West Paris High School - Nautilus Yearbook (West Paris, ME)

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THE. FAJTHFUL Ll'.f'l'l.E HEART Jerry Taylor would never forget the day his father had been knocked down by a hurrying automobile and fatally in- jured. A kindly old doctor rushed Jerry and his mother to the city hospital where he left them in charge of a nurse. Silently the nurse led then into a small white room at the end of the building. Suddenly the silence was broken by sobs that shook the entire body of Mrs. Taylor. Jerry stepped forward and almost froze in his footsteps. Why did his father look like that? Bandages covered his arms, and his face was smeared with cuts and bruises. Only a weak groan was uttered through the quivering lips and a few gasps of breath stirred the body. When Jerry reached the bedside with his mother the tears were running down in a little stream. The figure now lay still, A new world had entered and had taken him with it. As the nurse led the sorrow-stricken pair out, the world seemed to have come to an end for them. It had been only a few minutes ago that they had been preparing supper and waiting for father to come home. The happy smiles had disappeared from the once merry faces. For weeks and weeks Jerry took no active part in any- thing. He attended school regularly but before and after school he would linger among his father's things--sit in his chair, look over his books and read the daily newspaper as father used to. Even his wether could not cheer him. She bought him new toys and took him to all amusement places but nothing changed the little boy's feeling. When Jerry could not be found at home he vas always discovered in the city cemetery sitting over his father's grave and crying bit- terly. Day by day he grew paler and the clothes hung loosely on his fleshless bones. A A month after his father's death, as he came home one evening when he came home from school he heard some conver- sation in the sitting room. Curiousity seized him and he peered through the key hole. Again tears blurred the staring eyes. How could mother sit so close to that man? She had never done it before when dad had been there. Trem- bling with anger he ran up into his room to seek comfort. About five o'clock Mrs. Taylor called Jerry for supper. He hoped that the mean man would be gone by this time so that he could be along with his mother. At the dining room door he stopped short for there in his dad's place sat that strange man. nCome Jerry, dear, I have a surprise for you. I want you to meet your new father,n Hrs. Taylor said joyfully ex-

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Doubtless I had been seriously injured, for my arms and head were entirely bandaged. I tried to move, but every at- tempt brought a painful groan. 'J1m?n I whispered, as the nurse held water to my lips., Wwhere is Jim?' She east significant glances at the superintendent, but said nothing. 'Is he dead?' I queried again. But she avoided my question. 'Please try to forget what has happened, and go to 8100Pon Forget! lSleep! How could I? Surely I must be told what had happened to Jim. Yet the nurse told me to forget,Uv sleep. I must have grown hysterical, for a moment later there was the sharp prick of an hypodermic needle on my arm. As the drug began to take effect, the whole truth slowly dawned upon me--the cart with the huge wheels, Jim laughing madly, I myself trying to reach him--yes, the answer was plain enough. E. M. '39 'IJEKRESTRIAL BE AUTY The tiny log cabin seems lenely,as it sits there, far up on the mountain. In its crudely made door sits an old man. Upon his countenance is an expression which strikes pathos into the hearts of these who look upon it. Few people fre- quent the path to his home, yet he is not unhappy. For here, day after day, he can sit in his doorway and view such beauty of nature that his every longing is satisfied. When he looks far out across the valley to the opposite horizon, the immovable mountains lift their majestic bulks aloft, far above the rest of the earth. Like purple pyramids clothed in mystic mantles they greet his gaze. In early morning the newly awakened grass blades, new bathed in re- freshing dew, glisten like fields of lustrous emeralds. New and then a frolicsome breeze scampers through the leaves of the young trees to make soft music, then, as elusive as the music it creates, slips away--to where,we shall never know. Beside the solitary cabin trieklos a stream, new jumping over rock, trying, it seems, to imitate a swollen mountain torrent, new gliding smoothly along like a snake, noiseless and shin' ng. As the old man gazes upon these pictures, they seem to him more ethereal than terrestrial. Peace reigns in the so- litude. The old man may be alone to think and rest, with God and His woodland creatures for companions and books to solace his desire for learning. S. E. '40

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pecting to see a smile on Jerry's face. No more piercing words could ever have struck Jerry tlon did those words Wyour new fathert' A lump grew in his throat. Without a word he left the room and ran to sowmlt the comfort of dad's big chair where he had so nany hours wept away the ever- lasting longing for his dad. Every day Mrs. Taylor, or Mrs. Rice as she now was, beg ged her son to act more kindly toward his stepfather. Jerry had not spoken a kind word to him and always ran when he came into sight to avoid a meeting. Each succeeding day made him hate the 'nel fathern more. Late that summer Jerry was out walking with his mother by the mill where Mr. Rice was working. Jerry had been acting differently that day. He had done everything his mother had asked him to, and he even had agreed to go to see Mr. Rice in the mill. Inside the mill roaring machinery made Jerry tremble and the spinning wheels made him dizzy. Mr. Rice greeted the two with a broad smile. Jerry stepped aside and keenly eyed the wheels and belts. What if one of those belts should break? Surely they would kill a man instantly. Some- thing seemed to be wrong with the belt on the right side of him and he was just about to speak of it to his stepfather when he shrieked. Mr. Rice with Jerry's mother jumped just in time to save their lives then the broken belt swung by hissing like a snake. But Jerry was caught! The belt struck at him wit? violent force and sent the staggering body crashing against the bricks on the side of the wall. Jerry opened his eyes in the hospital. Once more he gave his mother a big smile although his entire body was wrought wlth pain. nMother,---I'll---forgive you for marrying that ---- man. Maybe I'1l see Dad soon ---- -. Slowly the wet lashes shut out the light forever and death conquered the short life. H. P. '40 .QF35f55.Q5'?5??3 - G9QdiYRJQgnH'2uqRy' Lx kofwyw' -4' vs'