Nappanee High School - Napanet Yearbook (Nappanee, IN)

Page 9 text:

Sisturii By LULi HE class of '09 is a class of talent: but its talent does not consist so much In soaring brilliancy as in the steady labor which accomplishes Its ends. It Is a class of bravery, although none of Its members has ever felt called upon to climb to the moon with a pennant: but rather to hitch his wagon to a star , and l»e truly great in every day life. So if its history should sound uninteresting it is localise of the very work which has brought It to its present standing. It was a momentous day indeed when 'OP entered High School. As we marched in from the Eighth tirade, many were the jeers and jokes of the Sophomores. A whole year had passed since they were Freshmen and so it was their right to sneer. How we trembled with fear as we passed the awe Inspiring Seniors, not even daring to ho| e that some day we might occupy that coveted position. Rut this shyness soon wore off as our days in High School Increased: for we began to learn that we were not held in at isolute contempt, even though the upper class men chose to make us feel so. Every one did not recognize the sterling quality of our class at once, but it was soon discovered that there was latent talent among us. The first hint of the awakening of our friends to our excellence came through a former teacher. ne day at rest in the hall she informed us that our class was considered the lx«st of all that had ever entered the N. II. S. nw was a relief to Its Instructors. Their faces always brightened when they came to our recitations from the wearisome Sophomores or Juniors. Work was our watchword and we followed it so closely that when the midterm examinations came upon us we were well prepared and not one but passed through them safely even Herman and Algebra. And so, each day learning a little more, our first year wore awaj and we became Sophomores. During the summer vacation some of our numlier decided that an education required too much lalwr and persistence: so when school was called again in Septemlsr only a part of our former numt er were left. Professor I’elsma having resigned in the middleof the first semester we suffered the ordeal of changing teachers . Hut, owing to the excellence of Ilf 'Oil EBY the new teacher and the indomitable courage of the class, the examinations were passed creditably. Geometry and Botany were now taken tip and Latin and German liegan to be a little more Intelligible. Thus we went on. finishing old studies and taking up new until the tlrst three years were over and we Itecame Seniors. Physics now liecame the order of the day and we found t he experiments hard but extremely interesting. At the middle of the term we finished the course in English and took up Civics instead. During this year we attempted the establishment of the Echo. We adopted this plan liecause we saw the need of getting the patrons of the school more in touch with its workings. In proportion to its recept ion among the townspeople have we succeeded. We feel justly proud of this innovation and only liope that those following may profit by our successes and failures. Our memlieis also have taken part in athletics and helped to preserve the honor of the school in this line. Mir course in High School has lieen a happy one. We have played pranks as all others do, but have prepared our lessons with zeal. Sometimes the way lias seemed rough and hard: but. knowing there's no such word as fail we have kept on to the victorious end. From twenty-three in the Freshman class our number has dwindled to eleven. One member of our class died at the beginning of the second year. Some have mover! to other towns while others have left school that they might follow business lives. Four are now married and two are teaching school. Those who remain are still toiling on hoping to gain more knowledge along the |tatlis that lie lie fore them. Some will continue their school life, while others will dropout of the active struggle for learning. Rut not one will cease to learn, for in these happy school days a habit has l»een formed which will cling to us forever. Wisdom! we bless thy gentle sway And ever, ever will obey. We are loatii to leave the 11 igli Scliool and we will often tie lonely for the pleasant acquaintances we have formed here. Hut it istliefateof all to leave childhood days and take up life wit li its joys or sorrows as it may Ik-. So: “Like some low and mournful spell We whisper but one word farewell.