Weymouth High School - Campus / Reflector Yearbook (Weymouth, MA)

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Grandmotker s Story Florence McDowell 37 In an attractive old-fashioned house a group of people were seated around a large fireplace. The wood was crackling, and the sparks were blowing cheerily up the chimney. One of this group, an old lady with beautiful snow-white hair, which was brushed back softly off nei wrinkled forehead, was seated in a large arm- chair. Three children sat at her feet, on the hearth rug before the open fire. The youngest child was leaning sleepily against her grandmother ' s chair, and they were all clamoring for their usual good-night story. The old lady started in with: Well, my lit- tle children, as long as it is the night before Christmas, I shall tell you a Christmas story that is true. When I was a little girl, my father went to fight in the Civil War. The months stretched out wearily. They were certainly un- happy ones for us. For weeks at a time we would be without word from our father. Often we would find our mother in tears, but when she saw us, her lips would break into a sweet smile. Finally all word failed to reach us. We waited and waited, but no letter came. One day, when we came in from our play, we found a great many people in our home. Our aunt led us into a room and told us that our daddy was dead, that he had given his life for his country, and that we should feel very proud. This was just before Thanksgiving time, and the news dampened our spirits greatly, and we felt that we had little to be thankful for. Days went past, and Christmas drew near; but we were not welcoming it with anticipation, because we missed our father so much. Mother prepared as usual, by baking and putting her house in order, and by making everything as inviting as possible. Finally the day before Christmas came. Mother was hurrying about, and we were ' all helping her, because we knew she was unhappy. We were all popping corn to make corn- balls when we heard a knock at the door. John, my brother, started to the door, but he had the corn-popper in his hand ; so mother told him she ' d go. Upon opening the door, she stood there, speechless. We all turned our heads rc see who it was, and we heard mother sob. ' Oh, my dear. Can it be true? Can it be true you are here? Come in! Come in! ' Our daddy walked in the door. He clasped us all in his arms, while we shed tears of happi- ness to feel him so close to us once more. Mother clung to him, and asked him how such a thing could happen. He looked at us in sur- prise, and asked us what we meant. So mother then told him how we had received word that he was dead. Father was certainly surprised ; then he felt sad that we had suffered such sorrow. He said that they were in the battle-line and a man, one who happened to be his best friend, had been without a coat, so he had covered him up with his own, never thinking he would die. When this soldier was found badly mutilated, they found daddy ' s coat near the body. The paper in the pockets had identified the man as my father. Later, daddy said, he himself was picked up by the enemy, and held prisoner. He had just been released and had come home as soon as possible. That was the best Christmas I ever had. We laughed so much, in our excitement, we almost forgot to eat the big, brown, crispy tur- key mother had cooked. We had so many peo- ple coming in and out, our door was always open. Mother had candles everywhere, and we certainly made up for our unhappy Thanks- giving, because we had more to be thankful for than anyone else in the world. Now, my little chickens, the story is over and so you must hur- ry and hang up the stockings, and scamper up the stairs. Grandma hurried them along in this fashion, because she didn ' t want them to see the tears which were shining in her eyes. Rita Linnehan : Ned turned to Joe and ad- dressed him — Rita Lawrence: Must be going to send him somewhere. Ned Houghton (at a party) : Hello! It ' s a peasant surprise to meet you here. Mac: Good of you to say so. Ned Houehton: Yes, I was afraid I should not find anybody here but brainy and cultured people. He: I ' m so sorry, dearest, that your father cannot afford the big church wedding you ' ve set vour heart on. She: Oh. I don ' t mind a small wedding for my first time, sweetheart. Perhaps father will be better fixed financially when I marry- again. REFLECTOR ...8...

