East Liverpool High School - Keramos Yearbook (East Liverpool, OH)

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Km-amnn 15 as the window was open was very easily raised up and let down again. There is an attic to the school house and one after- noon we heard a peculiar sound proceed- ing from some where above, but especially loud near the stovepipe. Instantly several cried out, ghost, ghost Those who have had anything to do with children, who have been frightened by being told ghost stories will appreciate the position I was in, for it is very hard to quiet chil- dren frightened that way. The sounds seemed to become louder and finally in order to solve the difliculty a recess was taken, and I proceeded to explore the old attic. Nothing was found except a few old nests made by the poor school mice. Calling the children together, for the noise had ceased, we began again. Soon the noise was heard again and this time I removed the stove pipe. It was a small bird which had happened to get lost, while building a nest in the top of the chimney and having gotten beyond the flue could not get out again. But the school house was a sight, and I more so. A vacation was had for the rest of the day and several weeks later one of the boys, who had been so very mischievous, told me that he had put the bird in the stove just before school began. Fortu- natelyl did not know the guilty one, after I had put the stove pipe back. Autumn passed with its beautiful days and cool evenings. Sometimes a party would be held in the home of one of the scholars. The boys and gitls would gather early at the school house and go in a crowd to the house of the surprised one. The moon shining brightly, shedding its mellowest rays, the whip-poor-will calling in the distance, the owl on the top of some old dead tree, all linger in my memory. I see the children in their games, hear the music of some one's mouth organ as he played for the dancing or the music of the fiddle and banjo, for these children 'loved music. I would see some of the older boys and girls slip away from the noise of the party and in some secluded spot speak words to each other which brought blushes to their cheeks as they slipped back ina few minutes to look after the smaller children. At last the party broke up and all went home feeling that they had had a fine time. So Autumn slip- ped by and Winter came. Winter days marked a decrease in at- tendance but not in school lessons or in preparing for the country spelling bee, which was soon to be held. Great prep- arations were made for it, for all the people of the nearby villages would be present. The time came and passed. Highest honors were won by a very beautiful girl of our school. Of course we were all proud of the fact and determined never to be beaten by any other school in future years. The days were filled with snowball lights. many times were the fights of Bunker Hill re-enactedg then there were sleigh rides and sled rides down the nearby hill and skating on the creek near- by for all. Happy were those days for all of us, even the older people entered into the children's sports. But all things must pass, away so the days of cold winter went by and spring came bringing its flowers and-the days of parting for us all, for with them I might banish severity and be kind only, telling them of my bur- dens, my sorrows and my cares, knowing that I should always find sympathy where there was love. If lessons of love and trust were taught more by the teachers of today, children would appreciate more the lessons of knowledge. Some of the chil- dren were leaving school as early as April that they might workin the fields for their parents, while two of the older ones were

