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

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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 ?

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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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ilbrunwa 19 The johntub Adventure and how to enJoy them nothing OR THOSE who know its pleasures can surpass a clear easy going river forfgrecreation during the long hot days of summer. To find a huge, flat rock 10'x30', with from 15' to 20' of cool water on the upstream side is indeed discovering a swimmer's paradise. There in the hot afternoons of mid-summer, with alternately a swim and a bask in the sun, one can almost dream the dreams of the ancient Lotus Eaters or see the vis- ions of the opium fiend. The pleasure of the afternoon swim though is short lived. If you would get the real beneiicial pleas- ure of a swim, you must take it after the sun goes down, and let it be only a few good dives, with quick action while in the water. Come out promptly, dress quickly, and then you are ready for anythingg Jack Johnson, a six-foot running high, or to throw the hammer from the Stadium of Athensinto the creek beyond it. To him who does not swim there is always offered the pleasure of a quiet row in the cool evening, watching the shadows of the hills as they lengthen out, constantly be- coming denser and darker, and listening to the lonely chorus of the frogs along the shore while the evening gradually deepens into the night. Then suddenly the golden moon faintly lights the East and slowly mounts to her solitary station ever grow- ing smaller and exchanging her gold for silver till the dome of the heavens is reached, and the night resembles a blush- ing rose in all its beauty, fragrance and splendor. It was no wonder then that with all these allurements, and a boy's narural fondness for the water, we decided to buy our own boat and have the pleasure of 3. ,,. Y using it at any time, or at all times if we chose, on that best of streams, the Ohio. Ribbons and Jarve discovered it, and Peeks, Bass and myself agreeing to the bargain came around with the cash and the deal was closed. That was early last Spring. The boat, which we christened the Johntub for. want of a better name, was a sixteen footer with a flat bottom and straight sides. She was made of white pine, was very light and drew only M when empty, though she looked awkward, heavy and slow-going. We kept her the whole summer and always had a large stone, with a chain around it attached to the stern, so that when the water was not too swift we could anchor in a 10' or 15' depth of water for divers reasons. As Autumn drew near, however, it became more and more of a puzzle to us as to how we were going to get rid of our boat profitably, for we did not want to keep it over winter and neither did anyone else. This matter, however, was finally settled for us, to our loss, and the manner in which it was settled is my story. We had about decided to turn the boat loose, but we also decided that we must have a farewell swim in her. The river, swollen with the fall rains, was at a good boating stage, and boats, both packets and tows were going both ways, as many of the empty tows had been checked by the last rapid fall of the river, and were now rushing steam in order to reach Pittsburg and return to Cincinnati with a full load of coal before another fall of the river. The barges being empty lifted themselves a good six feet out of the water, which, with the force of a strong current, ran swiftly to meet them. - 1 It was necessary to take our swim after v