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A Cknstmas Story Too mey ' 36 The house was in the most exclusive section of the city. Claire Grahame, beautifully gowned in a Lanvin creation, looked petulantly out upon a snow-covered world. The storm had abated, although the wind was blowing sheets of fine drift about. It would surely spoil her party. The high-ceilinged room was resplendent in its rich furnishings. Interior decorators had produced a marvelous effect. Myriads of light- beams from the great candelabras played upon the superb decorations. Here was wealth. A maid came noiselessly into the room. The stars are already out, ma ' am, and the paths are nearly clear, she informed her frown- ing mistress. Is Mr. Grahame here yet? He has just arrived, ma ' am. A nervous apologetic John Grahame entered the room. Why are you late? she accused. I stopped to listen to some carol singers — boys, with such sweet voices — Carol singers! I worried because you were not here. Henri has not come, and Celeste in- sisted upon going to her sister ' s sick child. I depend on them for perfection of details. I know I shall be ill when this party is over. Unhappiness joined hands with Wealth. The home was one room among many in a ramshackle tenement. Two children and their mother pressed their faces against the cold win- dow glass. They clapped their hands with joy that the storm was gone. The little room was piteously poor in its furnishings; nevertheless, to the two little girls and their mother, it had taken on a truly festive air, since they had arrayed a little tree in one corner, and fastened a red ball in each window. But it was on the little table in the corner that their eyes came to rest. Here they had placed a little crib among some boughs of evergreen Over it a single Christmas candle shed its soft light. Shall we go now? Marie asked. The roads are clear. Yes, the mother answered, smiling at their eagerness. Each year they spent part of Christmas eve at the little church in the square. Here they prayed, and their father, dead now three years, seemed to hear their hopes and plans. God brought him very close to them at Christmas time. They thanked God for His goodness, and asked that He would take care of them during the coming year. Eager-eyed and joyful, they came out from the little church into the fairy palace of the world. Happiness joined hands with Poverty. Did You Know Tkat — No person can successfully feign insanity any more than he can pretend to have typhoid fever or pneumonia? Expert psychiatrists can deter- mine within a few minutes whether or not a person is insane by checking his mental reactions, thousands of which are keys to his true state of mind and are beyond his control. The James River in Virginia contains the on- ly known specimens of the fish that cannot float ? This strange creature has no air blad- der, and therefore, when it stops swimming, it sinks to the bottom. A seven years ' record of the notorious Devil ' s Island penal colony off French Guiana shows that prisoners attempt to escape on the average of one every fourteen hours? About one quar- ter of them are never recaptured, having gained their freedom or died at sea or in the jungle. A secret in the manufacture of one of the world ' s finest makes of porcelain china is that forty-four per cent, of it is the ash of cattle bones? The 14,000 taxicabs of New York City have a daily gross income of $100,000, which thev earn by making 200,000 trips with 350,000 passengers, a number that is equivalent to the entire population of Vermont? A recent survey shows that official lotteries are held today in thirty foreign countries, and that the citizens of the United States spend an aver- age of $575,000 a week on tickets for them? One of the greatest tributes ever paid a dog was the place given to Caesar in the funeral procession of King Edward VII of Great Brit- ain, in 1910? This little wire-haired terrier, the King ' s favorite pet, was allowed to march behind his master ' s casket, taking precedence over nine kings and nearly all the princes of the earth. Betty Groht ' 35 REFLECTOR ...7...

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Ckristmas for Sailors Gordon Flett ' 36 In the year 1919 the American Submarine S- 1 9 floated on the surface charging her great storage batteries. The conning tower was open, and the men shivered in the cold air as they checked the forward gun, to be positive it was in good condition. It was near Christmas and the thoughts of the men were of their loved ones at home. They were tired of the cramped quarters of a sub , and the ever present danger of death. Larson, the second mate on watch, suddenly sprang up and shouted an alarm. Five enemy bombing planes were seen not far away. All the men disappeared into the depths of the sub , and she started forward, disappearing below the surface. The German High Command had issued orders for the destroying or the capture of the S-19, and two German destroyers of the latest type, and the German submarine U-27 were in search of the S-19, to carry out their orders. The two destroyers were a half-mile apart, the U-27 bringing up the rear a mile behind. The American commander knew of the two destroy- ers, but was unaware of the submarine. He gave the order to lie on the bottom and to let the destroyers pass over them. When the man at the listening tubes had declared the destroyers over and passed, they rose to the surface. An order prepared all torpedo tubes ready to fire. Fire torpedo one! came the command, followed by Fire torpedoes three and four! Three long gray torpedoes, one in the lead, shot forward. They hit one destroyer just be- low the surface, causing a bad list. The other two all but blew the remaining destroyer out of the water. Confusion immediately followed. Men leaped into the freezing waters, boats were launched ; but, unnoticed, except by German officers, the enemy sub , U-27, rose to the sur- face. Taking the situation in, the commander gave orders to fire the forward gun. Sailors rushed forward, took aim,, and fired at the S-19. The shell tore a hole in the upper part of the con- trols in such a way as to make the ship respond rather sluggishly. The S-19 dived in hopes of eluding the Germans, but they too submerged. Suddenly a throbbing was heard. This in- creased in volume until it deafened them ; then it decreased. Several times this happened, and the Americans realized the German sub was try- ing to ram them. They could not escape, be- cause of the damaged controls, and a crash would not harm the enemy sub because of its nose which was intended for ramming. Again the throbbing, louder than before, increased in vol- ume, and then came a deafening crash. Lights flickered. Air burst on the outside of the sub- marine with the noise of a cannon. Strong men screamed in fear of a watery death. At length they were quiet. Everything seemed all right. Then the truth came to all. The German sub- marine had crossed at an angle, just below the S-19, but the conning tower had struck the heavy keel of the S-19, causing the tower to snap off, and fill the enemy sub with water immediately. The Americans again rose to the surface. