Paxton High School - Reflector Yearbook (Paxton, IL)

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THE FAX TOM HIGH SCHOOL REFLECTOR 3 A NARROW ESCAPE One day Harry Lane was sitting by the window reading, while near him was his mother who was busy sewing. Presently Harry, looking up from his book, caught sight of the mail man going by the window. “There’s some mail for us.” “I wonder who it is from, said Harry running to the door, to get the letter which the postman had for him. “Its from Uncle Dan out in Utah , he Slid, as he hastily tore it open. No one said anything until he finished reading it Then he handed it over to his mother. He could see a frown coming on her face as she read it, and he knew that she was not very well pleased with its contents. As soon as she was through, she look- ed up. “Can I go? asked Harry anxiously. I don’t know” answered his rao her, “I’ll have to see your father al out it first. That night when Mr. Lane came home, Mrs. Lane called him into the little parlor, and they both sat down, l have a very important subject to speak to you about,” said Mrs. Lane. Her husband after fixing himself com- for al ly in his chair, told her to pro- ceed with her story. So Mrs. Lane told him all about Harry receiving a letter from his uncle and about him wanting Harry to come out to Utau and join his regiment, in w'hich he would give Harry a good position. She asked Mr. Lane what he thought about it. After thinking awhile he said he believed they had better let 'aim go, since they were rather poor, 3nd it would help them a great deal, for Harry to make his own living. When Harry came homo that night and heard what their decision was, he asked if he might start the next day. “No” said his father, “you can’t start until day after tomorrow, for you will have to get your books homo from school tomorrow, pack your trunk, and get ready, f r it is t long journey ” Harry had to be content with that, so the next day was spent iu getting things ready 'or his jour- ney West. It was a sad procession when Harry, his mother, father, and little sister started for the depot the next day. As they arrived there about a half an hour before the train was due, the time was spent by his mother telling him now to take care o! h’mself, as well as many other things. The train finally arrived, and after telling ev- eryone good-bye”, he boarded it and was soon off on his trip to Utah. Harry arrived in Salt Lake City on Sunday morning, where he had to wait about an hour for a stagecoach to take him out to the fort, which was about forty miles distant. He made the journey without any accident and reached there about 4:00 o’clock that evening. When he arrived his Uncle, who was a large, raw-boned Irishman, with red hair and whiskers, was there to meet him. “Hello me biy” said his uncle, as Harry jumped out of the stage and shook hands with him. “You’re just in time to have the fun. The Redskins have got “nifty” and want to scalp every blessed one of us” This was rather a surprise to Harry as he had heard nothing here of the danger from Indians. A year passed, and Harry had grown to be a tall muscular man. Ha held a higher position in the army also, for he had risen to the rank of lieutenant in his uncle’s regiment.One day w-hen he was sitting alone in his room his uncle Dan came in and, af- ter taking a seat told him he had an important journey for him to makQ. “What is it Uncle?” asked Harry anxiously. He then explained to him that the government had written to the Fort, asking that ten thousand dollars be delivered to them immedi-

