Salem State University - Clipper Yearbook

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was Sneezer, the ragged little terrier, who seemed to divine the trouble in his master's heart and came rubbing his tousled head against the boy's knee. Proctor, called a shrill voice from the back door, f'it's time you came in. Hurry up and be sure you put your sled down cellar and not leave it out in the yard like you did yesterday. The face of the woman corresponded with the voice. Her drab-colored hair was drawn back tightly from a forehead seamed with lines of over-work and worry. A tired, querulous droop pulled down the corners of the mouth. The bundle of sewing which the woman held in her hand suggested that Proctor's aunt had little time to spend in sympath- izing with her lonely little nephew. Proctor obeyed the command mechanically, carefully hanging up his coat and cap as a result of the persevering efforts of his aunt in that direction. He curled up in a big armchair beside the window and flattened his stubby nose against the pane in an effort to get another glimpse of the red tams on the hill. You're looking awful puny lately,', remarked his aunt, snapping a thread between her teeth. I must set that worm medicine to steeping right awayf' She put down her sewing for a moment and placed the hateful yellow bowl with its nauseating herbs on the back of the stove. Nothing like it to chirk up a young one that's got worms, she added. That night Proctor had a wonderful dream. He was up on the hill coast- ing on the double-runner with the red tams. He shouted aloud in his sleep at the joy of it. His aunt, darning beside the sitting room table, started up at the strange sound. Much disturbed, she rushed, panting, up stairs, woke the boy, and forced a big dose of the sickening concoction down his throat. He could have cried out in vexation and disappointment. Even his dreams were denied him. A wave of resentment against his aunt and the universe swelled up within him. He kicked the bedclothes about, and slipping out of bed, threw his' care- fully folded clothing on the Hoor in beautiful abandon. She would see if he was going to be bossed all the time. He would sneak out of the yard tomorrow and run away,-at least he would run to the hill with the red tams. His elation of independence, coupled with the effects of the worm medicine, so stirred him up that he lay awake till morning. Next day Proctor's brown eyes sparkled with animation altogether new, and the reputation of the worm medicine grew accordingly. He swallowed his breakfast in excited gulps, and lost no time getting out of doors. He did not stop to slide down the tiny hill, but boldly opened the gate and ra11 puffing all the way up the hill, where he was warmly greeted by the red tams. Did your auntie leth you come 2 lisped the fat little red tam girl. No, I runned out myself. Proctor had a singular feeling of aloofness 9

