Rockland High School - Cauldron Yearbook (Rockland, ME)

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12 THE CAULDRON When she went into the kitchen which was to serve as a dressing room because it was farthest from her mother's and father's room, she saw her new pink organdy dress hanging on a rack. Oh,'l she gasped and could hardly wait to put it on. When Mrs. Brown came downstairs Barbie was sitting in a kitchen chair with her skirt spread out so as not to wrinkle it, all ready to go to school. After they had eaten breakfast and had done the dishes, Barbara and her mother started to school. As Barbara walked up the steps and into the schoolroom she thought, Oh, what a pretty teacher! As she looked around the room she said to her mother, Mummy, look! There's some chalk just like I play with at home and look at that great big blackboard. School's going to be fun. When, after supper, she said, Mummy, I'm tired, she wondered why her mother smiled and said. Well, dear, after this maybe you'd better stay in bed until seven o'clock mornings. You know, the first day of school comes only once in a life time. GRACE BowLEY FATHER AND SON The sun was shining brightly, December 25, 1942, but it was a bleak winter's day for Thomas Williams, Sr. as he crumpled the telegram in his quivering hand . . . june 10, 1920, was an eventful day for Tom Williamsg his wife had given birth to an eight pound boy. The boy was immediately blessed with the name, Thomas Philip Williams, Jr. Thomas, Sr. was now called the old man by the gang at the office as they inhaled the smoke from the birth announcing cigars. lt is now September 19, 1925, and mother and son start down the street to the school house where Iunior's troubles will have just begun. Will he ever forget the looks on the faces about him as he sat stiffly in his seat? Some were crying, others were holding back inevitable tears, while he just sat there admiring himself for his bravery. Then came the day, the first real sad day, in the life of both father and song Mrs. Williams was instantly killed in a railroad accident. They were now left alone in the world, but not for long. Junior was now ten years old, and his grand- mother came to keep house for them. She was a kindly soul always doing some- thing to make life easier for her son and only grand-child. Then came the day of all days. Dad rolled out the Buick and said, Come on, Son, I need a chauffeur. junior grasped the wheel in a death-like grip, and through the patient coaching of his father managed to jump the car down the street like a grasshopper. Fine, you're doing iinef' was the comment from the instructor, now let's see you drive her right into the garage. The car lurched into the garage, none the worse for a dented fender, procured during the feat. The date has moved ahead to January 1, 1942. Pearl Harbor has aroused Jun- ior's eagerness to become a soldier. Of course, Dad wouldn't stand in his way

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THE CAULDRON 11 The third and last major factor is the atmosphere about one. Absolute silence is most detrimental to the mind of the studentg it creates a gloomy and depressive spirit. A radio is the most practical solution to this problem. Soothing music is best. as it will not divert the students attention, but popular orchestra music will do. There are a few minor points which, though seemingly insignificant, are rela- tively important and should be consideredg for example, no lesson has ever been done to the teacher's approval unless the student is well supplied with refresh- ments . . . candy. gum, peanuts, apples, or popcorn, according to the tastes of the individual. The other small matters depend upon the personality of the student. When these things have been taken care of the actual studying is a very simple matter. The student picks up his boook and begins to absorb its contents intently. Of course, complications soon arise. His head begins to droop and his eyelids Hutter . . . a very plain symptom of sleepiness. but the ambitious student is not overcome by this obstacle. He turns to the index of his book, reads it over. def- cides he knows all about it, closes the book and becomes occupied elsewhere. One may ask. What has been accomplished by all this ?,' Well, perhaps the studying remains undone, but no great loss has been sustained. A sure cure for insomnia has been discovered. VIOLETTE GERRISH , BARBARA BROWN GOES TO SCHOOL Very few people realize the importance of the first day of school, so little Barbara Brown thought as she crept down the stairs at 5 :30 Monday, September 7th. She just couldn't understand why her mother had said, Barbie, I positively refuse to get up until 7 o'clock, and there is no reason why you should. If you want to stay up you'll have to be quiet so that your father and I can get some more sleep. But, Mummy, it's already half past tive and I have to be at school at half past eight. I've got to hurry or I won't be ready in time. - All right, dear, you go downstairs and get dressed, but be very quiet and don't get into anything that you shouldn't. Daddy and I will be down after we've had a little nap. Mummy ? What P May I wear my new pink dress ? Yes, dear, but be very careful not to soil it. When Barbara had left the room, Mrs. Brown turned to her husband and said, Honestly, Tom, you'd think she was going to have an audience with the King and Queen of England. Imagine. Five-thirty in the morning and she's up and half ready for school. Uh-huh, groaned Mr. Brown as he rolled over for his rationed nap. Bang! Crash! There went her new black patent leather shoes over the stair railing. I hope that doesn't wake up Mummy and Daddy. It seems to me the quieter I try to be the more noise I makef'

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THE CAULDRON 13 if he really wanted to sign up, and junior Williams now becomes, Pvt. Thomas P. Williams, Jr., United States Army. Time has flown along to December 25, 1942, and Thomas Williams, Sr. now holds a telegram which reads: Dear Sir : We regret to inform you that your son, Lt. Thomas Williams. -lr., has been killed in action. Lt. Williams has been cited for bravery, having saved the lives of four offi- cers and ten men at the expense of his own life. The War Department is asking you to accept the Congressional Medal of Honor for your son. Sincerely yours, . . . In the few minutes that it took the father to read the telegram. he became thirty years older in appearance, and he uttered, God, take good care of my son. BARRETT JORDAN THE BASKET Nestled deep in the clearing under the protecting arms of two giant pines was a small log cabin. It was simple in structure, devoid of all luxuries and offering only the bare necessities of life to the family abiding there. Here lived John and Susan Bailey and their two children Bobby and Joan. It was just past midday and Susan was in the act of celaring away the remains of the noon meal. She could hear the men as they tramped back through the forest to where they were cutting logs a half mile away. Their deep lusty voices and buoyant laughter traveled back to her in the deep silence of the woods. It was lonely there in the camp with only two small children for company, but Susan had learned not to care, for she was a woodsmanls wife. There was always plenty of work for ber willing hands, and when the heavier tasks of the day were completed she occupied herself with sewing or knitting. On this particular Indian summer day Susan took her mending to the door of the cabin where she could sit in the sun and watch the children at play nearby. All was peaceful in the little clearing around the camp. The soft drone of insects, the frequent calls of south-winging birds, and the chatter of the two children were all that broke the afternoon stillness. Suddenly little Bobby jumped excitedly from his play and ran toward his mother shouting, Mummy we've got company, company, Mummy! Susan raised expectant eyes to the trail but what she saw caused her to spring to her feet in sudden fear. Her heart pounded and her body trembled as she gasped, Trapper Joe! If it had been a great black bear at the edge of the clearing her alarm would have been slight compared to her present terror, for the one thing she feared most in the woods was a meeting with Trapper Joe. He was almost a legend of the surrounding countryside. For years people had told tales of his amazing strength, brutality, and evil doings. As his name implied, he was a trapper, and he earned