Corona High School - Coronal Yearbook (Corona, CA)

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“THOSE NEGROES” “Will you please ’scuse your presence from the room. Miss Marg ' ret,’’ asked Aunt Jane, coming into the den where Margaret sat reading. Margaret West was making her first visit to the South, having lived all her life in sunny California, where one rarely ever sees a negro, and she, there- fore, found them very interesting and amusing. “Of course I will,” she answered, laughingly, and picking up her book she went out on the porch, where her cousin was idly swinging to and fro in the hammock. There comes another man after work! Mother advertised in the papers, you know, for a hired man, and at least a dozen have answered. 1 think she has hired one now, though, Mary said as a negro man came up the drive-way and went around the house. “Listen, and we ' ll soon find out, I can hear them talking.” “No. I ' ve already hired one this morning; 1 guess you’ve come too late; I’m sorry, though.” “I proznozticate I have, Missis.” Proznozticate! laughed Margaret; they do coin such funny words.” Just then a carriage drove up to the house next door and a fine looking young man stepped out and turned to help his mother, a frail little woman, out of the carriage. Margaret picked up her book and began to read, but Mary smiled to them as they came slowly up the walk. “You might at least speak to them, Margaret,” said her cousin. “For my part, I think he’s awfully nice.” Well, then. I’ll let you have him, dear,” and Margaret began her story again. “You know very well, Margaret, honey, that he’d never look at me again after seeing you.” Oh, Aunt Jane is making some more of my kind of cookies. I smell them, and I am as hungry as a bear. I’m going to the kitchen to get me some, right away,” Margaret said, as she ran into the house. Uncle Mose, Aunt Jane’s husband, was just bringing in the fresh vegeta- bles for dinner as Margaret entered the kitchen. “Well, Miss Margaret, he said, “did you have a good time las’ night?” “I certainly did,” she answered, “one of the best times I ' ve had since I came.” “Well, he said, shaking his head, “I certainly does ’preciate that, 1 cer- tainly does, most as much as if I’d been there myself.” Margaret tried not to laugh, and said, Well, Uncle Mose, how are you feeling today? ” “Oh, jes’ tol’able, Miss, jes’ tol’able!” Page Nineteen

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With this determination, Ed finally went to sleep. But in the early morn- ing he awakened. It was raining, or probably he was dreaming. To make sure he went to the window and put his head out. He certainly was awake, for the rain fell in torrents and the lightning flashed. Shoes began to fly, the pillows took a turn around the room, lifeless coat and trousers became ani- mated and, Glory, Glory, Hallelujah rang through the room. It was raining, the tennis court would be drenched and no game could be played. It would have to be delayed a week, and in a week Ed felt he could make up a year s work. Why, I will study my head off, and play in that game too, he cried. “And won’t Marie be proud?” A surprised lot of teachers listened to Ed Mace’s daily recitations the next week and successfully passed them in an examination on the last month’s work. The evenings at Marie’s were now spent very differently from those before, for they pored over their books diligently, Marie explaining very clearly, although she was somewhat surprised at Ed’s sudden desire for knowledge. Friday came and Miss Brown congratulated Ed on the good work he had done through the week. “1 hope,” she said, “that you will do as good work in the future, Ed — but never mind, I am going to be at the game to- morrow and see you win for us.” “She really isn’t so bad after all, and pretty human, too,” thought Ed, as he joyously left the room. The next day Marie, resplendent in High School colors, was one of the first on the bleachers. And after the game was over, “the best game of the season, everyone said, she settled back in the seat saying to herself, “I knew it, 1 just knew all the time he would win.” E. F„ ' 14. Page High teen

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You don’t ever feel anything but tol’able, do you, Uncle Mose?” she asked. Oh, yes! I does, 1 have felt as good as I ever felt in my life, and then again I’ve felt as bad.” Margaret choked and tried to escape, but Aunt Jane stopped her by saying, Miss Margaret, that young man over there certainly’s intrested in you, he jus ben asken ’bout you.” And what did you say, Aunt Jane?” she asked. Oh, I done said you was alright s’ far as I knew, but I didn’t know very much ’bout you.” Why, Aunt Jane, I think you are real mean. You might have put in a good word for me and said something real nice about me,” Margaret said, trying not to smile. Mary, who had come into the dining room in time to hear the last of the conversation said, “Really, that was too good a joke, but you must be careful what you say to Aunt Jane, she takes everything you say in earnest.” Some time after this Margaret was out in the garden, when Aunt Jane, who had just come from making a visit from next door, came up to her and said, “1 done tol’ that young man something nice ’bout you this time, honey.” “What did you tell him?” she asked anxiously. It sure was nice, I done tol him you was jus crazy ’bout him.” Oh, you didn t really, did you? Why, you know it isn’t true, and now I 11 never be able to look him in the face. I hope 1 11 never have to meet him.” Jes’ look there, chile,” chuckled Aunt Jane. Margaret turned quickly to find the subject of their conversation stand- ing there smiling at her. Her first thought was to run, but he stopped her by saying politely, ‘1 beg your pardon for eavesdropping; it wasn’t intentional, and I hope in spite of the bad beginning that we will be the best of friends.” And they were. Although Margaret would never have believed it at the time there came a time when she could not deny what Aunt Jane had said about her. G. U., ’ I 6. Page Ticenty