of you.  Honor and courage!  Together they will carry you to lofty heights.  If you fail, then reflect that you don’t possess these two qualities of manhood.  Get these qualities—–­at no matter what cost—–­and start out again to victory.

“Girls, be women.  Stop and think what it means to be women.  All the sweetest, truest and gentlest attributes of the human race.  Be women, every minute of your lives, and you will have reached heights where not even the most soldierly boys may follow you.  Be women, and the men of our race will reverence and honor you.