Shortridge High School - Annual Yearbook (Indianapolis, IN)

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GRACE OR DISGRACE and he drawled: When Daniel was lifted from the lion's den he spake- Stuart, you are late. Mr. Emery rather confused his sentences for the latter part was meant for Skinny. But Skinny did not understand this, however, and thought it part of the lesson. He was proud of the fact also that he should be con- nected with such an honored person as Daniel, whom he greatly admired, although he deeply regretted that Daniel hadn't killed the lions, choked them with his bare hands, that would have been more thrilling. Skinny stalked to his seat which was in a far corner behind a terribly fat girl who was large enough to conceal three or four boys, Skinny's size. Gften Skinny had gotten out of its lessons by ducking behind Grace's ample shoulders. But not so this morning, for with Skinny's name fresh in mind although he could see him, Mr. Emery asked this question: Stuart, do you have Grace for dinner at your house ? Skinny, thinking that Mr. Emery meant the plump specimen of girl- hood in front of him, turned crimson and stuttered out that they never had. Mr. Emery turned a long, scandalized countenance in the classes' direc- tion: Children! he exclaimed, To think that a boy in our midst whose parents are members of our church and are supposed to be good, loyal Christians, who tread in the path of righteousness, who scorn the slothful, who turn from the ways of iniquity-to think that such people would be so wicked, so sinful, so like the pagan as to admit that they do not have Grace at their table. . Skinny by this time was thoroughly frightened. He had not known

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GRACE OR DISGRACE MARY MARGARET TUTEWILER i KINNY HOPS was thinking very deeply as he trudged to Sunday school on bright Sabbath morning. What i was he thinking about? It must be very serious, ow- ing to the solemnity of his face and the thoughtful pucker of his brow. Was it his Sunday school lesson? Oh, no! His mind never ran along that channel will- ingly. He was thinking what an abused, unfortunate boy he was. There was not a day in the week that was entirely pleasant. The first five he must go to school. School-a non-essential bore, made to aggravate boys like himself no doubt. Ah, if he could get the inventor of schools in his power! He would show him no mercy! If he had the inventors of wood-sheds, soap, spelling-books, castor-oil, and the man that first brought oat-meal and soft boiled eggs into use! He would wreck vengeance upon them! He glared fiercely at his imaginary victims. The man who brought soft- boiled eggs into vogue would be buried in oat-meal and .soft-boiled eggs. No, he would be buried and have to eat his way out. Skinny beamed with delight. Soap, spelling-books, and castor-oil, would be thrown into the sea with their inventors. The man who founded schools would be burned to death in every single school ever built. Skinny did not realize that this mode of torture was impossible, but it tickled his fancy nevertheless, and he proceeded to plan how all the former wood-sheds would be turned into free candy shops. Skinny was very pleased. He had arranged for five days of the week, now he must improve upon Saturday, the day the detested soap was used. Now he had only Sunday to be improved! Of course he mustn't improve too much because that would be wicked. He supposed it wouldn't do to abolish Sunday school entirely, but the lessons would be shorter, and they would serve refreshments at the beginning, the middle, and at the end, and in between times during the services. The children would be compelled to wear their oldest clothes, and any one who dared wear squeaky new shoes and stiff white collars, would be expelled. At last he reached the school door. Alas! his plans were but a dream. Not a comfortably dressed youth met his eye. Stiff white collars and new shoes were quite the style. Neither were there refreshments. This was quite a mistake for wasn't one of the favorite hymns, How Gentle are God's Commands? and didn't it speak of hastening to your Heavenly Father's Throne and Sweet Refreshment find? This was quite an over- sight. He must speak of it! But upon entering the crowded room, and realizing that every pair of eyes were fixed upon him, Skinny came stumbling in, as confused and bashful as pqssible. Mr. Emery, a lean, limp man, was out in front droning the lesson,

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GRACE OR DISGRACE -g-i.:- 14- 1+ iq- 1+ 14- Y-:. -1- Y-1-4+ ,+V -:- 4- -:Q -t- -?- -2- -1- before how wicked he Was. Must he have this repulsive, obese creature at his house at dinner? None of the other boys had. Why must he? But he must save the family. It would be terrible not to go to Heaven when he died. He would ask after the lesson and iind out if there wasn't some other way out of it. After the lesson Skinny asked if he must have Grace for dinner, and he was heartily assured that it was the only means of saving his family's soul. He gulped once or twice and then stalked out of the room. That afternoon he came into the parlor where his mother was writing some letters. Mother! he exclaimed, trying to wear an air of indiffer- ence, but failing entirely, I want to know if I can have Grace Milton for dinner tomorrow. Why-er stammered his mother for the request quite surprised her. Now, mother, do say yes. You see I have just gotto have her! Skinny cried excitedly. All right, agreed his mother, I always said that it would bc good for you to go with nice, ladylike little girls. Now what would you like for supper? she inquired beaming wih satisfaction. Oh, anything, returned Skinny with such indifference that she couldn't help laughing. When Skinny left, his mother returned to her letter writing with an odd smile, thinking that Skinny was a very queer boy. The next day the guest arrived two hours too early. Her clock was wrong, she said. Grace was dressed in a dirty, rose plush dress covered with cheap lace and ribbons. Her hair was frizzled and her fat fingers were loaded with penny rings. It took all Mrs. Hops' will-power to control her countenance when the dear, sweet, little Grace came lumbering in, knocking the furniture askew with her ample hips. After introductions were made, the family fied to the kitchen leaving Skinny to entertain Grace. They stood and blinked at one another for a few moments. Then Skinny broke the silence by saying in a sepulchral voice: It's a pretty day, isn't it? Grace began to snicker for it was pouring outside. Skinny was greatly confused for when he had finished the weather report his funds for conversation were exhausted. Let's go into the parlor, he murmured. So they adjourned to the parlor, much to Skinny's relief. The shades were all pulled down, and the room was in total darkness. In that friendly gloom Skinny hid his confusion. They sat there about fifteen minutes, Grace in the far northwest corner, Skinny in the southeast corner. At length Skinny, thinking that the parlor's charm was wearing off, decided that they had better leave. Suddenly he had an inspiration! He would get her interested in a book and then make his escape. At the mention of books she immediately asked him Whether he liked N apoleon's or Shakespeare's poetry best, and Skinny, who knew almost as much about it as she did, remarked that Daniel Webster wrote some pretty good ghost stories once in a while. I like Romeo and J uliet, pursued Grace, who, knowing nothing about