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2 THE FAX I CS HIGH SCHOOL REFLECTOR friendship, to disgrace his friends by only half-developing. The impression is too general that ideals are being realized if one merely refrains from doing anything that can be censured. That may be sufficient for those who choose to lead a negative existence, but the world is asking at present for men who are willing to sacrifice su- perficial and temporary pleasures for the deeper pleasure of making good, and contributing to the world some- thing worth while. There never was a more urgent demand for people who are strong and capable. There is noth- ing of which I can think, relative to my associations with the Paxton High School, that would afford me higher gratification than to know that my friendship toward some fellow is of sufficient influence to cause him to feel that he owes it to me, as one of his friends, to exert every power tow- ard attaining a full and- well-rounded development. Sincerely your friend, V. E. DUDMAN. A BROKEN RESOLUTION When school started this year, I re- solved that I would not laugh at, or in any way ridicule, the Freshmen; but, that good resolution was broken at the very beginning of school. The first time I broke it was the second day of school when I saw the Fresh- ies coming from Physiology, hugging their books as though they were the only friends they had on earth. The wee little freshmen girls scattered about the assembly room; and, when they found their seats, they acted very much like mice that are always glad to find their nests. I suppose the girls knew that they were not be- ing closely observed by their friends (?) higher classmates (?) admirers (?) or enemies. As the boys entered, they were all grinning like boys always have dono and always will do. They had th» right spirit, however, for they seem- ed to think that if any one was going to try to make a joke out of them they would enjoy it with the rest. My resolution was broken another time when Mr. Turner caught the tin- iest and best behaved (?) one in the bunch passing a note. The poor little fellow had my sympathy then for ae was so badly scared that he replied “Yes ma’am”. That little boy is now removed from all temptations, for he sits in the front seat during the flr3t period in the afternoon. Again, I was greatly amused wher. 1 noticed that one of the girls had recovered from her timidity so far that she actually talked to one of the Sophomores on her fingers. I could not help but think of the difference between her actions then and during the first wreek of school. I was amused another time when' I heard Jimmy asking a girl to call on her that night; and, when she re- fused to answer him, he said “Silence gives consent”. Sounds rather witty for a Freshman doesn't it? Of course, I know it was entirely original for he would not think of copying or doing anything that was not perfectly all right and absolutely satisfatcory to the teachers. The last time I broke my resolution was when I saw the new style of hair dressing in row four, seat two, and heard one of the boys confidentially tell another that be could make his “hair lay good” if he would use Pol- moline soap on it. A Sophomore. Willie in his quest for gore, Nailed the baby to the door; Mo her cried in accents faint, Willie don t, you'll muss the pain .

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4 THE PAX TOM HIGH SCHOOL REELECIOK ately, and that he wanted him to carry it thru to Salt bake City on the following morning. Harry arose early the next morning and went to the commander’s room, where he received the money which the quarter master had left for him. After mounting his pony he started on his long and dangerous journey. He had no trouble for about the first ten miles About this time, however, he noticed dark objects appearing ov- er the prairie roads and then disap- pearing. He also heard the cry of the prairie wolf, and knew that tha Redskins were on his track. So he urged his pony on as fast as he could Presently the objects appeared closer. He was now nearing a patch of tim- ber, and he knew that here his trou- bles would begin, so he rode at full speed. At the same time he drew out his six-shooters and made ready for a dash for his life. To his sur- prise he entered the timber without hearing a sound, and it continued this way till he was over half thru. So he began to think that he was not go- ing to have any trouble after all. When he was within a hundred yards of the edge, however, the stillness was broken by the awful piercing war-cry of the Indians and a stream of bullets was poured about him; but as the Indian is not a very handy rifle- man only a few came near him, one hitting his saddle and another graz- ing his left cheek. Harry lay down on his horse's neck and dashed for the edge of the timber, but just then another volley was sent after him. This time he felt a numb pain in his right shoulder. That was the last he knew until about three hours later when he woke up and saw that he was in a log- cabin, and a woman was standing over him. When he asked where ho was, the woman told him he was in Weatherby’s cabin, about ten miles from Salt bake City. When he hear! this he was very glad and wanted to get up and start then, but Mrs. Weatherby would not let him, because she said he was very weak. Two days later Harry, after offer- ing Mrs. Weatherby some money which she would not take, thanked her and then started for Salt bake City He arrived there about four o clock that afternoon and after find- ing out where the government build- ing was located, he made his way to it. Upon reaching it he asked to see ...© governor and was ushered at once into his drawing room. The governor was seated at his desk, and, when Harry entered and told his business, he rose and shook hands with him. He asked him wdiat his name was, and then wished to see the money. Harry took out the wallet and handed it to him. The governor at once sat down, opened it, and poured its contents on the table. It no sooner struck the desk than the governor gasped and fell back in his chair, while Harry, who was standing near turned pale and nearly fell over; for there on the desk was a roll of paper, and not mon- ey. “What does this mean?” exclaim- ed the governor in a rage, ‘this bring- ing me a worthless roll of paper in- stead of the money, I needed so bad- ly.” While he was saying this he had walked over to his desk and touched a button, after which a butler appear- ed. “John he said, “call a couple o? guards to arrest this young scoun- drel ’ As he said this, he drew a re- volver out of his desk and covered Harry with it. “There’s no reason for you doing that, for I have no reas- on to try to escape you,” said Harry. But the man with the gun paid no at- tention to this and never said a word. Presently the two guards appeared, and taking Harry by the arm led him