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14 lieramnn gum was sticking to a seat. The walls had a few pictures upon them, but more marks, scratches and figures of men and women Cperhaps teachers who had pre- ceded mel in grotesque forms. The hour for school had arrived and with beating heart I rang the large bell which hung in the red belfry. Soon the children began to enter and by the time school opened about sixty had come. There were tall boys and girls of perhaps 19 years, down to little chaps of 4 or 5 years. After the opening exercises I be- gan to take their names. I wondered if I would ever have any difficulty with those older ones, who were much taller than I, but Idid not begin to cross my bridges until I came to them. I found that most of the older ones had come for the pur- pose of learning what they could, for they never were able to remain in the school all the spring season because of the farm work. These people were very industrious and before many days I discovered that many of the older boys and girls knew thoroughly the last year's work, which was lessons from ninth grade work, but were willing to still go, if perhaps they might learn something new. The weeks passed by happily for teacher and scholars without many storm clouds. Now and then a smaller boy or girl would become mischievous and would have to be reproved, but on the whole they were very good children. What a contrast, teaching the a b c's to the little children and teach- ing the A B Cis of life to the older ones, for we taught and learned more than that which was in the text books. We learned valuable lessons from Nature, from human nature and from the Book of God. When the lessons of the day were over we would Stay a short time talking about some flower, or bird, or method of construction of a bird's nest and many other things. Sometimes I found myself listening to an interesting discussion of some object of Nature, while he who was speaking could not give a fair recitation in Arithmetic. Thus the lessons of life were learned. Then there were the amusing incidents which happened. One evening the boys climbed to the roof of the school house and poured a large amount of black pepper down the chimney. When the fire was made in the morning a very offensive odor arose, but as the janitor and I were the only persons there, nothing serious happened. Not unfrequently a dog or cat would come to school with the boys and girls, and if they knew how to be good were generally allowed to remain. One day a small lamb followed Mary to school, but had to play on the campus until schoal was out. Sometimes the boys would bring an owl to the school and hide it in their desk. Suddenly a cry would be heard and a shout would go through the school room and a hunt would be started. Finally the owl would be found and the offender punished. Sometimes I would catch some of the boys nibbling at an apple or some other kind of fruit. One day during the recita- tion period for a small class of children, a little girl hurried from class and going to her lunch basket, took a piece of bread and ate it before the entire school. Who could be severe? I was not, but asked that it might not be repeated. One day we were all very much surprised to see the skeleton of the head of an ox rising slowly in front of a prominent window of the school. Some of the younger children were frightened and began to cry. Con- soling them and discovering the source of the trouble was but the work of a moment, for I noticed a string being drawn along on the floor by one of the larger boys. This string was attached to the head and

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16 lfrramnz married. A very touching incident hap- pened in those days of spring, which took my mind back to the days of my early manhood. I noticed not unfrequently pretty blue-eyed Nellie, with her long curls, slipping out into the woods at the noon hour, or anytime before school began, with good, honest Jack. Often I would see them together, and always so happy. One day, three weeks before the close of school I missed Nellie from her accus- tomed place and upon inquiring at her home found that she was very ill of fever. I spent as much time as I could with her and her family until the end came, for when I first saw her lying upon her sick bed I knew she could not recover. Heart- broken Jack told me that they were to have united their lives together in a few more days had she lived, but God knew best and I consoled him as best I could, remembering my past. And now my story is ending and asl look backward over all these years, mem- ory must paint the last picture. The last day of school had passed yesterday and tonight a farewell meeting will be given the school teacher in the old school house, which was so dear to him. For the last time just as the moon was rising I rang the old bell. Quickly from hidden nooks the children and their parents assembled. I remember those faces yet and the kind- ness of their speeches as they bade me farewell. But some had said their fare- wells before. Soon they shall bid me welcome in the better land. My health had been restored and I could enter upon my calling in life and would return to them no more. I wonder when I shall see them all again, and I know some have said their last lessons of life and only the ring- ing of the bell of eternity shall call them to the greater lesson of the eternal tomor- row. And now my dream is only of the past, then it was of the future, but future did not bring me always what I had dreamed of and longed for but I learned as never before the lessons of kindness. Who knows what dream is brightest, And what is the best? For sorrow and joy are mingled, But only the end is rest. -CHARLES DURBIN, '11 .AFJFJJ When Betty Went to College CHAPTER IV ETTY sank weakly into a chair as Louise opened the door, Oh Lou- - H n - - lm: V le. lS6, she gasped, my oration IS gone. Are you sure ? asked Louise. I am certain I saw it last night in your drawer. It isn't there now, said Betty mechan- ically pulling the drawer open and tossing its contents about in utter disregard of order. I've looked through everything. Let's see. Louise energetically set to work and for the next half hour very little was said but much thinking was done. But what shall I do ? asked Betty when they had ended their fruitless search. Next week is vacation and there is only one week after that. Let me think said Louise slowly. Don't you remember most of it so that you could write it out again ? Yes, said Betty doubtfully, but when shall I learn it ?