Anson Academy - Anchor Yearbook (North Anson, ME)

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close behind. Frequently Mr. Simpson would shout in an attempt to locate Tom- my. They continued for a few minutes. By this time it was nearly pitch dark and the men had to use flashlights. Presently Tommy heard his father's shout but be- fore he could answer Laddie came bounding through the bushes. Tommy fell upon his knees and threw his arms around his pet's neck. When he looked up his father was standing over him. That evening, after both Tommy and Laddie had been fed a good big meal, the family gathered in the living room. Tommy played with his faithful dog while his parents happily looked on. Suddenly he sat up and said: Laddie is the most wonderful pal a person could ever have. Don't you think so? And his parents agreed. -Shirley Ann Viles '49 A TYPICAL MAINE LIAR A weary fisherman had stopped at Joe's camp and asked if he could put him up for the night. Joe had lived in the northern parts of Maine all his life and knew just how to treat these city slickers. Wall, Joe drawled, I don't know why yuh can't come in and make yerself tuh home. The visitor stepped in and set down his knapsack. Thar's a bunk in t'other part, go in and take a nap whilst I rustle up some grub. I guess I will, the stranger ans- wered. After he'd had a nap of about an hour the old woodsman got the stranger out of bed and gave him some stew. When he had finished his supper he shoved his chair back and said, Boy, that sure was swell, what was it? Beef? Son, the old woodsman said, you jez had a taste of one of the best gol dern stews in this part of America. It's a concoction of crows, skunks, wood- chucks, beavertails, porcupines and squirrel. The stranger turned white, gagged, and made a hurried exit. When the visitor returned he seemed much relieved and asked, Say, pop, what makes the tree tops so square? Page Twenty-Two Oh, that's where I cut muh wood in the winter time, yuh see the snow gets so deep we can't cut thuh hull tree so we cut as much as we can, the old trap- per said. I noticed an old graveyard when I was coming along here. This must have been quite a town, the stranger re- marked. Yep, the old man answered, Sun- cook used to be quite a town. Few men ever died of a natural death. What happened to them? the visi- tor gasped. Wall, there's old Pete, he used to make and sell booze for the river driv- ers. One night the drivers got a little out o' sorts with Pete and weuns found his body next day full of holes where the drivers knocked him down and trod on him with caulked boots. 'Nother guy got his when he was pushed off his front porch. The porch was on the edge of a three-hundred foot cliff. And there's ol' Zeb, he started up his fire one night and got blowed out through the side of his camp. Some kind hearted friend of his put a charge of dynamite in his stove. Then there are quite a few men that ducked out here because they were in1someone's way, the old man conclud- e . It-w-well-goodnight p-p-al. See you in the morning. When the old man woke up in the morning the stranger had gone. -James Farley '48 FIREFLIES I like to watch the fireflies on a clear, cool summer night. To see them flying to and fro is always my delight. On their little wings with lights aglow, They soar up high, then dart down low. They gather in groups with flashes bright, And add strange beauty to the night. They seem like fairies that dance in the air. With magic wands, and feet all bare. Nancy Fish '50

