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

Page 29 text:

h. ?..1,...-,. ...,, THE LEGEND OF SHOWS FALLS It was a bitter cold winter night in the early part of the nineteenth century, a night such as are known only to those people who live among the hills of Kaine. but by no means bent, form trudged along the tr the figure of an old Indian woman, straight but weary from the long cold day's travel. She from Andover where she had Heat her wigwamu for An old all. It was as an arrow, had started many years. This old Indian woman was one of the last of her race in this part of the country, the rest having moved further north beyond the domain of the white man. She was none other than Kelly Ockett for whom Xollyeckett mountain in the town of Woodstock is named. She had many friends among the white race, especially in the towns of Andover and Paris Hill. M This dreary winter evening she trudged along to visit with her friends on Paris Hill. However, the traveling had been unusually hard and the deep snows had so hampered her progress that gt was already well into the evening hours and her destination still lay several miles away. NI'll stop and spend the night at one of the houses,n thought Kelly Oekett as she neared the place new Land per- haps thenb known as Snows Falls. So thinking she called at every one of the few houses in this little settlement, but all in vain. Every door was slammed in her face, shutting the warm firesides from Molly Oekett's view, shutting Holly Ockett out into that blustering winter blizzard, perhaps to freeze--anything but to enjoy the cheery glow of their home fires. what did they care about one more-or-less old In- dian squaw? - ,C When Kelly Ockett had been turned away from the last glowing fire, she turned and faced the blustering wind to survey the little huddle of Hhospitable homes.n It was an attractive little settlement as it lay that night,blanketed with snow. A snow and ice-crowned river wound through the bare trees and finally tumbled over the falls,forming beau- tiful curling strands ef ice, like gorgeous tresses of sil- ver hair. Helly Oekett stood so gazing for a long time. Then she said, speaking to the landscape, UYour solitude shall never be broken by selfish men. You shall always be lone- ly, desolate, and silent. No man who lives here shall ever prosper or live here long.n Thus delivering her curse upon 5

Page 28 text:

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'

Page 30 text:

the place, she plowed on through drifts and after a time reached Paris Hill, Here she was admitted to warmth but not cheer,for within the house lay a very sick baby. In spite of all this sorrow, Molly Ockett was given the heartlest welcome. Here ' she proved her usefulness by helping nurse'the sick baby, and she bestowed her blessings upon him saying, Your son will soot get well and some day he shall be a great man.H As time were on and Molly Ockett became a figure of the past, her prophecies began to come true. Whether or not you believe in curses and prophecies, the truth still remains. Snows Falls still remains a beautiful but quiet and lone ly settlement. A few years ago a mill stood beside thefalls. Fire turned most of it to charcoal, and the worthwhile ruins were moved to another setting. Fire also dragged this to the ground in a heap of black ruins. A state highway runs over the settlement today, and a wayside inn and several over- night cabins skirt the river. Yet, in spite of the large a- mount of money spent for the up-keep of the place, few people patronize it and owners or leasers stay but a year or two. Has not Holly Oekett's curse worked upon this place? And how much longer will it last? Molly 0ekett's second prophecy has alio come true, per- haps more so than the one at Snows Falls. The baby got well and grew up. Here than that, he became the Vice President of the United States of America, Hannibal Hamlin. He was truly a 'great man' of the State of Kaine, ' Pg ' 1-1fxUN'rf.e , The dusk was heavy about me--oppressive. The houses, plain wooden structures, followed one another in monoto- nous similarity down the drab street in this Chinese hamlet of California. I slipped silently between two of the llude edifices, and stopped, listening. Hy heart poundedg my ears throbbedg and my blood seemed congealed within me. In the surrounding twilight it seemed that I could see that horri- ble, wrinkled, yellow face, with its gleaming eyes. That- parchment-like hand seemed to be gripping my arm in clammy, skeleton-like fingers. I strained my ears, but I could hear no following foot- steps. Where had my pursuer gone? Only a short time ago he had been hot on my heels, like an unrelenting bloodhound. As I crouched there in the markness, my thoughts wandered back over the past few weeks of my existence. Un-