Central High School - Mirror Yearbook (Birmingham, AL)

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VIVIAN SLATON IRENE WALOHORST WTLLOW TREES. Between red clay banks that slope and slide. The red brown waters crawl and drawl. Under a pale, green arch that droops and hides. Within its wondrous hue, the rise and fall Of thoughts that pass within the winds, For with each light moving of the breeze. The dreams of nature stir and wind Themselves among the low, o’erhanging willow trees. So as the sun goes down and shadows glide. From round the trees and stalks of weeds. The muddy waters still sweep and slide. Beneath bent willows, heavy with seeds Of sleep, that hide within the leaves. All day rocked by the ever-waking breeze. At dark they stir and and float from the leaves. Bearing in dreams they hold, the stir of willow trees. —I. M. W. 2 7

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the rail into the boat below, for it had not stopped on its descent into the water. Larry stood there trembling, thinking of what he had done, when he suddenly became conscious of something in his hand. He looked quickly and to fiis astonishment he found a tiny handkerchief. He looked at it for a moment and a big tear filled his eye and rolled down his cheek, splashing on his hand. Aw! Look at me!” he exclaimed, and hastily thrust the bit of linen into his bosom. Several loud explosions rent the air, mingled with the screaming and wailing of those on board. The boilers have exploded,” he overheard the captain on the bridge say. Then the ship plunged forward, and then to the side. Looking around he saw a life belt hanging on a rack. Tying himself in this he prepared for his watery grave. Terrifying cries arose from the steerage where a thousand immigrants were huddled'together. 'Hu icy water had mercy on none. Larry looked to the starboard, and there off in the gloom he sighted an immense mountain of ice. gleaming vividly in the light of the distress signal rockets. This imposing picture vanished, as the ship settled deeper and deeper, more cries of distress floated out on the chilly morning air. The next moment the ship plunged forward. An immense wave broke over it. tearing Larrv away from the guard railing and carrying him far out into the iev water. 'I he life preserver buoyed him up. As he floated about, he saw the ill-fated Titanic plunge forward again. This time she broke amidship. The bow swung under and out of sight, leaving the stern standing alone. In another moment and with a great rush of water, that too, sank from view, carrying with it over sixteen hundred souls. Larry felt himself swung around and around in the great whirling eddy caused by the sinking ship. Once his stinging fingers came in contact with a box. ith a vice-like grip he clutched it, endeavoring to gain control of himself. Around and around they went. Gradually they slackened and slowly rose to the surface, and in a minute lie was seated on the top of a large wine case, which had been washed out of the ship by the rush of the waves. He heard a feeble shout and looking out into the great darkness he saw a man battling with the waves. It was a great risk to put two people on the box, but Larry dared it in the presence of death. So he helped him on and with the aid of a broken spar they pushed farther away. In the freezing water Larry soon became numb and would have frozen bad not the man beat him and rubbed him. Just how many hours he and his companion remained on the wine case lie could not tell, for he had lost consciousness and when he came to himself, he was wrapped in hot blankets. He opened his eyes slightly and gave a start. There bending over him were two deep blue eyes gazing straight into bis. He looked again. It was the same pair of eves which had looked into his on that tragic night, so long ago( ?) — 0 when!—how long ago was it?” he asked himself. He could not remember just when it happened, but he did remember the face of the girl to whom he had given his place in the life boat. She read his thoughts and smiling whispered to him to rest. He did so. clasping her hands in his. —Russell Moore. ’15. 2fi

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OLE BLACK JOE AN’ THE MULE. Git up lerc. you lazy ole mule. An’ don't stan dere lookin' like a fool. An' don't you wiggle deni years at me ’Cause dis here whip can sting like a bee. Dis ole haid am turnin' gray. An' here's a mortgage 1 mils pay. An’ you, ole mule, will leave me soon F.f we don't work bv the light of the moon. Dese ain’t the days of the ole plantation When we wus the happiest things in creation. When you wus jes' a lil colt An' on your back I tried to bolt. An' you did roll an’ kick an' jump. An’ bust my haid up 'ginst the pump. Mos’ folks think dat it’s a joke. ’Cause a nigger’s haid ain nc er been broke. 1 wish you'd hurry up a lil . An’ git these things to Massa Bill An dogged if it wouldn't be jes’ our luck For him to get a motor truck. Now ef you wants good corn an' hav. You kaint stan' roun the whole long day. So 1 wish you’d burn up a lil'. An’ git these things to Massa Bill —Solomon Garden. 13. A REVERIE. I close my eyes and wistfully dream Of a winding road by a winding stream Gilded bv the sunset gleam: And of willows that droop by the water side. And the tall, stern oaks in majestic pride. And the whisp'ring elms and the poplars gray To the old warped mill with its rotting beams. And others that shade the lovely way That guards the silvery, singing stream. (O, the lilting melody of the stream of my dream!) There are cool gray rocks and the old mill wheel, And the pond above: and I seem to feel The soft, damp mist of the water-fall. And the rushing thrill of the water's call: f (O, the deep, sweet mystery of it all, the water s call.) 28