Leominster High School - Magnet Yearbook (Leominster, MA)

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8 THE MAGNET “Want a lift?” piped up Solomon, with a guilty expression on his face: “No. Ill walk up tonight,” she said, and began to ascend the stairs. As Solomon watched the girl, a deep voice exclaimed, “ Any laundry for me, Solomon?” “Hello, Mister Baldwin. Yes, here it is.”” And he handed him a big package. ‘Jt’s a bad night, isn’t it?” “Yes, so it is,” was the reply. ‘ Mighty pretty girl just went up.” “Yes,” said Solomon, “that’s the ‘fifth floor back.’ I feel kind ofsorry for her. Her room is awful hot in summer, and just as cold in winter, so I try to jolly her and give her calls she don’t have, just to keep up her spirits.” “Sad case,” said Baldwin, and with an added “ goodnight,” left Solomon absorbed in a gaily colored book entitled, ‘“‘ Alone in the Jungle.” As Solomon sat there, lost to what was going on around him, he felt a firm hand on his shoulder, and looked up into the eyes of the janitor. “Now, I have you. Yesterday, a lady complained ’cause you hung her false hair on the fire escape, and now you're caught jollying Central. Now you can get out, see.” “ But it’s an awful cold night,” sobbed Solomon. Just let me stay 9 until “You're going now. So hurry up.” And out into the dark, cold night went Solomon, home to his little sister Poppy, a cripple, whom he supported. He tried to look cheerful as he entered the dirty room, and burst out with a “ Hello, Poppy, aren’t you glad Icome?” Then little by little, he told her his story, which ended with: ‘“ Never you mind, Poppy, if Ma and Pa did go off and leave us. We'll get along somehow.” At the same time, Richard Baldwin was entering “The Sheldon,” and seeing a new face at the lift, exclaimed, ‘‘ Where’s Sol?” “Qh, the boss fired him long ago for being too fresh with Central,” answered the new boy. ‘Too bad,” was the response, and he ascended the stairway to his apartment. Once inside his room he sat by the fireplace and thought of the boy he had learned to love. His eyes rested on a dusty blue coat with shining buttons which hung in the closet. This was the coat in which he fought many a sham battle in his boyhood days. Why not make some one else happy with it now? He donned his hat and overcoat, and with the coat carefully held under his arm, he went out into the cold, crisp, night air. It was some minutes after that this man was making his way through the throngs of people on the East side of the town. Finally, he came to a dark alleyway and entered a dirty, broken.down house at the corner. He climbed the creaking stairs in utter darkness, and it was no wonder he al- most bumped into the woman standing in front of a door from which came a faint stream of light. ‘Be quiet,’ she whispered. ‘I don’t want him to know I’m here yet) And glancing in he saw Solomon and Poppy. Suddenly, having heard voices, Solomon appeared at the door, and

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THE MAGNET N All on Account of Solomon H was a little fellow, small in every way, and the proud possessor of sparkling black eyes, a ruddy complexion, and pearly white teeth. This personage was Solomon-—just plain Solomon, elevator boy at “The Sheldon.” He had never been known by any other name, for it was extremely hard to keep track of all the boys who came and went at “ The Sheldon.” His blue uniform, shining with brass buttons, hung on him as on a scarecrow, for the management never stopped to think but what this one suit would fit each and every boy, whether fat or thin. It was winter, and the snow was falling fast outside. Solomon stood with his turned up nose against the steamed window pane watching the gaily lighted taxicabs darting to and fro. But this was an old story. He was uneasy. He had an idea. Why not jolly Central? and seating himself at the telephone booth near the elevator, he lifted the receiver. ‘Hello, Central, how are you?” Pause. ‘Yes, it’s the same one, with the dreamy eyes and the blonde hair.” Pause. “Yes, yes, I’m stopping at ‘ The Sheldon.’ Another pause. “Well, ’ll meet you corner Broadway and Forty-second Street.” “Good-bye.” A sharp ring caused Solomon to hasten to the door, and he admitted a sweet faced girl covered with snow. She was the occupant of Room 15, on the fifth floor, and known to Solomon as the “fifth floor back.” “ Sleeping again, Solomon? I rang several times.” “No, just having a little fun with Central, that’s all. Sorry I kep’ yer waitin’, Miss Shepherd.” Oh, that’s all right, Sol. Any calls for me?” “No, not any telephone calls,’ responded Solomon, and, looking cau- tiously around, he added, “but “e called.” ‘What are you talking about!” exclaimed the girl. “Well, a young man called to see you, and I told him you were out.” “Didn’t he leave his card?” she gasped. “No::’ “That’s queer. I should think any gentleman would “Sure enough,” said Solomon, a smile lighting his face, and he began to poke over the contents of a large waste basket. The result of his efforts was a rather soiled card, which he handed the girl. It bore the name, “Richard Baldwin.” The “fifth floor back” eyed it wonderingly. ” ”

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THE MAGNET 9 with a joyful voice exclaimed, ‘Mr. Baldwin—Miss Shepherd. I was just telling Poppy about fairies, and here they are.” At the name “ Baldwin,” the girl jumped, but her excitement was not noticed in the confusion. Solomon was presented the gift, and Poppy was promised a big doll before the jolly party broke up. It was not until the two visitors had reached the street that they real- ized the late hour and Mr. Baldwin said, ‘‘ Now, where do you live, Miss Shepherd? I will gladly accompany you home.” “ At ‘The Sheldon,’” was her reply. “Then we are neighbors. It isn’t by chance you're the ‘fifth floor back?’” A year later, found Solomon working as office boy in Mr. Baldwin’s office. It was a bright summer's morning when he dashed into the office clutching a newspaper in his hand. “Jerry,” he exclaimed to the book- keeper, “did you read the piece in the paper about the weddin’ 2?” “ No,” was the answer. “Well,” replied Solomon, “ Mr. Baldwin was married yesterday, and J made the match.” “ Did you, indeed,” laughingly said the bookkeeper. ‘You're quite a chap, Solomon.” | PAULINE M. Burns, ’I5. What the War Teaches Us HE general opinion of a great and terrible world-wide war impending has been prevalent for many years. Yet, when it came, it came with a swiftness that nearly swept us off our feet. Very little time inter- vened after the Germans’ declaration of war before the three other great na- tions had mobilized their armies and entered the struggle. All this alacrity signifies the readiness of these peoples to kill each other and the fact that not pity for a weaker nation but jealousy and race hatred alone were the causes of the war. What kindled this feeling of hatred and revenge? It was the taking of Alsace-Lorraine by the Germans. Is it possible that people with a strong patriotic feeling for its own country can be made loyal to another? That this cannot be, has been proved from time immemorial. It was just such a situation as this in Alsace-Lorraine that fostered the seed of war. So in 1874, the real causes of the war were laid. From this fact we learn some- thing that should aid us in avoiding another such a catastrophe. In reality, from every phase of the war, we discover something. What we read about the fearful atrocities committed makes us shudder and ask: