Shortridge High School - Annual Yearbook (Indianapolis, IN)

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'-new Q 19 E 'Q v--x 'Q 5 Q 3'-'Q 353 'S FQ 3 W... 'awr- HD A v Y DOROTHY LAMBERT I, HERE WAS a loud peal of the doorbell. The night ' if nurse of the orphan asylum heard footsteps, but upon . f opening the door and glancing hurriedly around, saw . W X no one. Detecting a bundle she gathered it up and fr slowly ascended the stairs to the nursery. There was A 0 Q no mark of identification, no mark at all, except the 1 i A ' Words, Davy, born on February twenty-second, f S.. Q scrawled upon a piece of brown paper and pinned to Q X ,SQ the ragged blanket. ' gf ' me As I live, it's another boy, muttered the nurse. Bundling it well in a large shawl she began rocking it. By the time Davy was nine years old, he had Won the lasting friend- ship of his nurses, because he so seldom cried and behaved so well. Even the old nurse declared that he was as good as a girl. He was frequently sick, never seriously, but nevertheless his convalescence was always slow. It was not known how he got his full name, but in the office the register held the name Clark, David. Davy's chief interest was in Jerry Aiken, who was a boarder at the orphan asylum. He lived in pleasant anticipation of the day when Jerry's mother would make her semi-monthly visit and bring apples and cookies. A close friendship had existed between Davy and Jerry since the day Mrs. Aiken had learned Davy's history and had explained to Jerry that Davy had neither father nor mother. Jerry's sympathy was aroused and from then on he insisted upon an equal division of his possessions. Davy gratefully accepted both attentions and gifts from Mrs. Aiken. In time, it was a familiar sight to see her sitting with the boys, one on each side, telling them stories. Jerry was somewhat older than Davy and so it was that he listened to all of Jerry's propositions and agreed to everything, even to the proposed partnership in a candy store which Jerry would establish when he grew to be a man. Davy seldom, if ever, entered into the games of the other children. During play hours he would stand leaning against the side of the building or sit at the foot of a tree under its shade and watch the other boys play. He would never say a word unless spoken to, then usually his answers were in monosyllables. He observed the rules, obeyed all requests without a murmurg accepted everything as a matter of course. He made little progress in school and seemed wholly devoid of that element spoken of as pride, which is often a great stimulus to harder study, and which is possessed by most boys, even those whose only home is an orphan asylum. He apparently had little or no ambition, but inwardly he longed to get away from the dull routine of orphan asylum life and to have Jerry to himself. Under no circumstances was he ridiculed by his playmates, nor was he always alone on his seat beneath the tree. When a boy had been par- ticularly unruly or boisterous and had gotten into the Pm not going to play humor, he would seek Davy and feel that he was atoning for his ...ii.l.l+ WY

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IN A-S-lyl-UCH as if he were afraid it was not there. Then his little, bony fingers clamped amund it and he 'began to sob again-this time for joy. It was nearing eleven o'clock and we were supposed to leave at that time for Alexandria, Egypt, so the captain carried the little boy toward the gangway and the crew followed. My little friend, you will have to go now, said the captain, and the boy understood. When the captain placed him on deck he stepped back, drew himself together and saluted, then turned and walked off the ship. I will never forget the expression on that boy's face as he turned on the dock to give us a parting look. It was one of mingled joy and sadnessg happy because he had in his possession, no doubt, more money than he had ever dreamed of and sad because he had to leave us. In a few minutes the engines began to groan, the lines were cast loose and the ship was once more headed for sea. As I stood on deck and looked at the city that had appeared, so beautiful to me that evening, I saw onllyz a few scattered lights and the dark outline of houses. Some- where among them was a homeless boy, fighting the world alone. DESERTION Behind the shack, the sunlight seems To bathe the long-forsaken field With limpid calm. The woodland curves, An amphitheatre of living green, High galleri-ed with fir and pine. Above the tangled fern, grown rank With rush, and mottled yellow and white With daisies, mustard and buttercups, A myriad insect world quickens The air with tiny life. Somewhere, Hidden, a meadow-lark sings And ever, against a mass of trees Strange whirring birds dart and streak- Exquisite elements of flight. Out in the field a scare-crow Still stands with flapping arms out-thrust, As if about to scream his taunt, Pathetic now, that once this land Of decaying human enterprise Which he has surveyed so long-was man's. ROCIE J. COX Jr.

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VI D A V Y wrongs by endeavoring to do some little trick for Davy's sole pleasure. If he succeeded in causing a smile to brighten Davy's face and hear the answer That's good to his question How's that Davy ? he would feel himself a saint. Old Jenkins, the janitor, it seems was the first to impress Davy with the importance of his birthday by telling him that it was the same day as that of the first president of the United States. Davy expressed more sur- prise than usual and listened attentively to a long discourse upon the Father of Our Country by Jenkins in an extremely flowery attempt to elucidate all facts in connection with the tale of the hatchet and other stories. For weeks Davy would ask questions concerning Washington. ' Finally preparations for Washington's birthday celebration began and Davy's increased interest in the preparations was noticeable to everyone. Thechildren were assembled in the chapel and to encourage interest in the affair the matron was asking questions regarding Washington. Notic- ing Davy's interest she thought to question him. Davy, you may tell me when George Washington was born. She was surprised to hear him quickly answer, He and I were born on the same dayf' It was one day in April. Mrs. Aiken had just come in. Her greeting was as cordial as ever, but something in her face startled both the boysg even Davy noted the unusual appearance. Before leaving, Mrs. Aiken told them that the following week Davy was to leave the city and go to live with an old gentleman in the country. Davy was delighted at the news. At last he was to get away from the monotony of the institution. He hated to leave Jerry, but the prospect of a real home overcame his sorrow at their separation. The week soon passed and one morning very early, Davy was made ready to go to his new home. Mter a long ten mile ride in a rickety old buggy, they finally arrived at the quaint, old farm house, where he was given a warm welcome by a sweet, little lady who was the gentle- man's wife. There was much to see and much that interested him until supper time after which he missed the boys, the chapel services, and the march to the dormitory. Within a week the novelty had worn off. Although surrounded by every comfort, he longed to go back to see Jerry and the boys. He was permitted to accompany the old gentleman on his weekly trips to the city, but he never caught a glimpse of any of his former playmates. He began to look thin and wang his pale blue eyes were often filled with tears. He would sit for hours upon the veranda and gaze far off toward the only place he had ever known as home-Jerry and his mother. the apples and cookies, the boys, chapel services, all passed in a shadowy panoramic view as he sat there, until he was aroused by the call to supper. He would say he didn't want any supper, was just tired, and creep off to bed and sob himself to sleep. Day after day, night after night, this would happen, until one night