Natick High School - Sassamon Yearbook (Natick, MA)

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PAGE TWELVE THE SASSAMOX went out, he would simply say, Jim went ' west ' today, bad piece of shrapnel in the lungs, but then, he was one of the best, so he ' s all right and nothing to fear. We noticed that many of the other boys wrote the same way, death to them was merely an incident of the day — there was nothing to fear. That letter was the last he wrote and for a month after, nothing further was heard. One day we found his name in the casualty list, killed in action, it said, and a bit later came the official notification from the government. Nothing further was said, his part in the play was finished and we who were left worked harder than ever, feeling sure he would understand. MADELENE CLOUGH, ' 21. A FEARFUL FORD FABLE John White had an ancient collection of nuts, bolts, old iron, tin cans and spools, known to the public as a fliver, but called by him a car. One day it stood outside his variety store, for several hours, look- ing as innocent as only a junk heap can look. Finally John came out and after adjusting his spark and gas tried to crank her. Spin number one! No result. Two! The same. Three! chug! chug! bang! the rattling good car after knocking him over, roamed leisurely over the prostrate form of one John White. The brake, which was held in place by a rubber band, had slipped and thrown ' er inta high. Lizzy casually rounded the corner by the Natick Trust Company and turned safely into Main Street. An old ' dilapi- tated horse, attached to a bright, new wa- gon, was coming down the street at a jei ' ky trot that spoke of spavin and other equine ailments. When the horse saw Lizzy charging around the corner and heard her rapid fire reports, he gave one youthful leap into the air, turned sharply around, and galloped down the street like an un- broken colt. Still Lizzy advanced, now staggering like a drunken man, now charg- ing like a tank. When she came to the trolley track she gave a little leap, turned around and landed squarely on the track, heading straight for Wellesley. At the Natick Armory she met an electric car. The motorman, with unusual intelligence, had just enough presence of mind to shut off power and reverse. A strange, inverted, chugging, gasping race began ; Lizzy made short charges and then fell back, always keeping within about fifteen feet of the car. At Wellesley College she sickened of the chase and jumped the track. After terrifying all the girls at the Quadrangle, she set out at a round pace for home. Ar- riving without further adventures, she stopped obediently in front of her master ' s store. She waited there a moment and then without warning, after her mad exer- tions, blew up and scattered her remains about the state. If you don ' t believe this story ask John White, or better yet, hire a horse and buggy (they don ' t allow automobiles in this town any longer), and scour the neighboring villages. May be you ' ll find enough parts to build a new Fliver. G. DOW, ' 20. TIM WENT STRAIGHT HOME It was a cold November night when Tim was standing on a corner selling his last paper. After it was sold he started to go to what he called home. No, he hadn ' t made much money that day. Only a doughnut and a cup of coffee for me tonight, said Tim, as he walk ;d along. Hey there, boy, hold my norse a min- ute, called a man as he jumped from the horse. Tim waited and waited for the man to return. Forty-five minutes passed be- fore the said gentleman hurried from the house he had entered. Thanks boy, here ' s something for you, called the man as he tossed a coin to Jim. He hurried to the street light so as to see what his prize was. Twenty-five cents! Gee what a lot! said he, as the coin shone in his hand, Some hot beans will go with my supper. As Tim hurried toward the bakery his attention was arrested by two boys stand-