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,l t lt ' f F . N--,N it 1 . . t -,fggg -:fl -f f f . l ,FI ff- ,ffl - 'tl X S l : '1 ig - -.- t 'tt f '- I i xxpfli lt 'Eff'-'f':-'f 1 lg ' iff 'e'.Q.,-' t ' ' L VT--M - I ' - '- - ---I1 ,- L - P- I tl J A 'Iliff ' ' -,4 l i l 'nl' ' t lf-iv XM tt pf fi ff it ' .1 .i-.- I ' x' Q1 lg, H 'Q ,T X ,I if . - f x T , ' A --- fi fi! f ,f' f M 5 f ' J f V, ' vu.. Pr0ct0r's Rebellion. - Prnctnr lcalu.-tl his vhnhhy little vhiu against thu gate :intl gnzt-tl lmffinffly np tht- whitt- strtftcli nt rnzul. .Xxx Lao 'ay np nn tht- vrt-st nt' tluf hill, thrvo fascinating rt-fl tznns huhlxrtl nu-rrily like scarlet pnppit-s in thc SIIUXY. llaippy laughter urul tlu: who uf lung-tlruwn huhms rt-:u'lu-tl thu strziinctl 4-urs uf tht- hnlcly little vlnnp lt-unmg against tlu- gat:-. llv lung:-tl tu knnw uhnnt tlu- frit-iully echo and tn hnvt- its vlu-1-rfnl vnuw- will Inu-lx tn hnn twin tht N ' ' - hills. Nt-rving hinist-lf up to tlu- nnnsnul 1-lfnrt, lu- rum-tl his vuuw- in at st-ztrml, tra-inhling littlt- hallloo, but tht- t-rflu, unlv nuwlu-tl hun intl hi 1 ' t fuilnrc. s :hm th- mln-tl putlu-tivulllx' nt tlu' pitiful little Mtezuiwliilf- tlu- thru- rt-tl tznns zippttaiiwl zigznn nn tlu' tmp nt' tlu- hill, zuljnstf-fl tlwimt-lws on :1 hig flnnhh rnnlui intl nlth lninx lnln r. '47 ' : ' : .' : 'urns gigglvs , hut ont nf hi,,ht tlfmn tlu- nthwr sulv. .X lug. lt'.V twat' tru-lahwl slnwn l'1'ut'tm s 1-lu-1-lc. llt- ku-kwl tlu-Jn-vtt-tlltx .it tlu- lllt'illl litth- rt-tl slwl ht-sitlv hint. Whnt fun 1-nnlfl mu- lniu-ly In-lx' lnm- -litlingg tluwn :t tiny hit nl' hill that vrnt-l fam- had - -: ': lllflx iight in tlu hult X ntl. xllIl'1'UVl'l', tlu- rt-tl ,lt-tl wzw frztil :nut lnul tu be h nullffl with 1 ns. lli- :innt hzul gut lt with -will XK'l lllllt'I'H -nul tlu wnpt nn .1 - ,. 'Ft 'I ' inns' lnul not ink'-n llIlU1It't'ulllll tht- wt-wht uf l'l'tn-1-nfs Ntnnt Iittlt- hntlv -mtl l V PN 1 tlu-ra-ftiru tlu- Hl1'fl 1-ra-nlwfl nlul tlm-:att-:tml tu split wlnan-vt-r lu' trim-tl In gn 'lu-llylnnnpa in intitntiun nf tlu- rwl t'nn-4 ull tlu hil 'ft ' . - I. l r vtfn' s only vmnfnrt H f

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from the world because of his rebellion against the law, and yet he had the ex- hilaration and freedom that comes only to revolutionary spirits. A place was made for him on the end of the double-runner. He was instructed to put his arms around the one in front of him and to hold on for dear life. How they shouted and whooped as they flew down the glassy hill! The keen air stung their cheeks to the color of the red tams. Again and again they went down, and Proctor felt like a new being. All the loneliness was swept away like magic, and then, bubbling over with happiness, he forgot to hold on for dear life. When the coasters lurched over a jounce, Proctor was thrown off and lay in a huddled, still little heap on the ice. It was many months before the little chap remembered anything again. When he opened his eyes and saw his aunt bending over him, her tired face lighted up with relief and thanksgiving, his tender little heart was smitten with remorse. He raised a thin, white hand to her in feeble appeal. I didn't have no one to play with only Sneezer, he whispered, 'Tm sorry 'cause I ran out and got hurted. His aunt's face was grim with self-censure. When the grown folks Won't give the young ones any leeway, then they got to strike out for themselves. Now just lay still, and soon you will be able to go and play with them little Nelsons again. Proctor's cup of contentment was filled when later the three red tams came to see him. They perched themselves placidly on the sofa, swinging their chub- by legs like so many pendulums. They had bought four round peppermint sticks, the fourth being for Proctor, who, having no mind for it, gave it to the red tam girl. All four sat looking at each other, sucking their candy sticks in blissful silence. A. R. D. ' l - -P i C c l fran: e e , -: Q --'i 1- -Q3-f-QQ Nonsense Rhymes. If you have lost. your pocket-hook I wish I were a piclgeon Anil flon't know whore to find it, I'1l sit on the roof and coo. The next lu-st thing for you to :lo And I'd like it all the better ls to try and neva-r mind it. If you were 11Upldg0OIl,,, too. M. Caosav. 10