Saint Ursula Academy - Scroll Yearbook (Toledo, OH)

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A e You Mad? Christmas was only two weeks away, and the feverish anxiety of the coming holidays was rising in Frannie as it was in everyone else. Only two more weeks and then a glorious vacation of two weeks, she kept repeating to herself. The afternoon mail brought an added attraction for the holidays, an invitation to the Country Club Christmas dance. -- PATRICIA CELUSTA '43 smuggle a coke, I won't mind. Now get out so I can work in peace. About five minutes later another loud rap-in poured Susie and Barb from next door. Come on, Fran. By popular request we've been delegated to drag you down- stairs or the party is coming he-ref, Poor Fran was the victim of con- spiracy. Her speech was still a thing Oh, time, you drag! Two whole weeks. Would they ever pass? Now arose the prob- lem-what would she wear? Last year it was the blue formal, so she simply must get a new one. Vacation started on the twenty-fourthg if she left the night of the twenty-third, she would have a whole day to shop. In the meantime there were several assignme-nts due before she left. The most threatening one at present was the speech for the last day. With Hmggga CHRISTMAS GREETINGS To our patrons and advertisers with heart- felt thanks for your co- operation and a sincere wish that peace may be yours at Christmas time. TESTER of the future. The next day could promise little except hard work. By working night and day, and only by that, could she do her speechg and she meant to do it. Immediately after sup- per, with firm resolution, Frannie sat down and began her laborious task. Her pen fairly flew across the pages. The in- troduction was finished. VVhat progress she was making! Then: f'Hey, Fran, there's a dance over in the gym- Santa Claus and all. Going? so many things whirling through he-r mind, how could she give a speech? Time passed faster than Fran realized. Only two days remained and the speech was still uncomposed and unmemorized. Tonight she would write it and the-re would be tomorrow to learn it. With pencil poised, she was at last ready to start when the door opened, admitting her room-mate, Pepper. Hi there, Fran! Why so serious? The dorm is having a party downstairs. Come on and have some fun. Cokes and potato chips for nourishment. No, my dear, your YOOIH-mate is not going to be tempted. I have a speech that must be Written. If you can Not tonight, Barb. I was forced last night but tonight an army won't move me. Too bad! It's going to be a ne-at dance. As long as you're not going, may I borrow your white sweater? Thanks. Bye ! Whatys this dance anyhow? The Country Club affair will make this look like a barn dance. So picking up her pencil she recommenced, only to be in- terrupted by Pepper. Fran, please go to the dance. You can just walk over with me, then come right back. I'll do your Spanish for you. Please, pretty please!!' 4 0 THE SCROLL

