Central High School - Mirror Yearbook (Birmingham, AL)

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The Bachelor Girls’ Camp Now for ibe simple life! Two solid weeks of rest and comfort! cried Maud jumping down from tile wagon seat. “Oh, won’t it he glorious! chatted Marion. “To think of the peace of mind! No trial balances to worry— “Nothing to think about but nature, not a single person to mar the land scape. interrupted Mabel. By this time all three had scrambled over the wheels to the ground- The fourth member of the party was a white-haired negro, who had been driv ing the mule. “Now. whar is all them things goin.’ ma'am. lie nodded toward the rear of tlie wagon which was full to overflowing. And ’specially, ma’am, this here ’mi. He’s a Icetle bit oneasv, ma.am. ’ “Bring Clincher out first. Uncle Mose. commanded Maud, and forthwith there appeared the squatty figure of a determined looking bulldog. Uncle Mose warily lifted him out. “Now for the tent. continued Maud as she began pulling it out. “Uncle Mose and I’ll put it up. Mabel, while you and Marion unpack the stools and dishes. Soon all were busily engaged and only Clincher had time to observe the surroundings. Yes. it was an ideal spot for a camp. The tent itself was being set up in a little clearing which was surrounded by a forest of tall oaks. About ten yards away there was a bub-ling spring and nearby a ledge of rock, an excellent place for a kitchen. Clincher at once explored this wing of the establishment . tasted the water and pronounced it quite to his liking. W hen he returned to the sleeping apartments, everything was ship-shape. I’he tent had spread itself over nearly the whole clearing and afforded ample quarters for the three girls. Inside there were three cots, three camp stools, a big goods box in the center for the table, and another on one side which was already piled up with brushes, combs and powder boxes. “Now dosen’t it look just perfectly scrumptious? exclaimed Maud survey ing the harmonized effect from the doorway. “Only. added Mabel over her shoul der. you might pull your cot a little nearer the bureau. Marion. That’s it, and put that yellow camp stool by the table instead of the blue one. Now that gives better symmetry and harmonizes the colors. Yes, it’s perfect now. “Well look, girls, there’s no wav to hang up the mirror. moaned Marion. “I’ll never get my collar pinned straight or the powder on smooth. What will we do? And she anxiously held up an irregular piece of broken looking glass. “It ought to be just so high. I know. cried Mable, “W e’ll take turn about holding it up for each other to dress by. “Well, what’s the use of it anyhow?” said Maud. “Who cares it our hair is in puffs and there’s not any man around to see if we even have on collars and powder. Uncle Mose. those arc the groceries, aren’t they? Well, just put the box over there, and put the dishes and pans right by it. That’s everything, you say? Now let me see, today’s Monday. Well, come next Monday and bring us some fresh bread and some cake. Don’t forget that two-pound box of chocolates. Uncle Mose,” came from Marion, who was still trying to arrange the mirror. “And don’t forget to ask Mrs. Brown to send my tube of sepia and my new brush that I left. added Mable. Yes’m,” said Uncle Mose, “I ’members an’ I’ll be hyar nex’ Monday. 18

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Ole Marse John’s Spook “W’ellum, ef vo’ is jes‘ gwiner lib in dal house anahow, all right, hut I'se gwiner tell vo' bout tie carryinons de’s had dcre fcr de las' two yeahs. Ole Marse been dade two yeahs las’ November. an'when he died I jes knowed sumpin wer' gwiner happen ca'se he died on er Friday, Fr long erbout dark dat ebenin' I beared er screech-owl holler an to’ I could git dc poker in de fine he wer' dead. Arter Ole Marse died Ole Miss low I gotter come up an' sleep in de big house fcr company. I done hab some moighty |uare feelins' ’bout sleepin’ in dat house, but didn say mullin', ca'se 1 knowed Ole Miss ud jes laugh an say ‘go way frum lieah wi l vo' foolishness. Huldah. “Wellum, when Ole Marse done been dade nearbout er yeah an’ I ain't seen nothin' ob de spook 1 'low he ain't got none. But when de night conic when he done been dead a yeah hit sho’ wer col' an’ dark an’ rainin' outside. I jes couldn't go ter sleep dat night ter tryin’ ter fergit what wer’ on my mine. Vel-luni. 1 reckins 1 wer' speckin' sumpin ter happen ca’se when 1 beared er big commotion out on de fron' po’ch hit didn’ s’prise me er bit. Hit sounded jes lak somebody wer’ draggin’ er great long chain ovah de po’ch. 1 wer hopin' he coulden git in ca’se I been moighty kcerful ter lock dat fron’ doo’ an' put de key undali de mat. But dat ole spook open de doo’ an' come right on down de hall still draggin' de chains. How did he look? Miss, 1 didn keer how he look jes so he didn tech me. But as fer as I kin rekermember he wer tall an’ white wid erbout er mile er chain. lie jes' kep' right on down dc hall an' up de stairs. Arter he done staid up dere so pow'ful long time he come back down, went out de fron' doo’ an slict an’ locked hit: yes. maam, he sho’ did, ca’se I beared 'im lock hit. “When T tole Ole Miss erbout hit she say 1 wer jes’ dreamin’. Anahow we ain’ beared mullin' ob dat ole spook till de same night ob de nex’ yeah. I made Ole Miss set up wid me. I wer near-erbaut ’sleep when 1 beared 'im make er noise jes' lak he did befoh! Ole Miss wanted ter go see wliut 'twas. but I wouldn’t let her, ca’se I ivus scade ter stay by myse’f wid dat ole spook eround. When he see we was settin’ up fer him wid er lamp he rattle he chains an’ leave. Ole Miss say er long time arter dat dat hit wer some ob deni boys, but I knows bettah. No, Ma-am. vo' don’ ketch me eround dere. 1 done low when Ole Miss died 1 wer gwiner stay way frum dere, an' I sho’ is ” Malcolm McArver. 13.

