Madera Union High School - Blue and White Yearbook (Madera, CA)

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THE PURPLE AND WHITE 19 up in the same town and were the closest of friends. Both boys did well in their studies and were fairly good athletes. The college had recently adopted Rugby in place of the old American game of foot- ball. Both boys had turned out for first practice and now that about a month of hard work had been completed, they were getting in good condition. Jack, although not quite so large as Ray, was heavier and showed better form. One day after practice the coach was giv- ing some orders to the players. There was considerable disorder in the room, most of which was due to some pranks of Ray. The coach, thinking that the disorder was due to Jack, said sharply, “Just let up on that racket, Bryant.” “Are you talking to me,” exclaimed Jack in astonishment. He did not mean it to be impertinent but to Coach Endicott it showed that way, and it made him angry so he said, “Shut up, now or you 'go off the squad al- together.” “T don’t see that that is very fair,’ Jack was aroused and forgot to be respectful. “You don’t need to report for practice any more, Bryant,” this from Endicott sur- prised all the boys for he had never been so strict before. He left and there was not much more said in the dressing room that evening. Most of the boys realized that, if at the beginning of the trouble, Ray had told the coach he was to blame, Jack would not have been expelled from the squad. How- ever, he had not heard quite all the dis- cussion and didn’t realize that he was to blame for Jack’s dis- missal. None of the other boys said any- thing for they didn’t want to hurt Ray’s feelings. The captain, Floyd Elliott, was a good friend of Jack’s and wanted him on the squad. He went to the coach but Endi- cott said Jack would not return unless he apologized. This, all the boys knew, he would not do as he thought he was in the right. They then decided that they would find some other way to get him reinstated. Will Bingham, one of the best players, was one of the most enthusiastic and all evening was trying to devise means of get- ting Jack reinstated without hurting Ray. Most of the others didn’t think much about it but Leslie Ralston, Robert Martin and Steve Garvin were all very enthusiastic. Will hit upon a nice scheme and one day when several boys were gathered together, Ray among them, he began telling a story. He had not gone far when most of the boys saw that he was just illustrating Jack’s case. By the time he was through Ray understood and, although he didn’t say anything then, he walked off in a very thoughtful way. The next day the boys saw Ray talking earnestly to Coach Endicott. Endicott war acting in sort of a stubborn bull-headed way and the boys guessed rightly when they said that Ray was trying to fix things so as to get Jack reinstated. Ray told Endicott the truth about it and ended by saying, “I am sorry that I didn’t wake up to what the trouble was then, but I hope that, now I have explained it, you'll let Jack play.”’ “T hardiy think I can do that. I am glad that you confessed but Jack talked back to me and that’s one of the things i won’t stand for.” “You mean then that even now Jack can’t play unless he apologizes.” “Yes, that’s just what I mean.” Ray was puzzl d what to do next as he had expected that when he told the truth to Endicott Jack would get to play. All the boys were disappoined and were disposed to accuse Endicott of being unjust. How- ever, they didn’t give up and, afler a con- ference, it was decided that Earl Hazard, the boy who took Jack’s place skould pre- tend to be sick. He was smaller than most of “hem and had only come out once upon being coaxed by several of his friends. He williagly agreed to this plan as he would do anything he could for Jack, who was one of his heroes. The next day Earl didn’t show up. The coach inquired about it and was told he was sick. Endicott didn’t know what to do as Earl was the only cne who could fill Jack’s place. He had almost decided to let Jack play when he overheard Earl's little brother say to another boy, “HWarl is

