Leominster High School - Magnet Yearbook (Leominster, MA)

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THE MAGNET 9 Old Sam’s Story T grew so c old, the last few nights of our camping trip, that some of the fellows built a huge fire in the fireplace they had made out of stones, This particular night, as we were sitting around the fire, some one suggested that we have a story. All eyes were turned toward Sam, who was a very old hunter and had had many experiences with wild animals. He consented to tell us a story, and thus began: — “When I was a young man about thirty years old, a number of us planned a hunting trip to the northern part of Canada. We started on our journey one bright morning, arriving there about five days later. We built a hut out ef logs and soon had a very cozy lodging. After being there a few days, we learned that there was a huge bear in that vicinity, which every one dreaded and which no one could capture. His name was Bruin. There- - fore we planned before daybreak the next morning that we might trap him. “We started forth early to surprise the bear, which was living in a cave at the base of a cliff among the mountains. After groping our way along in darkness for about a mile or so, we came within view of the mouth of the cave where we supposed Bruin was concealed. From the savage wild in which it was situated, it seemed likely that this might be his favorite haunt. “Here we approached cautiously. The guide lit atorch of pine that he had made before starting and set it in front of the cave. As soonasthe dogs were loosed they rushed into the opening and began to explore. It was thought that, if the bear happened to be within the cave, the dogs would dislodge him. In addition, the light and the noise would attract him to his quarters if he were away. ‘Soon, however, the dogs reappeared with an air of disappointment which assured us that their prey had gone abroad, so we all set to work and blocked up the entrance with great boulders that lay close by. This accom- plished, we ascended some trees just above the opening, and brought our guns to bear upon the spot where we were fully satisfied Bruin would soon present himself. Here we waited. Daylight was appearing as we spied Bruin approaching his cave. Discovering that he was walled out of his home, he uttered a fierce, wild growl, and at once turned in his tracks, set- ting forth again along the pathway he had appeared. He had not gone many paces however, when four bullets sped after him, which seemed to have some effect, as he was seen to stagger, while some of the hair was torn from his skin. He recovered himselt quickly nevertheless, and turned into the woods with dogs and hunters after him pell-mell. “Tt was now broad daylight. As we proceeded, the dogs suddenly stopped in an open space in which stood a huge tree. The bear had been seen but a few minutes before, though now he had, as if by magic, com-

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8 THE MAGNET ay wae Two out!” bawled the Hillcroft crowd. ‘It’s your game today, Dale, af kia!” Dale grinned again and the young substitute seated on the bench ground his teeth harder. He pawed his spikes nervously into the ground and chewed his gum faster than ever. On third, Bob Enslie was doing some hard thinking. ‘ Pete” Cum- mings, Seten Hall’s pitcher, was now up. Pete was a fair pitcher, but Bob knew that pitchers are usually poor batters, and Pete was no exception to the rule. ‘‘There’s only one hope left,” Bob muttered to himself. “It lies in ‘ Kid’ Curtis.” ‘Curtis, bat for Cummings”’ he sang out from third; and “ Jim, old boy,” he added, “get a hit for the honor of old Seten Hall.” Jim sprang up, threw off his coat and grabbed his favorite bat, striding up to the plate. ‘““« Jim,’ he muttered to himself. ‘‘ Think of it; he called me ‘Jim,’ not the ‘ Kid,’ and, by thunder, I'll pay him back for the honor of old Seten Fail; But, “Strike one!” bawled the umpire. ‘‘Dreaming!’’ cried the crowd. ‘“Hey, Kid; wake up!” Dale smiled that cruel grin again, the grin that Curtis hated and had seen so many times that day. But the next ball pitched was too wide and so the next. ‘ Two balls, one strike,” cried the “ump.” | The next ball sailed directly over the plate. Curtis knew it would come over when it left Dale’s clutched hand. He knew that Dale would not get into the dreaded “hole” which all pitchers hate to get into and he figured that Dale would pitch the very best ball he had. He stepped back and took a broad wing, using every bit of force he had stored up during the ‘long Spring practice. ‘ Crack,” and the sphere went sailing over third. On, on it went, with Hanes, the Hillcroft left fielder, leaping after it. Meanwhile Curtis rounded second and now tore for third. Hanes now had the ball and relayed it home, but too late. Curtis had scored the two needed runs and himself and Seten Hall had won! Curtis was borne triumphantly on the shoulders of his fellow students to the club house. The next evening Curtis was studying in his room at dormitory eight, when a knock was heard at his door. ‘ Come in,” he said. ‘Hello, Jim,’ and none other than Bob Enslie strode in, ‘“‘Jim,’’ said Bob, ‘‘ How did you do it?,” “Bob” said Curtis, solemnly, “I did it for you, for the honor of Seten Hall, and to wipe that grin of Dale’s away forever!” HAROLD S. PARKER, ’I7.

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fe) THE MAGNET pletely vanished. We thought the huge animal must have ascended the tree, and this opinion became almost certain when the dogs began to bark and look upward. All eyes were now directed toward the top of the tree, where instead of the bear, the nest of a Lammergeyer was discovered in one of the forks. If the bear had. ascended the tree, he was completely concealed in the nest, which was of immense proportions, since the bird is larger than an eagle. ‘As we were gazing on the nest, the enormous bird was seen to swoop down toward it and then rise, above it again, in a state of excitement and alarm. A second bird now made its appearance, and from the movements of both, it became clear that their enemy had taken forcible possession of their nest. “We fired at the nest, but though the sticks and dust flew, Bruin re- fused to show himself, or to reveal a paw; nor could the two gigantic birds induce him to move. “The guide now proposed to climb the tree and set fire to the nest. We approved of this, so the hunter commenced his ascent, taking with him matches, a few strips of cotton cloth, saturated with damp gunpowder, which readily dried. Arriving noiselessly just below the nest, he cautiously inserted the cloth among the dry sticks and set fire to it, then descended as speedily as possible. Before he had touched the ground, the smoke began to ascend, and soon bright sparks of fire fell from above. The frightened birds began to widen their flight, with cries of fear, while the heat reaehing the bear caused him to spring from the nest, and begin to descend. Scarcely, however, had he left his hiding place when a fatal bullet from below en- tered his heart, and he fell to the ground, with a sound whieh told that he had climbed his last tree and was no longer an object of dread. ‘“‘We soon had a great prize back to the camp, and the story of the death of the dreaded Bruin was told throughout the northern part of Canada. ’ Gtapys H. Look, ’17. The Autumn Wind The autumn wind is swirling, Then with a tired crooning O’er meadow and hill and vale; Around the house it whines. Of dead leaves madly whirling : : At last into silence dyin It leaves a continuous trail. ying, Its angry voice is hushed; With a wild and weird, sad, moaning But it leaves the last flowers drooping, It rocks the giant pines; Beaten, and broken, and crushed. RUTH WHITMORE, ’I16.