Mount Holyoke College - Llamarada Yearbook (South Hadley, MA)

Page 28 text:

In the fifty-ninth year of the college there was a great burning, and the fire devoured the great dwelling of that city. Wherefore the child- ren of that house were driven forth to seek a shelter among the dwellers in the wilderness. And the doors were opened unto them. And they were scattered abroad throughout the wilderness. And while they did sojourn with the people of the wilderness they were grievously afflicted by stoves, both for coal and for oil, and for wood. For when they were made hot they were hot like to a fiery furnace, and the heat which they gave forth was as the heat of an oven where men bake beans. But when they were left they were cold even as frost is cold. Moreover when the summer began to draw nigh, the face of that land was covered with mud, even to a man’s ankles. But for all these things they ceased not to perform the task which was allotted unto them, for they were filled with the spirit of Alma Mater. In the same year came there snow upon the earth. And they looked and behold the earth was covered with snow. And they said one to another, “ Go to, now, let us go a-sleighing, and let us also break bread together.” And they rose up hastily while the snow was yet on the ground, and went a-sleighing and broke bread together in the city of Springfield. And after many days they gathered unto them all their friends and acquaintances; and they said, ‘‘ Let us now cast the ballot for the colleges of young men, and let us see which shall have the ascendency.” And they did so; but they caused every man which did cast a ballot to cast also the twentieth part of a shekel into the treasury. And the sons of Eli, called Yale, said among themselves, “ Shall the sons of Amherst now excel us? ” Wherefore they cast many ballots and surpassed the sons of Amherst. And when it was known that they had surpassed the sons of Amherst there went up a great shout. And much gold was gathered into the treasury on that day. Now it was the custom of the children of that city to contend with one another in throwing the ball. And the Ninety-niners met the children of the Century, and contended with them in throwing the ball; and they contended with great strength furiously, but neither prevailed, for the score was a tie. 24

Page 27 text:

IN the fifty-eighth year of the College of Mary Lyon came the Ninety- niners to that place. Now the College of Mary Lyon is in the city of Alma Mater. And in all the days of that college there were none like to the Ninety-niners, for they were strong and mighty and feared neither man nor woman. And the Ninety-niners made a league and covenant with each other after the manner of that city ; and they caused the scribe to write it in a book that the Ninety-niners every one should set her mark thereto. But the enemy came with craftiness and stole it away. Wherefore the children of that city mocked them, saying, “Where now is that constitution which ye have made?” But the reason of this thing was because of the wickedness of the children of that city. And the Ninety-niners took unto them elders which should be for guides unto them,—a certain bachelor whose surname was Merrick, and Abbe who was master of the arts, and a doctor of philosophy whose surname was Hamlin. And besides these took they unto them William, whose surname was McKinley, who was the chief ruler of all the land. And it was winter. And there was much snow in that place. And the Ninety-niners said one to another, “ Let us now go a-sleighing.” But when they arose in the morning the snow was gone up from the face of the earth, Wherefore they went not. 23

Page 29 text:

In the sixtieth year of the College of Mary Lyon, (the same is the third year of the sojourn of the Ninety-niners in that city,) were the people of the city taxed. And the Ninety-niners rendered up the treasure willingly, but the other children refused. Wherefore the Ninety-niners were in this thing more righteous than the other children. Now in all that land there were none that could skill to play before their fellows like to the Ninety-niners. And they set forth unto their fellows the play of one William whose surname was Shakespeare, which he wrote in a book. And the name of the play was “ A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” And many of the people of that place came together to behold. Moreover there were great singers among them, so that there were none like unto them among all the children of that land, neither before nor after them. And their songs are written in the book of songs which remaineth unto this day. In the fourth year of their sojourning they went not forth to con- tend with their fellows in throwing the ball and in other sports, for they said, “ Sports be for babes. Wherefore they went not forth. Now these Ninety-niners were exceeding great in the study of theism, and they were very well versed in the Scriptures, so that they could write them from memory. And the writings of the Scriptures which they did make from memory, are they not kept in the archives of the College of Mary Lyon unto this day? And when the Ninety-niners had made an end of their sojourn they went forth from the city of Alma Mater that they might “ doe ye nexte thynge.” 25