Phillips High School - Phillipian Yearbook (Phillips, ME)

Page 23 text:

THE PHILLIPIAN 21 and I learned that every three years this same light is seen in the window. My father called up several of the neigh- bors and they decided to fathom the mys- tery. So did I. I put the saddle on Jean and started. I reached there -before the others, left my horse at the 'bottom of the Ihill, and started up. When I reached the top I crept noise- lessly toward the house and peered cau- tiously in the window which 'had the light. Then I laughed to myself and my knees stopped shaking, for sitting in an old arm- chair was the sweetest old lady I had ever SCSU. ' Going boldly up to the front door I knocked, and asked the old lady if I might come in. She placed a chair on the oppo- site side of the fireplace for me and told me her story: Her name was Madame Grave. Fifteen years ago her son had gone away because his sweetheart had been untrue to whim. It was on Friday, the thirteenth, so every three years, on that, date, she 'had left her 'home in the city, come to this old house, and placed a lamp in the window, hoping that some day the light would guide her son back to her. We heard a noise outside and then a knock. I went to the door and just out- side stood a strange man, tall of stature, with black hair and eyes. I-Ie pushed me unceremoniously aside and kneeling placed his head in the lap of the old lady, crying, M'other! I never 'before saw such joy as was re- flected in Madame Grave's eyes. 'AI knew, she said, that that ligiht would guide you home to me sometime, and I am so glad, my son, so gladf' I saw that they had forgotten me, so I went softly out. At the end of the path I met my father and tihe other men. I told them of my experience and I saw them covertly hiding the revolvers which they had brought to fight the ghosts . B. B., '34. OLD HOUSEKEEPERS AND NEW N order to get a true idea of the value of modern improvements, let us close our eyes and let our thoughts drift back to the customs of our ancestors-ac- cepted customs because no one could, at that time, improve them. On a lonely, wooded, country road, twi- light is falling. Set back from the road, which is merely a widened cow-path, is a country farmhouse. It is unpainted and weather-beaten, on one side its slanting roof nearly touches the ground, at the front is a heavy door strengthened with bolts and bars. We enter, and find ourselves in a square, old-fashioned kitchen. At the end of the room is an extremely large fireplace, from the direction of which, in a kettle, hung from a crane over the blazing fire, drifts an appetizing odor. An old woman, moving heavily about the kitchen, 'brings dishes of pewter from a hanging cupboard on one side of the long room, to a table on the other side. Back and forth she travels, and finally, turning to the fireplace, we hear a little click, and s'he has opened the door of a great brick fireplace. From the oven great pans of fbread, and oven over the she draws two makes the trip across the room again to empty the pans. At last the simple meal is prepared but how many 'hundreds of steps has she taken? After supper, taking the one candle from a holder on the shelf, she throws a shawl over her head, and taking a pail, goes out of 'doors and at least a hundred yards down the path to the well, where, a small bucket being the only means of drawing the water, she has to lift it up full many times, before the pail is filled. Then slowly she travels back with the pail into the house. ' To heat the Water, the kettle 'having been removed from the crane, she hangs

Page 22 text:

20 THE PHILLIPIAN it. Are-are you trying to back out of it after so 'humiliating me? Was it just a cruel joke? I can 't imagine what you are talking about, said Mr. Brewster in a puzzled voice. K' Let me see that note. Shamefacedly Miss Agatha brought forth the note, and handed it to him. There! If you didn't write that, I should like to know who did. Mr. Brewster took the note and read the follofwingi Dearest: How can you be so cruel! I cannot stand the suspense any longer. I have waited so long! Give me some sign that you love me as I love you. T. B. As he finished reading, it gradually dawned upon him that Miss Agatha had thought this from him, and had answered by saying, The feeling is mutual. He beamed upon Miss Agatha and said, 4' I 'll have to admit that I didn't send it to you, but I wish I had years ago, for it ex- presses exactly what I have longed to say to you for the past five years. Thereupon -the note and its mysterious author were abandoned for more impor- tant occupations, and Miss Agatha found herself in the exact spot where s-he had so long desired to be. D. M. H. HASTE MAKES WASTE UR English class was studying Poor Richard's Almanac, and our assign- ment was to interpret some of the old maxims in it. I found it very easy and I was making swift progress until I came to, 1' Haste makes waste. I began to reason: If a person hurried, he was at least saving time, so what on earth could he Iwaste? Fate solved my problem. I remember quite plainly that it was the first day of December, a very cold day, and one on which the Physics class was supposed to perform experiments in the laboratory. Our instructor assigned the experiment, told us it was hard, and asked if Miss Vose and Miss Bunnell would please get some ice so that we could start at once, as he was in a hurry. Why the chose me I didn't know, for I wasn't noted for my speed, but we set out, very glad to get a few minutes off. Winifred complained that the ice was dirty, and I made the suggestion that we go 'to the river for some. Winifred agreed, and being careful to keep out of range of the laboratory windows wwe made a dash. I.reached the bank sooner than Wini- fred and with a piece of iron which I had brought for the purpose I began to hack at the ice, meaning to get mine first at all hazzards. Alas! What I thought was bank, wasn't bank at all. My feet slipped and the blue waters of Sandy River closed over my head. Winifred pulled me out and asked me what on eartfh.I fell in for and who Richard was. For I was gasping with the little breath I had left: HP-p-poor Rich- ard was r-r-right. FRIDAY, THE THIRTEENTI-I N a bleak cold night when the wind was ihowling around the trees like a ghost shrieking I was riding on my horse trying to get to the farm before the storm broke. As I drew near the haunted house, I gave Jean the quirt, and tried to get past as quickly as possible. As I got opposite the house my 'hair began to rise for in the window was a lamp. When I reached home I put my horse in the barn and went on trembling limbs to the house. After supper I told my father and mother what I had seen. They looked at each other and then looked quickly away. Later I heard them talking it over,

Page 24 text:

22 THE PHILLIPIAN the pail over the fire and soon the water is bubbling merrily. f Meanwhile she has taken the only broom she has, made of rough bristly hides, as a cover for cloths bound together. With this, she sweeps the rough floor, partly covered by rugs which she, herself, has braided or hooked. Then she dips it in hot water and dusts off the spinning wheel, and sweeps the cobwebs from the beams aiboveg finally she shakes the home- spun blankets which cover the rude bunk in one corner. Then, exhausted lby her long, hard dayis work, she sits down by the ire to wait for her husband who is still at work, and soon is dozing peacefully. Next let our fancies drift to a modern apartment. Here we see a young housekeeper in her cheery little home with its 'bright color schemes, its devices to 'save time and labor, the best possible use of space, and the furniture convenuiently arranged to save steps, and everything made as easy as possible for her. Our young housekeeper rises in the morning, prepares a light breakfast, mak- ing coffee, toasting bread, etc., and even washing the dishes afterward, all by elec- tricity. If she wishes to wash or iron, electric appliances are always ready. Even the 'spring and fall rhousecleaning, which her grandmother took three or four days to do, is done in a single afternoon by our modern housekeeper. Indeed, elderly people have been heard to say that the younger generation is growing indolent because they have so lit- tle to do. But if there are machines for everything, then, :why not use them? y G. W. W.. '33, A STORY HE train was rumbling through a small town of the west and Betty was wondering how' she would like it. There was one reason in particular why she should try to do her best. A few years before, .her aunt wtho was very rich had died. She had said in her will that her fortune and fine home should go to Elizabeth Wilkins if she proved that she wasscapalble of earning her living by the time she was twenty-one. If not it would go to a certain charitable institution. Since Betty's father was dead she felt that it was her duty to do this for her mother. So she had obtained the position as teac-her of a country sclhool in Chinapee in the mountainous district of Montana. She started out in high spirits with visions of a log 'schoolhouse with a cheery' stove in one corner and especially lhad she thought of the background and how she would deco- rate it. With these thoughts in mind she dozed and ha-d' a dream of her schoolhouse in winter. All of a sudden she awoke. The porter was tapping h-er shoulder and say- ing: Chinapee Junction's next station, Missf' Bet-ty picked up her that and magazines and prepared to leave the fwarm car. In a few minutes the train stopped in front of a small, shabby station and Betty got off. There were several horses standing around but no one was in sight. She asked 'herself why she was disap- pointed. Had she expected someone or a large nunfber of people to Welcome her? Where was the home of the people with whom she was to board? A lonely feeling came over her as slhe stood al-one on the platform and watched the train vanish in the distance. She al- most wished that she was in 'her humble home witlh her mother. Then she knew that she must not turn to be a coward. Her friends had all told her that she could not do it. She would show them. About that time a team appeared around the curve. She could see a white horse and a young man. He drove up in front