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As first Tfzey We e Sung. .. T IS Christmas Eve once again. The snow is falling softly outside my win- dow. and down the street carolers are gladdening the air with their fresh young voices. For as long as I can re- member I have loved to wrap myself to the chin, and open the window wide' so that I might drink in the full beauty of the Christmas message these song- sters of the season bring. The history of a number of the hymns I know by heart, for llimi has repeated them to me every year since I was a wee one. VVould you like me to tell you about them? The three little boys you se-e carrying the torches are about to sing HSilent Nightu. What more beautiful selection than this for the opening number! This is truly my favorite, as lym sure it is that of hundreds of others. It was com- pose-d in Obendorf, Austria on the Christmas Eye of 1818. The verses were from the pen of Father Joseph lylohr, pastor of a local church, who wanted a new song to welcome the Christ Child. So it was that he asked Franz Gruber, the organist of the church, to set his poem to music. Unfortunately the bel- lows of the organ broke down that night and a repair man from a nearby village came to fix it. He became so attached to the beauty of the hymn that he took it home with him to his valley, whence it has spread throughout the world. Now I can see lylr. Elton giving the pitches for the next piece. I know from the opening chord that it is to be Adeste Fidelesn. This hymn was used at Bene- diction in France and England during the Christmas season to invite all to come to Bethlehem to worship the New- Born Savior. St. Bonaventure is be- lieved to have written it, although some think that it is of French or German origin. An Englishman, John Reading, who was organist at VVinchester -JEAN ANN SYRING '43 Cathedral in 1675, is said to have com- posed the beautiful melody. O Little Town of Bethleheml' was written especially for school children by the rector of Holy Trinity Church, Philadelphia, in 1868, and the tune was Written by his organist, Lewis H. Red- ner. lVIimi says that although everyone loved this tune, it was not accepted as a hymn until 1892. As you see, lVIimi has taught me well, for I remember even the dates. Little Johnny Elton is singing his favorite, The First Noel . France and England are both given credit for this hymn. A shephe'rd's carol, The First Noel is a medieval hymn, the chorus of which is addressed by the angels to the shepherds. The verse is by no means perfect, but it will always be loved as a hymn having a decidedly universal appeal. They are just starting to sing f'While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Nightf' VVouldn!t it have been ex- citing to be on that hill that night! Woiild you have been frightened too at therdazzling appearance of the angels? Nahum Tate is credited with having written this supplement of the Psalms containing the famous Christmas hymn, published in 1703. One, two, three-'IO Holy Night or Cantique de Noel is heard. This was written by the distinguished French composer, Adolph Adam, and in it he seems to have caught the spirit of the first holy night, when Love Incarnate came to brighten the drab earth. lylimi always forgets that she is not one of the carolers when they strike up f'Hark The Herald Angels Singu. With all her strength she strains her vocal organs to the breaking point at the mere suggestion of the name. The Words are accredited to Charles Wesley, fContinued on page 415 THE SCROLL , 5

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I know it's a big mistake, but here I gof' The band sounded wonderful to Fran, and with all the- sweet, swingy notes went her resolution. When the dance was over there was no time for speeches. She could do her other assignments in the morning, but, oh, the poor speech. Nine o'clocked loomed. Time for her speech and the speaker, speechless. Nervously she walked into speech class. The professor called her name. Silence! Do you have your speech, Frances? No, sirln 'fYou will give your speech privately, be-fore December twenty-fifth, or you will not receive your credit. I shall hear you tomorrow at ninell' There she was. She had to have the credit. She had planned on taking the five-thirty, this evening. Now she' would have to take the eleven o'clock in the morning, and hope there was a formal still unsold in town. That night Fran worked hard, deter- mined to give the mightiest speech of her career. She set her alarm for eight o'clock so she could go over her speech and report on schedule. The n,e'Xt morning the alarm didnlt go off on time. At eight forty-five Fran jumped out of bed, rushed around frantically, and at nine-one reached the speech room. A note addressed to her rested on the desk. It stated that lNIr. Forest would meet Fran at ten o'clock for her speech. That didnlt bother her as it gave her a little time to go over it. It was ten o'clock and no one ap- peared. The train left at eleven oyclock. Fran had to get a new formal. Ten o'clock-no teacher. Ten-thirty-at last Dir. Forest entered. Fran went through her speech with flying colors, and when she reached her room, she could hear the train dancing on the rails toward home. The next train left at fiveethirty. Well, there was no doubt about it, she would wear the blue formal and like it. At five-thirty Fran boarded the train and started on what seemed an eternal ride-. She reached home and slowly made her way upstairs to her bedroom. She went to get the blue formal. The dress was gone! She ran downstairs. Yes, her mother had given it away, Hbecause they needed it in the school play and Fran had declared she could never wear it again. f'Oh, why was I ever born 7' lamented Fran, tears rolling down her face. This question remained unanswered, for just then the phone rang. The voice on the other end was full of apology: f'Frannie, Ilm awfully sorry I have to tell you this, but I-broke my ankle skating, and I canlt take you to the dance. Are you mad FU The Wind When the wind begins to blow, The trees bend to his conznzand. And when he is still, Plow proud and straight they stand. Lihe millions of slaves, hypnotized by his strength, They how and sway their trunks, their length. He twists and turns their branehy arms In cities, in valleys, on plains and on fllflllf. dll over the world the wind can express The way he feels through the trees' helplessness. - JEANNETTE TRERIBLAY '45 EE THE SCROLL 5