Jackson High School - Jacksonian Yearbook (Jackson, CA)

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As the men became more tolerant of Nanny and respected her rights as one of them, Nanny became more aggressive and despotic and like the old Roman rulers, exacted more and more tribute from her followers. With her increas- ing feeling of importance, her desire for pomp and display led her to evict the occupants of the bank building and take the place as her own residence. The former occupants were of course uput outi' figuratively as well as literal- ly and the same day as their eviction found them at the foot of the steps lead- ing to their former domain vowing to show that blame goat who's boss . Nanny at this point, appeared on the threshold as if challenging them to come further. One man had once paid the penalty for forgetting to fill her schoon- er and was not anxious to repeat the experience. The idea of proceeding by himself did not particularly appeal to his companion so they retired to their new but not so desirous quarters. And so it went. Every day saw Nanny become more tyranical. The choic- est viands were hers for the taking. She no longer confined her butting prow- ess to the saloon. Many a Weary worker quietly going to his shanty for rest between shifts, suddenly sprawled in the dust of the highway-at Nanny's instigation. Of course, those who suffered were in favor of taking violent steps to curtail Nanny's activities but the rest of the camp championed her and so nothing was done. Then came a day when the railroad crew was ordered on to complete work elsewhere. Lone Tree was again deserted except for Pat and an old crony. Pat had done a most profitable business and planned to follow his former patrons to the next place of abode in as short a time'as possible. A week later found Pat and his friend still in Lone Tree awaiting some delayed merchandise. Their tempers were stretched almost to the breaking point for they were forced to live entirely on the contents of cans, which after a few meals be- came intolerable. One night, both slightly inebriated from the still large supply of whiskey in their possession, they sat talking in the twilight. Nanny, who seemed to sense that all free drinks were over and now no longer came to the saloon, appeared at the window of her home. The two men both realized for the first time what-her presence meant to them-MEAT. Pat quickly secured his shotgun from in back of the bar and taking careful aim at the unsuspecting Nanny, very neatly bored her heart. After carefully cooking one of Nanny's legs, the two men sat down to what promised to be a banquet. With the first bite, the age of their victim and the enormity of their crime dawned upon them. Stories ofthe dear de- partedis escapades were remembered and retold until the hour of midnight. The tender memories roused by this story had their effect on Pat and he and his crony that night slept the sleep of the righteous while the moon shone upon freshly turned earth at the head of which was a roughly inscribed sign bear- ing the words: Here lies Nanny, h - Who came to an ignominious end at the hands of her friends. ,Elsie Thomson K2-3l

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HELL HATH NO F URY Throughout the West, ghost-cities have become part of that sectionis stock- in-trade. The particular setting of the following tale was ons?-namely, Lone Tree-located, well that isn't important. Let my word suffice to tell you that it did exist. Its history was identical with that of the numerous other towns sharing the same fate. A small gold strike was made, very much exaggerated stories of its size and importance were circulated and as a result, hordes of eager gold-seekers, disappointed in other fields, rushed to the site and over- night a town of formidable size sprang up. Some most pretentious public buildings were built-not overnight, 'tis true, but in a short period neverthe- less. The name of Lone Tree was given to the metropolis because of the one scraggly bush that stood in the center of the town, the only evidence of vege- tation other than sagebrush and cacti to be found in many miles. Then the gold vein petered out, news of a new strike to the north was received, and the inhabitants of Lone Tree deserted their homes and more cumbersome belong- ings and struck out for new fields. For a few years, Lone Tree was forgotten. Prairie dogs and coyotes some- times stole stealthily through the streets, slipping from shadow to shadow, but even they avoided the place as much as possible. Occasional travellers some- times stopped and made a hasty survey of the place, looking through the un- packed books in the courthouse and perhaps taking a few for souvenirs. Then, as suddenly as it was deserted, Lone Tree was once again populated by human occupants. Her inhabitants were only temporary visitors, men who were working on the railroad which was under construction at the eastern edge of the town. Once again Lone Tree's streets rang with laughter and noise. An enterprising Irishman fhis name, of course, was Patj cleaned up the saloon and installed a supply of overalls, books, and other commodities likely to be demanded by a railroad crew. He had also intended to import some liquid refreshment but he found enough left by his predecessor to ap- pease the wants of the camp for quite a period to come. And at this point our heroine or villainess, call her what you will, enters. Nanny, as she was later dubbed, was a goat of indeterminate age, who had apparently been for- gotten when her owner left for parts unknown. How she had managed to exist until the advent of the train crew was her own secret. She had watched the newcomers with a wary eye but had allowed them to go their way undis- turbed. Now, however, with the reopening of the saloon she appeared nightly amongst the throng and demanded by. devious signs, that she might be given liquor. Her thirst was quickly appeased by bystanders to whom a liquor- craving goat was a novelty. The men looked upon it as a great joke and it became the custom for one and another to 'cset 'em upf' for Nanny. The latter, upon seeing her first demands crowned with success, enlarged and im- proved them and soon her first circle of benefactors was increased so that it included practically all the men in the town. Woe to the man who bought a drink without first buying one for Nanny! He would find .himself on the far side of- the room feeling carefully of the parts of his anatomy. T221

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TOY SHOP TRAGEDY All was serene in the Little Toy Shop 'Till the arrival of the new doll, Hi Lung Hop, A wicked Chinaman with a long black queue Who spoke a language that no one knew. Soon everyone in the Little Toy Shop Crew to hate the leering Hi Lung Hop- Once he kicked the stufiings from the Teddy Bear And poured molasses on Raggedy Ann's fiery hair One night when the village clock struck three The toys were full of pranks and glee. Everyone was having such a merry time, When Lung committed his gruesome crimw- With a knife he slashed Miss Muffet's head Which went rolling under the Baby Doll's bed. Then he fought like a mad wolf at bay But the Tin Soldiers got him ere he ran away. Then the enraged toys, right then and there Hanged him on the highest rung of a rocking chair The Spinning Top lent them his rope And said, 'cIt's strong enough I hopef, The coming of dawn warned them to stop For it was the hour to open shop. So they returned again to their usual places And the blank expressions returned to their faces The Toy Shop keeper opened the creaky door And saw Poor Miss Muifet lying on the floor- Well, what has happened here, he said As he picked up the doll's shattered head. The keeper sadly shook his snow-white hair When he saw the Chinaman under the chair. He looked at his toys with piercing eyes But they were quiet and still as mice. What was the cause of this toy shop tragedy? To him it would always remain a mystery For he would never understand The mysterious language of Toyland. A Norma Vincigueria SESSION'S FORD She may not be a limousine, But, gee, I love her thrills, She carries me most any place, And brings me fun-and bills! ' A. M. '34 I241