Wakefield High School - Oracle Yearbook (Wakefield, MA)

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As KING TO KING Joe King could easily satisfy the needs of his simple life. He had been a backwoods youth, and his education he had gleaned from the farm and the forest; so when he gained his nianliood, lie very naturally turned to the backwoods for a living. He lived in |a eabiii on tlie edge of a pond which formed part jf the s. ' ilt marsh flooded by Bald Eagle creek. This creek has its source on Bald Eagle iiioiintaiii, four miles from Joe King ' s cabin. Fniiii a l)ubbling spring, the water races with other rivulets, across the side of the mountain, over rocks and around boulders until it ends its wild flight by leaping from a ledge of gran- ite to a seething pool, some yards below. Leav- ing the pool it flows through forests and glades, harboring many a fine trout and pick- erel, MOW drifting peacefully through a wide liasiii, now tumbling through a narrow spa.-o between bouldeis, always increasing in size but becoming more lazy, until just before it joins forces witlt the sea, it spreads out in a broad swamp, dotted wi.th lagoons and clumps of trees, but in some places a veritable jungle. lint this story concerns the river only in part. On a sheltered drag far up on Bald Eagle mountain there lived a pair of eagles whoso equals had never graced au America. i museum. King had often admired them as they soared on ti,rcless wings high above Bald Eagle river. T ' liey often picked up hapless fish of the river and marsh, and on more tha i one occiision had even stolen from lii.s store of food. One day King hid four fine fish under a grass stump and returned to his little square-bowed punt. Startled by the rushing sound of swift wings, he looked back to see the smaller of the two eagles alight on the stump, seize the two largest fish, and rise i i the air, screaming harshly iu derision. For- tunately for the eagle, King was without his gun, and in spite of his anger, all he could 1I.1 was to shake his long arms and ilirect dii ' threats at the bold bird. His auger soon cooled, however, and he smiled when ho thought of tlie eagle ' s audacity. A group of men, whom King had guided one summer had offered him one hundred dol- lars if he would capture either of the eagles without injury. The leader of these men was an ambitious politician and he thought it would be a feather in his cap to present a magnificent eagle to the new zoological muse- um in his city. To this end, therefore, Joe studied their varied ventures until he de- cided upon a way to capture one of them. Carefully he framed his plans, and then one clear day, he rowed in his skiff nearly to the cascade. Tyiaig his boat, he set off towards the top of the mountain, which he reached after some difficulty. It did not take hioi long to spy out the nest, as that of the eagle is several feet in width, and he knew fairly well where to look for the eagles ' home. The nest was very unusual, being built of sticks so large and so well placed and fastened that the liuuter could rest his full weight upoii the edge. Taking from his sack a steel trap with padded jaws, he set i,t to spring at the slightest touch on the pan. He placed the trap under some of the moss in the center of the nest, and attached the chain to a heavy stick of wood which he balanced on one of the bottom supports of the nest. He then retircl I0 another ledge below. Joe King knew he had placed his snare well. His eyes gleamed when he saw iu the sky a black speck which steadily grew larger and plainer. It was the larger of the two eagles, and hope rose high for Joe as he watched him. Nearer and nearer came the eagle as he set his wings and sailed swiftly towards his home. With a few heavy strokes of his great wings, he settled on the outer rim of the nest. He rocked back and forth while he foldecl his wings, and then, with an awkward little hup, he disai)i)eared almost from sight iri the hollow. ImnuHliately following the sharj) idick of the sprung trap, Joe heard tlie eagle ' s shriil scream of fear a ' nd paiji, and he saw the eagle lea]) info the air, with the trap fast to three talons. Frantically beating his wings, the eagle dislodged the heavy clog at the end of the chain and it swung free underneath him. Hut Joe King liad misjudged the power of that eagle. Instead of seeing him pulled rai)idly to the lower ledge, he witnessed a wonderful but peculiar battle; a struggle be- tween the eagle ' s wings and the log ' s gravity. In the end gravity won. Cor tile eagle tii ' evl slowly. As the great bird, still valiantly fight- ing, came within reach, Joe leaped out, thre.v a sack over the eagle ' s head, and with great diiliculty subdued him. The lord of the forest resisted so bravely that there were two deep scratches on Joef s arm, one of which bled so freely that he was forced to bind it tightly. The eagle gave Joe considerable trouble but just as the sun was sinking behind old Baldy, Joe shut and barred the door where his prey was impi-isoned for safekeeping. Joe agreed to care for the eagle until the alder- man could come to get him which would be about two weeks later. During those two 15

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At length came the World War and finally America entered. Ivan, with liis father ' s last words ringing in his ears, was one of the first volunteers. Perhaps now he could repay America. To the doughboys, who nicknamed everybody, he was Little Eoosia . In vai.n, he told them he was an American; in vain, ho fought Iiusky Yankees and brawny Western- ers, and endeared himself to tliem all. His fun-loving buddies persisted in calling him Little Eoosia . Late in the afternoon of one stormy day, the captain of Ivan ' s company called his men together. Boys, he sai|d. we ' re trapped. Tlie relief won ' t come ' til tomorrow. Therd ' s only one way out. Tonight a German will bring the plans for tomorrow to a post in ' No Man ' s Land ' . If we get the plans, probably most of us will be living tomorrow night. If not — . We have got the location of the post. We need four men, two to get the message and two to bring it in, for chances are nine to ten the first two won ' t get in. Who volunteers? Once again Ivan heard the words of liis fa- tlior — If necessary die for her , and he stepped forward. It was pouri,ng that night when four silent figures crept over the top of the trendies into the inky blackness of the slime and muck of No Man ' s Land . The silence and darkness was deathly, save for an occasional blinding- shell from the Huns. The four crept for- ward, burrowing into the mud as a shell broke. For interminable minutes they crawled. At length, Ivan, who was in the lead, stopped. Aliead he caught sight of a faint, steady light. He looked at the luminous dial of hi|8 watch ; time for the messenger. He crawled closer. Hark! Gutteral voices! Very slowly now ho moved ' til the German post came into full view. Two Germans sat bait to him. One held up a packet. Ivan waited. He signaled to the man behind him, and crawled closer. Tiien lie rose swiftly and brought the| butt of his pistol down on the head of the German who held the packet. The man sank witliout a word, but hi,s companion cried out. Ivan seized the packet and plunged into the dark iiess. As lie knelt, a bullet singed his legs. Another, and his head seemed to crack, but on, on to Number III. At last by tlie light of the coming dawn, lie saw the American lines. But by tlie same liglit, the Germans saw him. Shells spun in the air and tore up tlie earlli. Finally, ho reached Number III, and as the man dis- aiijieared with the packet, lost consciousness. When Ivan awoke, he was in a hosp),tal. He awoke to a world of darkness for the Ger- mans had taken liis eyes. He awoke to find he would never walk again for his legs had been given to the great cause. After the Armistice, many of his buddies came to see him and the first one said, You are one of the finest Americans. We have given you a new name, ' Tjttle Yank ' . Ivan was in the hospital of France three years, and wliile he was there, the president of France decorated hijn, An American soldier, for con- spicuous bravery . And the president of the United States, visiting France, called on him and left a token of the greatest honor to an American soldier. Toda.y, Ivan is in one of our great work- sliops for the blind, where wonderful things are done by the sightless. He has no eyes. He has no legs ; will never walk nor see in this world, yet he is content, for he knows he has been worthy of America, lias offered her liis all and best of all — he is an American. DOETS DULEY. MORNING The sun rose brightly o ' er the hills, And filled the valley with shining light. The budding flowers beside the rills Glistened with dew in the morning liright. The birds in the trees sang merrily Witli their joyful matins filling the air. Tlie frogs in the brooks croaked happily. As they gleefully greeted the morning fair. Over the whole wiite eaa ' th the morning Comes with a gleaming light so clear. To impart to the world the joy of having The use of (Jod ' s wondrous beauty here. DOEOTIIY BRADFOEI), ' 24. W oik! for soon you graduate, A im high, before it is too late, Iv eo]) light on as you begin, K liter play and work to win. V iiid yourself in what is best, I 1 will help you stand the test. I ' j a 111 a good name for your own, 1j earn to depend on yourself alone, 1) oii ' t be gniiiipv, glum or gloomy. II a ( ' a smile that ' s bright and bloomy, I 11 the world go out and try, G lad to will for W ' akelield H igh. DOEOTHY BAETON, ' 24. :• 1-1