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The old man climbed up on the driver's seat, clucked t«» his mule and slowly wound his way out of the woods. The three twirls stood in front of the tent watching him disappear, and the responsibilities of Clincher, the protector. began. ‘‘Good-bye. I’ncle Mosc. good-bye to the world!” said Maud gaily- “No more stupid little children to upset my nerves, no more cross, exacting business men to distract Marion, no more sordid humanity to disgust Mable. We'll d just as we please. I'm going to be as silly and carefree as possible. Marion, you are to read all the novels and make all the jabots you like. And Mable is to just drink in the beauties of nature.” “Say. I'm hungry. Do you know, it is five o'clock! exclaimed Marion, clos ing her book and stretching out full length on the moss. Mable did not re ply for a second. She was sketching the vista of oaks before her and finished her line before speaking. “Well. I guess it is time to eat supper. 1 wonder where Maud is. Let's go to the tent, maybe she's there. As they neared the clearing a most horrible odor was wafted to them. “What is she doing? Maud was poking the fire in her rock fireplace, and near by was a skillet smoking atrociously and emitting the fragrance of burnt beans- “Oh. girls. I’ve burnt up a whole can of beans and they're black all through, and I broke that only glass tumbler. Mable. that you insisted on bringing, and f spilled half a box of matches in the spring, and 1 don't know whether it’ll poison us or not. and Clincher has been nosing all over the rock where I set the table and I just couldn’t drive him away, and I’m so hot and tired I don’t want a bite of supper. Maud’s flushed face and plaintive voice were really pitiful. Mable and Marion set to work picking the wet matches out of the spring. It was quite late when they felt sure that it was clean but they dared not drink out of it until morning. “And I’m so thirsty. sighed Maud. I know.’’ said Marion cheerfully. “Wc‘11 open a can of peas. There's lots of juice in a can and we can drink that instead. We’ve got salmon and crackers and some of Mrs. Brown’s tarts. Let’s get busy, for I’m ’most starved. The sight of something liquid and cold restored Maud's appetite and they continued to eat until darkness forced them to stop. Then loaded down with dishes they returned to the tent. “What a beautiful night.’’ whispered Maud, enraptured. “I must sketch a scene where the moon peeps through like that. It is charming. “I am going to bed. children. announced Maud, and you will do well to act likewise. “Don’t forget. Maud that you are no longer in the schoolroom, but we will obey you this time. They lit the candle on the table and amid much merriment they undressed. Soon the candle was blown out and all became quiet. A quarter of an hour passed and then Marion suddenly sat up in bed- “Mable. 1 wonder where Clincher is. “I don’t know. came a sleepy reply. “Well. I don’t think he followed us up after supper and I’m going to call him. She put on her slippers and went to the door. She called and whistled but all in vain. “I give it up. she said at last. “But I’m going to fasten this flap mighty tight. “Where's the pistol, anvwav? asked Mable. “I declare. laughed Marion. “I'd forgotten we had one. It’s in the box of clothes. I'll get it. A few minutes later she crawled upon her cot, fearfully clutching the little weapon. “Did you ever shoot a pistol. Marion? asked Mable. “No. did you? “No. I couldn’t hit a house. I don’t know how to aim the thing even. “We'll have to wake up Maud. then. I guess she can work it.” But to wake Maud was a difficult task and more than they bargained for. “What good would it do after all. she sleeps so soundly that she’d never