Johnstown High School - Spectator Yearbook (Johnstown, PA)

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sPEcTA'roR 4 13 eyes, and he inwardly resolved to reform, to show the world what he could do, to make a man of himself. Saloons and jails had seen him for the last time. The very next morning he would go and hunt work. He almost shuddered now when he realized what a worthless, good-for-nothing sort of existence he had led. Walking noiselessly over to the win- dow, he went out the way he had entered, quietly descended the steps, and started slowly down the street. Watcha doin' here? he heard in a gruff voice, accom- panied by a touch on the shoulder, and looking round he en- countered a blue-coat glaring at him suspiciously. Why, er-why, I was just goin' home. just been fer a little call in dere, don't ye know? Wall, I guess you kin just come along wit me. There's been too many robberies in this neighborhood lately to have any 'callers' like you hangin' around at this time 0' night. You can come on, an' we'll hear you tell about your call in the morningf' wr ak wr Pk Thirty days, said the judge. And thus began the reformation of Shorty. A Yellow Streak James Piper '16 'S'matter there, big Freshman, that you don't come out for football? Got a yellow streak? asked the captain of the Chester High football team. This was addressed to a tall, muscular young man who was leaning against a tree while he adjusted his books under his arm. Jimmie Worth grinned at this onslaught, then turned, and walked across the street. Coach Winters of the Chester team had already had his boys in the field for five days, and was scraping up all the material he could find. james Worth, the so-called big Freshman, had not yet volunteered and all candidates

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12 SPECTATOR minutes ago and left that umbrella hanging there? You- still, you hardly look like- But he found he was talking to space, for Shorty had vanished and left the umbrella behind. 'Tain't no use A cop won't even look at me tonight, he muttered, as he once more pursued his way down the bril- liantly lighted street. I'm hoodooed, datis a cinch. He wandered aimlessly along. The streets became less brightly lighted. and he found himself in the residential sec- tion of town. It was not far from mid-night by now, and Shorty decided to make one more attempt to secure his win- ter's lodging-place before retiring for the night. He looked about and found himself standing in front of a large house, in which no lights were visible and which was partially screened from the street by two large trees. 'Shorty walked quietly up the steps, across the veranda, and he espied two large windows, one of which he found to be unlocked, and through which he easily forced an entrance. The interior of the house was quite darkg and Shorty was about to start to explore it, when suddenly he paused. From somewhere 'in- side the house there came to him the voice of a woman sing- ing a melody which was, somehow, strangely familiar. As he stopped to listen more closely he distinguished the words, Be it ever so humble There's no place like home. The song went on, and suddenly there came to him a vision of a mother-his mother-singing her child to sleep with this same song. How many years had passed since then, though now it seemed like but yesterday, and what a change those years had wrought in him Then a sweet, innocent child, listening to his mother's song, now-this. His mother, now in Heaven-how proud she had been of her boy then! What great things she had expected of him! How little she had dreamed of his ever coming to what he really was now! He had been a failure-a hopeless failure, He was absolutely worthless! But still-is it too late? There are still many more years to live. Tears gathered in his

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14 SPECTATOR thought he had a yellow streak. The fellows talked about this every time he was around, so he never enjoyed the times when he was at the corner, Walter Miles, his best friend, was the first one to prove his failing. Jimmie, said Scoop one afternoon, won't you tell me the reason you won't come out for football? Are you permitted to play by your parents? Yes, waslhis laconic answer. I might have known it. Is there anything the matter with your health that deters you ? No, there isn't. I'm as able as you are. No doubt you are. Well, I'm sorry, jim, but there's only one more question I can ask, and that is: Do you have a yellow streak? 'fHang it all, Walter, since you, my best friend, have turned against me, I'm going to do something to show you. I'm going out for football. Tell the coach I'll be out to- morrow. I'm tired of this fyellow' stuff. Here's my hand, jim, cried Miles. I'm glad you have the spirit, NV0rth.', Pk PF Pk Pk It is needless to say that Worth put on a suit the next day, trained hard, and, a month later, was considered as having a good chance to play left tackle in the first game of the season, with Bradford. The night before the Bradford game, in the dressing- room, after practice, Coach Winters read the line-up which he and Captain Fillmore had prepared. And sure enough, Worth was read after Left Tackle. There was much comment about Worth's making the team his first year, and the next day, when the yellow-and- blue, and the Bradford teams were warming up on the field, the Chester rooters gave special cheers for Worth. Jimmie had caught the spirit of the game and played his position well, making a touchdown through one of Coach Winter's trick plays. The game ended in Chester High's favor and the rooters again went the rounds of applause.