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weeks Joe cared for the great bird and even tried to tame hiaii, but witlioiit success. He did, however, learn to respect and admire the eagle ' s dignity, pride, and the flashing fire in his eyes. At times he felt pity for the poor eagle, es pecially when he saw the free bird circling in the sky, utteri,ng plaintive cries, ever searcii- ing, searching, searching, with those piercing eyes, for the body, dead or alive, of her lost mate. When the capti,ve heard these cries, he would lift his wings, run around excitedly, and seek to find an opening of a size to squeeze himself through. These attempts failing, however, he would shi.ft nervously from one foot to tfte other, darting his head rapidly from side to side, now and then angri- ly snapping his curved beak. He would the.i lapse into a sulk and sit with featliers ruffled ; but as mealtime approached, he would rcga! i his usual poise. The eagle possessed nn ex- traordinary intelligence. He never answered his mate ' s signal; probably because he thought she would rush to aid him . ' ind so be drawn to the foi,ls of captivity. Then one day the city sportsman arrived. .Toe at once began to dislike him, for he un- consciously compared the man ' s blusteriiit? manner with the eagle ' s quiet companionshi.p. He gave Joe five twenty-dollar bills and de- manded a receipt. Somehow Joe was down- hearted tha,t niglit and he vaguely wondeiel why. The would-l)e mayor proposed to stay a few- days and try his new angling outfit. Il. scoffed at Joe ' s advice about fishing and boast- ed about the fish he would catch the next day. In fact, he caught only a few, foolish, tiny panfisli, and his ill temper increased with his failures. At last he gave i|t up and lounged around the camp. He seemed to take pleasure in plaguing the kingly bird and this both- ered Joe a great deal. Tlie alderman ' s cruel- tj ' increased and to Joe ' s protests, the answi r was What is mine is mine and I ' ll treat it as sucli! Wlio are you to preach kindness to animals, you who make your liying l)y killing tliem? ' ' Of course, Joe was at a loss lo nn- swer this high-sounding retort. But events soon came to a crisis. The iildei- man was regarding the eagle with a complac- ent smile. Ah there, my fine fellow, ' lie said. What a fine speech I shall make when I present you to my townsmen! Then I shall announce my candidacy for the office ' f mayor. Then poking a stick under the eagle ' s wings to make liim spread tliem, he stretched his arm into the cage. Tlie eagle, striking with lightning rapidity, inflic+ed three pain- ful wounds in his tormentor ' s hand. The furious man, swearing savagely, began to dri- c the bird around the narrow cage. Suddenly lie felt a strong hand on the collar of his eoar. He looked back ijito the glaring eyes of Joe King, who almost choked vith wrath as h-; commanded, CJuit chasing my eagle! He ' s mine! retorted the alderman, and I allow no man or beast to injure me as they ])lease. Furthermore, take your hand off my collar or I ' ll have you sent to the ' jien ' for a year! ' ' I may go to jail, returned Joe, but I ' ll fix you first. The bird did nothing until you bothered him. Then, as his anger increased, he exclaimed, Here, take your filthy money! I don ' t want it! You ' re not fit to have a bird ; I ' ll keep him myself. The alderman cooly picked up the scattered bills, and then said with a sneer, Since you give ine the money, I will take it; but the bird is still mine, for you have failed to re member that I still hold the receipt. Then Joe liegan to see straight; he realize! that the alderman held the whip hand, aiiil according to law, was the rightful owner of the eagle. Having a mighty respect for the law, Joe decided to find .some other way o. ' getting even ' . He turned away resisting an impulse to idant his fist sc|u:irely in the other fellow ' s face. The alderman continued to strut pompousi.. ' .about the eanij), but lie no longer tormented the eagle. He began to make sarcastic com- ments to Joe, thinking the latter was thor- oughly cowed. Joe disregarded his taunts and kept his temper by going i.nto the cabin. The alilennan w.is soon startled to see his cot and bedclothes come sailing out of the door. Joe appeared on the threshold and said terselv, ' ou ' ll sleep in the woodshed tonight. Hut to Joe the sun seemed to have a frown on it:; face when it sank behind old Baldy that nigh:. •Just as tlie first grey streaks of dawn bega.i to lighten the eastern skies, Joe King rolletl out of his iilankets. Moving about quietly, he ])i)cked up the most of ii s food and dotii ing supplies, strapped them on his back and went out, locking the door of the cabin. Pans ing at the door of the woodshed, he assure himself that the alderman was still sleeping soundly. Then Joe went over to the cage, pulled our the bar, and threw the door wide open. The ea},le drew l)ack, fearing some new trap. No- ticing this, Joe walked awa.y from the cage and the gi-eat bird stepjied forth haltingly. ;l€