Technical High School - Tech Tiger Yearbook (Springfield, MA)

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24 UDB NNOI6 2 1907 V01 iff the mountain. Every one who could leave his work and find room in some wheeled conveyance put on his best clothes and went to the flag raising in honor of the beloved old man. Mr. Snow stood on the sheep-cropped lawn, and, as the carriages arrived, greeted each person so cordially that the hearts of the roughest among the visitors were warmed. Soon the little party assembled on the top of the mountain and the people seated themselves in the form of a crescent on the slope of a mossy knoll. Before them were Mr. Snow, the village minister, and the men who were to lift the pole into place. The great white pole lay upon the ground as if resting before the long years of never ceas- ing duty which were so soon to begin. The old man stood forth to speak and every noise died away except the whisperings of a clump of nearby pine trees. He was dressed in a brown woolen shirt thrown open at the neck with sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and his brown trousers were tucked inside his leather boots. As he lifted his head to speak, a breeze parted his long white beard, flying it in streamers over his broad shoulders, and threw back his long silver hair, thus sharpening the strong and beautiful lines of his face. Friends, he began, we have gathered here to see sot up a tall straight pole to bear up above the tops of these mountains, the most wonderful work of nature, the beautiful flag of this free country. Now to find that pole and make it ready has taken me nigh a year. I have hunted for months through these many acres of tall trees, which God has given me a right to cut, before I found the one as lies here. One tree was straight and tall, taller than this one by many a foot, but when I hit it with my axe it gave a hollow noise and so I left it standing, sorry that it wasn't as good as it looked. A week after that I ran agin another tree that seemed good, but it had a crooked top and I went on with my huntin'. At last I found this one here, and felt that my long search was worth while. It's solid all through, and straight as an arrow, and'll brave the strongest blasts. Now I think about how my lookin' for the pole be like lookin' for the best and strongest men. The world be full of men and many of them look all right on the outside, but, when they have been sounded, prove too hollow for their place in life. Then there! are lots of men as are strong enough to stand where they

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TH--51 'Ctbe NUOI6 : 1907 23 straight tree and make it into a white Hag-pole, then put it on top of the mountain where he can see your flag and know you are watching for him. Will you do this just to please me? He sank on his knees beside her and murmured, Yes, he could utter no other word. Then she smiled and closed her eyes in a gentle sleep. Gutside the night was very still. A star lost its hold among a wealth of stars and shot across the heavens. The wintry wind ,moaned and slammed a shutter. The clock in the corner struck twelve and the old year melted into the new. Slowly the old man rose from his chair and softly began to speak. The new year be lonely without you, mother, and the boy haint come back yet. Yes, I have hunted the woods for nigh a year and have found the tree at last. Next summer I shall ask the town to a Hag raising and the pole will be sot in stone and cement. Again the shutter slammed and the wind moaned. The old man walked to a window, threw it open, and secured the disturbing shutter. Then he left the big room and went to bed. A great change had taken place in the town since the rail- road had been constructed. City people had built summer cot- tages on the hillsides that they might glory in the freedom of wild nature. They drove over unknown roads and felt like ex- plorers of old. Our favorite drive was to a mountain about five miles from the town where, in a blue distant mist, we could see the Catskills and looking towards the town we could see a stretch of railroad track, on which ran toy trains in a midget world. But the view and the beautiful drive were not the only attrac- tions. Standing close to the foot of the mountain was a large white farm house where there lived an old man, strong, slightly bent with age, with white hair and a long white beard. He would leave his plough and oxen standing in the field to greet friend or stranger and show him the view from the mountain. The village people called the mountain Snow's Hill, after the hospitable farmer who always made them so welcome on his land. Gne September it was announced from the pulpit of the little village church that there was to be a flag raising on Snow's Hill to which everyone was invited. So when the appointed day arrived there was a long procession of carriages headed toward

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YIH.S. TDC 93016 : 1907 25 ought but they're a mite too crooked, a leetle dishonest, but when the world finds a man as is upright and strong and can't be thrown by the strongest blasts, he's the man the worldwants but he's a scarce article. Such a man might not be known out- side a small circle and yet those as knew him would be better for it. This Hag pole would have lived and died without the high honor we are goin' to give it had I not found it and carried it from the forest, but the young trees as would sprout to take its place would be straighter and better timber for its havin' been there. f'Every morning I shall raise Old Glory on the mountain, that it may honor nature's highest work. Those of you as see it wavin' in the distance may know it's a signal of good cheer, and that the old man who guards it by night, so far separated from any neighbors, be still in the same world with you. An old man far away from you all but not lonely, for, though his wife left him two years ago, and his boy doesn't come back, he has given his life to his Maker, and while he lives he will keep the farm as well as he can for the boy, believin' that all is well for God knows best. When the old man finished speaking, the pole was pushed into place, the hole was filled with stones and cement, and the flag was hoisted amid loud cheers. Then the minister gave a short prayer, after which the people walked back to their carriages and started for their homes. One October afternoon the old man climbed the mountain to haul down the Hag for the night. The sun was sinking in the west, and he stopped, more from habit than with hope, to look toward the line of railroad track. In front stretched the tree tops, decked in all the colors of autumn grandeur and through a long leafy lane the piece of track was visible. Suddenly a train rushed by and a column of steam shot into the air from a place near the cabin of the engine. Was it the whistle that had blown, or was it again the safety valve which had deceived him once before? He was wild with excitement, and throwing the flag over his shoulder he dashed down toward the house. Half way down the hill he stopped, breathless from his exertions, and lay down to rest. The sun sank behind the hill. The evening star