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THE SASSAMOX PAGE ELEVEN States declared war on Germany, April 6, 1917. Then Jimmy ' s father immediately offered his services to the Government and was given a position of trust on the Ship- ping Board. Still Jimmy continued to idle away his time, doing apparently nothing. Sometimes Jimmy would take his hunt- ing outfit and go away into the woods for a week or ten days at a time, apparently on a hunting trip. His friends began to ig- nore him because the town in which he lived was very patriotic and had sent many men into the service. His mother beg ' an to wonder at his lack of spirit and his father became openly angry with him, but all to no avail, because Jimmy still stayed around the town, except when he left on his very frequent hunting trips. One day Jimmy went away and did not return as usual, at the end of the week. He did not return the next day, or that week, in fact, and then his mother began to grow worried about him. Two weeks passed and still no news from him. The woods where he usually went hunting were searched, notices were put in the papers, asking for information, and the news of his disappearance was spread broadcast, but still no news came. At last, one night, just as his mother was sitting down alone to her dinner, she heard someone come in the front door. She wondered which one of the servants had been out or who would come in with- out ringing. Then someone appeared in the doorway and she looked up to see a man in uniform standing there. She rose quickly from the table and walked toward him. As she was quite near si ghted, she did not notice who it was until she was very close and then she discovered it was her son, in a fine, new Captain ' s uniform. After the greeting was over, he led her to the library and there told her all about his apparent idleness, his mysterious dis- appearance and his unexpected return. Well, mother, ' he began, I suppose all the people had a pretty bad opinion of me and I don ' t blame them, because I ought to have been in uniform, but the depart- ment wouldn ' t let me until I had finished the job of running down the spy who had a wireless secreted in the woods. That is why I went on those hunting trips so often. Then one day when I went there, I found the man operating the wireless and tried to arrest him. I succeeded, but only after he had wounded me, so that I had to remain in bed for two weeks, after I got back to town. I didn ' t want to make you nervous, so I didn ' t write. That is why I disap- peared. Then after I got out of the hos- pital, I had to report at Washington and receive my commission and now I am home for a week before I leave with my company for France. H. PRESCOTT, ' 19. THE SOLDIER We sent him away a bright, clean, up- standing lad, perhaps a trifle inclined to like play better than work, but that was only natural, considering his bringing up. From the training camp, where he was stationed, he sent us humorous letters, lively descriptions of what the sergeant said to the rookies and how the buck pri- vate saluted the lieutenant. His letters, too, would make one think that camp life was all fun and no work had it not been that we privately knew from a chum that he was working hard for admission to an officers ' training camp. Then came a week when no letter cam?, two, three, and finally four weeks went by and still no word. We knew then what had happened — he had gone. When at last his letters came again, they were much the same as before. A jumbled lot of first impression — naive expressions of delight over the French peasants, and his accounts of parley-vooing, as he called it, with one old lady, were surely amusing. He was having about six weeks of intensive training, so he told us, but believe me it ' s both intensive and exten- sive (but especially more of the latter), ' he wrote. In the trenches he didn ' t write regularly, of course, but Kept a diary, which he called Bits ' here, ' ' there ' and ' everywhere. ' When any of his friends

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THE SASSAMOX PAGE THIRTEEN ing shivering in a doorway. Hungry? asked Tim, stopping to look at his companion. You bet, replied the boys. Tim re- flected on his own real good fortune. He could get biscuits, cold beans, and per- haps a doughnut for them all. Tell you what, fellers, he said, mag- nificently, I was just goin ' to order my bill of fare. I ' ll increase my order a lit- tle, have a party and invite you two. As it ' s rather suddint, we won ' t none of as bother ' bout partycloes. ' Greeable? Reckon we air, was the quick reply. Tim made a dive for the bakery and bought his supper. They then turned their foot- steps towards Tim ' s humble lodging, which was an unused flag house. The boys then introduced themselves as Red Top and Speckled Face. They spread their supper on an old box, Tim himself eating only a small biscuit and half a doughnut. Guess I won ' t indulge in beans tonight, he had said. Tim kept his visitors over night. He gave them his straw and blanket, while he lay beside the half-closed doors as there was not room elsewhere. Tim had often crept into a church on a cold night and he had heard about One whom you should pray to. I wonder if Jesus ' d listen to a poor hunchy like me? And clasping his stiff, little hands, Tim knelt and made his first prayer: Dear Lord, I don ' t know who you are nor where you live, but I wish you ' d take me to your home, for I ' m so tired, and hungry, and cold. And I ' ll do everything I can if you ' ll tell me how. Won ' t you please take me? Amen. Then Tim lay down, but somehow he did not mind, the cold. I wonder when He ' ll take me and how I ' ll get there, he thought, dreamily. When the two boys awoke they shook Tim, but his eyes did not open. Red Top, putting his hand on Tim ' s face, startad back in terror. He ' s cold, like mother was, he sobbed. Tim ' s pra yer had been answered; he had gone straight home. FRANCES S. RIDDELL, ' 22. THE SERVICE FLAG Oh, what does that star in the window mean, That hangs so proudly there? Does it mean that some lad from that household, Has been fighting Over There? Yes, it means that some soldier boy, So proudly marched one day To do his bit for Uncle Sam, In the trenches far away. And oh the longing that filled the hearts Of those that were left at home And their part it was to work and pray, While the soldier boy did roam. How eagerly they watched for news From that same dear soldier son. And hoped and prayed for the day When the fighting should be done. And then at length that day arrived When the fighting all did cease. And the glorious Armistice was signed, Which would bring to us World Peace. And then the ships came sailing home, Crowded with returning Yanks. Who had played their part so well, And were discharged from the ranks. They eagerly scanned the lists To find that dear son ' s name. But Alas! It was never found For the brave lad never came. And now that star in the service flag Has turned from blue to gold. And the name of that lad who went away Is written on God ' s honor roll. MARION AMBLER, ' 19. LOST IN THE ATTIC It was midnight. I awoke with a start, jumping out of bed and rushing to the window. What had happened? Had I been dreaming or what? Just then the fire alarm brought me to my senses. Everyone