Anson Academy - Anchor Yearbook (North Anson, ME)

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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

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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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MEN AT THEIR BEST Nearly every day you might hear some boy, either in school or out say, Women! I never saw anything that can compare with them. But do they ever stop to think that perhaps women feel the same about men. Take Teddy Briggs for instance. Whenever he's getting doll- el up to take his girl to dances, his con- versation might go something like this. Oh mom, run up the stairs and get my white shirt, please. Sis, will you shine my shoes a little? Do a good job be- cause at a dance everybody notices your shoes. It seems as if I'm a little behind in shaving. Sis has to stay in tonight for she had gone out through the week, and as she didn't get in until late she has to stay home Saturday night for her punish- ment. In a few minutes Mom and Sis have all Ted's articles of clothing pre- pared for him and he's nearly ready for the dance. Oh, not quite. His tie! Again he calls on mother. Oh, mom, would you mind going up stairs to get my necktie? It's on my bureau--the blue one. A moment later mom is back and Ted is at last almost ready to leave. He looks into his billfold only to find that he hasn't quite enough money, or dough as he calls it, for all the extra things he plans on. He waits a few minutes hoping Dad will come back from the neighbors so he can have some more money. F'if- teen minutes later dad comes and Ted gets his courage up and says, Oh, Dad, you couldn't spare me a couple of dol- lars to buy my girl some chocolates, could you? With a smile dad gives Ted the money and Ted, with a light heart and a happy anticipation, hops into the auto, steps on the starter, and drives out of the yard singing, Zip-a- dee-doo-da. With the help of the whole family he is off for an evening's enter- tainment. -Miriam Skillings'49 SISTERS Aren't sisters terrible! I think so, though at times I suppose they aren't quite so bad. If you ever happen to do anything that isn't just right, they always run Page 'I' wenty-F our home and start telling everything they know, and sometimes things they don't know. And are they pleased if you get the old Harry from your dad and mom!! Now if you don't believe me just ask some of the boys that have them, and I think you'll find they will agree with me. Without a doubt the girls won't, but it's true never-the-less. You may make an agreement with them, and then they will turn right around behind your back and tell yo-ur mom and dad. And a little later your parents will spring it on you when you least expect it. Of course you ask them from whom they found all that out, and they will say they just heard it. And I'll bet you will discover that it was your sister who had told on you. I think perhaps I had better quit and not tell any more because by now they are all probably ready and waiting to murder me. -William Paine '50 WHEN THE ACADEMY BELL RINGS ONCE MORE When the Academy bell rings once more, Let us pause in our tasks of the day, And think of the happy memories, The burning of our school took away. It happened one day in the winter: To save it we fought in the cold,' But, at last, we saw it was useless. Our hearts were full of sadness untold. We stood around and were silent As the last of our school burned away, There was naught we could do to prevent it, And we turned and went on our way. They plan to rebuild in the springtime, If nothing more should go wrong To open the doors of a building The Academy we've loved for so long. So let's open our hearts and our purses And help them to open the door. Forever we'll cherish its memory When the Academy bell rings once more. Amber Colby Skillings '24