Rock Springs High School - Sagebrusher Yearbook (Rock Springs, WY)

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ttBut, Captain, it isrft a joke, its the truth. Here, read for yourself. Pm awfully sorry. ,t By this time all the players were gathered around Captain Beverly and Shuster. After reading the letter Captain Beverly sank upon the bench and was silent for some time. Then he said, Wlack, Pm sorry, too, but if you ean,t play, you cant thatts all. But before we go, I want you to know we dontt blame you. Its harder on you than on us. Come on boys. Thanks, Captain? said Shuster, gripping Beverlyts hand. HThatts a great relief. I was afraid you fellows might think I was a piker. At the umpirets ttplay balltt the team took its place on the field. In the first inning Alliance scored one. Rock Springs made nothing. Thus the score remained until the fifth inning when Alliance scored another run and Rock Springs also made one. The lucky seventh passed and the eighth, and then the first half of the ninth, without any change in the score. During the last half of the ninth Rock Springs scored one. This tied the game. The deafening shouts of the rooters filled the air. One girl in orange and black was so enthusiastic that she attracted the attention of Shusterts mother, who had come without her son's know- ledge. She said to a friend who accompanied her, ttThat young lady evi- dently has very little sense. But soon she, too, found herself wildly inter- ested in the outcome of the game. The first half of the tenth inning Alliance scored nothing. During the last half the bases were filled with Rock Springs boys and two men were already out. Now was the need of a good batter realized most. Captain Beverly knew that no one could withstand the determined Alliance pitcher except Shuster, and to him he instinctively turned. iiShuster, we need you. Why man, if you dontt go to the plate wetll lose, sure. See that pitcherts face! Well, he means business and none of our fellows can stand against him. Hurry, man! Please. ttBut, Chester. I canlt. My mother . Why, Iprornised her. By this time all the team had gathered around him and everyone was talking at once. liOh, Shuster, we7ll lose the game? ttYour mother wonut even know. ttCome on, Shuster, dont be a piker. tiDo you mean that youlre going to let us lose the game, Shusteriw The students had already carried the news to the grand stand, and the people were murmuring against Shusterls mother. Such remarks as this reached her ear, Any mother who will allow her son to sacrifice the honor of his school just to humor her whims isn,t up to much. Excitement makes friends of us all. The little girl in orange and black turned to Shusterts mother, and without knowing who she was, said, itJust think, Shusterts mother wont let him play because shets afraid hetll get nervous and excited. Imagine a great, big fellow like him getting excit- ed. But, just the same, all because of his mother, wetll have to lose the game. My, but it makes me angry to think about it. 23

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L ITE RARY Rock Springs vs. Alliance itI don,t care, fellows, you can say what you want, but there,s some mighty good baseball stuff in those Freshies. Here we are, making all sorts of fun of Shuster just because his manners arenit polished and he happens to be a little overgrown. But PH tell you, he could put a ball over the fence even if the best High School pitcher in Wyoming were in the box. Iive seen him play, and with a little practice why boys, hetd even put Max in the shade. This speech was unusually long for Captain Beverly, in whose room the Senior boys had met to discuss the material . for the sprng baseball team. Naturally enough, the conver- sation had turned upon the new students, at whose expense they were having a good deal of fun. The one who had re- ceived more attention than anyone else was Jack Shuster, tall, well built, but exceedingly bashful. While the Seniors were recovering from the surprise caused by the unusual enthusiasm of their captain, he broke in again, iiFellows, we need Shuster more than anyone else if we expect to keep the cup this year. A1- lianceis team is better than ever, and you know it was great last season. One by one the boys began to own up that they, too, had seen Shuster play and that his strength and ability were unequalled. Before the crowd dispersed that night, it was unanimously voted that Shuster should play second base on the High School team. All through the season the Rock Springs team won the games played with the other High Schools of the state; now only the game with Alliance remained. itHang it ail, fellows, I canit play in the game today. I just received a letter from mother, and though she doesnit mind my playing in the small games, she wonit let me play today. She thinks thereis too much excite- ment in big games. Imagine a little excitement affecting a big fellow like rnefi Shuster laughed in an embarrassed way. tiSay, Shuster, stop your joking and get ready. Donit you think Iim worried enough without your ttornniy rot, ii exclaimed the captain in a pro- voked tone. 2-2

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Then, it suddenly came to Shustefs mother that she was wrong, that after all the honor and glory of a school are much more than a motheris whim, and stepping down from the grandstand, she said to a man standing near, iiTell J ack Shuster that I wish him to play. iiThatis what we all want but he canit. His mother wonit let him. iiBut tell him that I want him to play. iiOh, what have you got to say about itiw Raising her head proudly she said, iTm his mother. Now please hurry and tell him. As Shuster stepped to the plate the air was filled with the loud ac- clamations of the spectators. Calmly he stood in his place awaiting the ball. Twice he let it pass, but the third time he struck and sent the ball whirling straight over center field. The game was won! The people went nearly wild With joy. Shuster, his mother, and the little girl in orange and black were the center of an excited group, when someone shouted, HThree cheers for Shusteris mother. She was the one who helped us win the game. The cheering lasted for nearly five minutes, and afterwards Shusteris mother with the arms of her son and the little girl in orange and black around her, could be seen walking excitedly across the held. HOh, J ack, my boy, Pm so proud of you. That was such a glorious game, and Iive found that baseball isnit nearly as bad as I thought it was. And, of course, the excitement of it couldnit hurt even a boy like mine. And, after all, even if it did, the honor and glory of ones school are greater than any motheris whims? wS. F. 13. It is a beautiful fall evening. The large moon, peeping from behind the enormous black cloud, casts a shadow upon the earth. A soft wind is blowing and the mournful rustle of the leaves seems to reiterate its sound. In the distance is heard the harsh shriek of an owl. Perhaps it is the baby owl calling to its mother, or maybe the mother call- ing for her young. All nature seems in harmony tonight, with the feeling of lonliness and desolation that is in the homes during this horrible time of war. The thoughts of everyone are wandering over all parts of the world just the same as the thoughts of the dumb creatures. The lonesome owl ex- presses its happiness or sorrow by the same fiouti ttou. But the desolate women who wait in their homes for news of battle try to hide their grief and to make no complaint. In one home there is an aged woman sitting in a dark room with no light except the burning coals in the open fire place. She sits gazing at them, but utters not a sound. Who knows of what she is thinking, with her sad sweet face and eyes cast downward? She is thinking of her only son, her son, who ran away and enlisted in the army. She can see him now dressed as he was the day he left home. She visualizes him as wearing a uniform of blue, and fighting bravely among his hcomrades. But the mothers vision is not true. Her only son is now wounded 21