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THE MOST FAITHFUL PAL Tommy Simpson, a cute little eight year old boy, lived with his mother and father on a large dairy farm in Indiana. He had helped his father with the chores and fished in the bubbling streams but there was one thing he longed for more than anything else and that was a com- panion. He wished for someone to run and play with, someone to keep him com- pany. The nearest neighbor lived two miles from the Simpson home so they seldom visited there. In the meantime Tommy was terribly lonesome. One day he came in from outside and went into the kitchen where his mother was busy preparing the evening meal. He sat down in the little red stool his father had made for him when he was hardly more than a baby. He was silent for a minute and then he asked the question: Mother, will you and daddy buy me a dog? Why, yes, Tommy, said Mrs. Simp- son, of course we will. We were plan- ning to get one for your birthday in October but, if you would rather have it now we will get it for you the next time we go to the city. What kind of dog would you like? By this time Tommy was jumping up and down clapping his hands and shout- ing for joy. When he had calmed down enough to answer he stammered: I want a big, big Collie dog and I wan'na teach him a whole mess of tricks and he can go everywhere with me 'n every- thing. When can we go to the city, Mom- my? Can we go today? Can we, huh? His mother laughed and said they couldn't go for two or three days but they would go very soon. Two days later a very proud little boy was returning home from the city, for there in the back of the car with his head in Tommy's lap was a big beau- tiful collie dog. The next few weeks were packed full of fun. Tommy immediately named his dog Laddie. Laddie got just as much fun out of learning the tricks as Tommy did out of teaching them. They explored nearly every inch of the farm, went fish- ing and had jolly times together. Laddie never left Tommy's side. He even slept on a rug beside Tommy's bed every night. One nice afternoon in June Tommy decided he would like to go fishing. He had always been fishing within sight of the house before when he had been alone but there was a much better place about three-quarters of a mile away in the big pasture behind the barn. He had often been there with his father. He ran into the house and teased his mother to let him go. His mother soon consented trusting Laddie's watchful eye and faith- ful care. A half hour later found Tommy with a fishpole over his shoulder trudging along the lane leading to the pasture with Laddie trotting close at his heels. A fifteen minute walk brought them to the shady fishing spot with which they were well acquainted. Tommy seated himself upon the bank and dropped the line into the water He fished steadily for an hour with Laddie lying close by his side. The dog soon be- came tired of lying there, and without Tommy's knowing it got up and wander- ed around and soon started for home. Eventually Tommy had had enough of fishing. Also enough fish, so leaving his fish and pole on the bank he began hunting wild flowers for his mother. He had noticed Laddie's absence but think- ing the dog had gone home and believing he himself would be all right, he con- tinued picking flowers and without thought wandered further than he real- ized. He then discovered the sun was low in the west so he turned back but soon found he didn't know which way to go. He became frightened and wished llraddie were there to show him the way ome. Back at the farmhouse Mr. Simpson and the hired men had come in for sup- per. The sun was nearly down and Mrs. Simpson was worried. She went outside to see if Tommy were in sight and saw Laddie lying by the front steps. She re- ported this to her husband and he and the hired hands along with Laddie were at once on their way to find Tommyv. When they reached the fishing hole Mr. Simpson said: Go find Tommy, Lad- die. Go find Tommy. Laddie ran around in circles for a moment but soon picked up the sce'nt of Tommy's footsteps and started on the trail with Mr. Simpson and the other men Page Twenty-One

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THE SOLDIER'S FAREWELL This story takes place in a little town outside the city of New York. Donnie who was seventeen years old lived with his mother, an elderly lady. In order to tell this story I will have to go back to the time when Donnie was about eleven. Edward, Donnie's father, had always been a swell pal to his little boy. He took Donnie with him where ever he went, played games with him and helped him with his school work. The year Donnie was twelve his father was drafted into the Army. This just about broke Donnie's heart, but his mother was brave and tried to comfort him. After Edward left, Donnie took his place in trying to do the work around the house. This helped his mother very much. In the year that followed Donnie became more and more able to depend upon himself. For this his mother was very thankful. Donnie was seventeen when word came that his father had died in action. This great sorrow was very hard for both Donnie and his mother to bear. A week later Donnie told his mother he wanted to have a talk with her. He told her that he wanted very much to take his father's place in the Army. His mother broke down and cried, but this didn't change Donnie's mind. He enlisted and prepared to leave the following week. When the day ar- rived for Donnie to go, his mother did not cry. She just smiled, kissed him, and said, Farewell, soldier! -Alverna Livingston '49 MY MACHINE Listen, my children, and you shall hear Of the midnight ride of Slcilly, dear. Now my machine was a Model T, She hammered and thumped, but was a great help to me. There was only one seat, Just made for two,' But if you were walking We'd have found room for you. She was short on looks, But fall of vim. She was a great old boat, For the shape she was in. Merle Skillings '48 CHOOSING A CAREER The choice of a career is not easy because of the intricacy of the human personality. Even though it may be proved that a person is capable of doing a certain type of work, that doesn't mean that he will be happy doing it. The choice of a career depends upon a per- son's likes and dislikes as well as upon many other factors. Each individual must make his own choice of a career. No one can make it for him, although financial hardship and social pressure may make it imperative that he enter a certain field of work. The choice of a career should be an in- telligent one, based on fact and not on fancy. Stories and articles cannot al- ways be trusted to give accurate portay- als of what different types of work are like since they may create an atmosphere of false glamour. The individual should secure first hand information from those who have had experience in the field that he is considering. He should visit the places where such work is carried on that he may see for himself what it is like. The one in search of a career should attempt to visualize what his life would be like in a certain field of activity. He may desire the financial reward and so- cial prestige that attend a certain po- sition but he may not care for the work involved. He should do much medita- ting as to whether he would like a roving, a settled, an outdoor, or an in- door lifeg to deal with thoughts, objects, persons or things. The practical requirements of any career being considered should be care- fully studied because independent cap- ital or specialized education may be re- quisite factors. It is possible to earn a fair wage from the start in some occupa- tions whereas there is a long period of non--paying apprenticeship in others. Aibove all, the person attempting to select a career, should not make a de- cision without a great deal of premedi- tation respecting the factors which have been mentioned. It is most unwise to make a snap decision based on unsound judgment. -Hilda I. Walker '48 Page Twenty-three