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18 THE PURPLE AND WHITE spected and dignified deacon did it. He grabbed his bucket of water and lit out on arun for the house. With great agility, he slowed down to a dignified walk. If any one noticed his disheveled appearance, noth- ing was said and dinner went on without further interruption. Really, it was not the fault of the good “brethern and sistern” but the weather was exceedingly warm and consequently they were exceedingly thirsty, and so, before dinner was half finished, Mr. Brown started for the spring with many misgivings but, when he saw that ‘Elijah’ was in the fur- ther end of the field, he picked up courage and made a hasty dash for the well. It all happened so suddenly he hardly knew what had struck him, but he found him- self sitting on the ground some distance from the well and ‘Elijah’ preparing for another grand dash. The venerable dea- con clutched his pail and made a dash for the spring and barely reached it in time, for “Elijah” was determined to square things up with that red silk handkerchief tucked in the deacon’s collar. Then the tension of the situation was relieved by Mirandy’s calling, ‘““Ezekiel! Oh! Ezekiel!” “Yes, I’m coming,” he shouted back, and risking all, he sprinted for the wire fence for safety. He reached it but so did the ram and went through it as if it were made of paper. Up the hill they went, the deacon leading but the ram gaining, and, just as they reached the tables, he lifted the deacon off the ground and landed him beneath the table. The deacon clutched at the cloth as he fell and soon had the whole dinner on his head or whould have had if he had remained there, but he was too wise for that. He scrambled out and made for the nearest tree where he was sure of safety and, from his retreat he watched the pro- ceedings, as with chairs and clubs they drove the refractory ‘“‘Elijah’’ back to the field. undignified retreat and sneaked Then he scrambled down from his into the house, and there they found him when they returned, looking very pale and sheep- ish, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth (This is supposed to take place a short time before the opening of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.’’) Scene—Macbeth’s Castle. : Lady M.—What do you think on, good my lord? Your body only’s present here. Your mind is far away. Mac.—Did you speak? Lady ‘M.—I ask you what this is that makes you dream when the bright-burning sun is at its height; what secret troubles hide you in your breast? Why answer you at random all my questions not knowing what you say? Speak out, for when I mar- ried you I did not then become your partner for pleasures only but your true help-meet in time of trouble, too. Mac.—It is no trouble moves me thus. Lady M.—Then what is’t occupies your thoughts, my lord? Mae.—Why should I thus take second place within the kingdom where I have no peer? Why should I thus be forced to play the slave in the same land where I should have the throne? Is Duncan better fitted for a king than I? (He calls on me to do his fighting for him. A shadow-king is he who can not take the field ‘but must rely on others for his power. Norway is even new at Scotland’s gate awaiting but the chance to enter in. I would I had the king- ship. Then in truth the enemies of Scotland would beware. Lady M.—Then why not take the king- ship. Mac.—How? Lady M.—My iord, the lion can devour the lamb. Mac.—Ay, if the lamb’s not guarded. I’ll think on it. me on. strongly Ambition leads A Corrected Mistake HENRY McFADDEN. Two young men, Ray Robinson and Jack Bryant, were sitending a small college in Wisconsin. These boys had been brought

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20 THE PURPLE AND WHITE playin’ sick so Jack Bryant can play. Earl don’t like to play much and Jack is a good player so the fellows fixed this to force the coach to let Jack play. The coach is sort of bull-headed anyway.” Coach Hndicott was so interested in the first part of the statement that he forgot to get angry at the latter part. The more he thought about it the angrier he got and as he put the boys through some hard practice he kept saying to himself, “Tll show these smart kids whether they can get the best cf me oi not. Jack Bryant don’t play with my consent unless he apolo- gizes.”’ The boys wondered why he seemed so gruff and thovehtful but didn’t have any idea that he had found out their scheme. When they weve dressing after practice the Mystery was explained. The boys had been talking and joshing each other when sud- denly the coach signaled for silence. “T den’t know who originated ihat bright, magnificent, witty, splendid scheme,’ he began in a sarcastic way, “but I want to say right now that it doesn’t work. If you fellows want Jack Bryant to play, don’t try any more of your brilliant schemes, but get him to apologize. Unloss he apologizes he don’t play as lung as I’m coach. If you would rathcr have him play than have me coach I will resign, but as I said before, I don’t want lyou to try any more such schemes.”’ This came as a thunderstroke to the boys as they had expected instead of that, to have him order the captain to bring Jack out. After the coach had left everything was quiet for awhile. Then Bob Miartin hit upon a scheme. “You fellows all know as well as I do,” that coach Endicott has a weakness for auto rides and the lunches at those eating houses along the road. There are three of us here that can get seven passenger ma- chines; lets take Endicott, Jack and the whole squad for a ride, and, while he is in a good humor, Cap can speak to him and see if he won’t repent and let Jack play.” That was Friday and the next evening the party took their trip. Bob was in the machine with Jack, and the captain in the one with Coach Endicott. Bob talked awhile about the country and then, in a quiet way, he led up to the trouble with the coach. Bob was a smooth talker and by the time they arrived at their destination Jack had almost resolved to apologize. In the meantime the captain had been doing all he could to make Endicott enjoy himself. They had, of course, mentioned football and the captain had said quietly that he wished Jack could be in the game. Mndicott didn’t seem to like the gemark much and Capt. Elliott began to fear that he had done more harm than good. However, soon after they arrived nt the stopping place, the coach wags seen to draw Jack off to one side. “You want to play in questioned. “Yes sir, I would like to very much,” was Jack’s reply. “Well,”’ said Endicott,’ I said time and again that I wouldn’t let you unless you apologized and I don’t like to break a rule when I make it.” “T know it, sir,” Jack quietly said, but I always thought I was in the right, and do yet although I may be mistaken.” “Well,” Endicott answered, ‘if you promise to be more careful after this I will let you play, ag all the boys seem to desire it.’ “Thank you, sir, I will do my best.” Jack felt very grateful to the coach for letting him play when he had only about half apologized and all the other boys were almost crazy with joy. They had a splen- did time the rest of the evening, Jack play- ed in the game, everybody did well and the team came out victorious. the game?” lie Ballad of the Cock and the Fox (With Apologies to Chaucer’s Nun’s Priest. ) HAZEL OSBORN. I sing of the cock and the fox, Whose story you may have heard: 3ut Ill tell it again to make sure, For the cock was a wonderful bird.