The following essay, in form of a vale
dictory address, was written and delivered
at the closing of the late term of Platte
ville Academy by Matthew M. Miller,
a student in the Graduating class. His
[parents reside at Galena. His age id or
[l7. In appearance, he is loose jointed,
moves with a swing or careless swagger,
indicating indifference about his person or
want of pride; in conduct he is mild, firm
and earnest; in demeanor he is boll and
wears an open countenance. Mentally,
physically and in practice he is a perfect
embodiment of the principles taught in
his essay. The reader needs not be told
that evangelical religion has a deep and
and firm root in the heart of Matthew.—
On hearing the essay delivered, we were
so much pleased that we solicited a copy
for publication and now have the pleasure
of presenting it, except the closing part
which is deemed of less importance being
addressed to the teachers and fellow stu
dents :
M:.< is placed in this world an individ
ual to obtain for himself if he wishes, hap
piness, wealth, station, and character, and
also to obtain his own peaee wiih God, !>v
himself, for himself. Individuality in re
gard to character, is my subject. If a
man intended to build himself a house he
would waul a plan. The characters which
' those of us who are entering on the voyage
lof life are forming, are to be tho houses
'for our souls, and it remains for us to say
how high, how deep, and how broad the
| foundation for these houses are to be build
[ed; for we know that if we lay a broad
foundation, we may build a broad charac
ter, or if we build a narrow contracted
foundation, as a natural consequence our
houses must be contracted.
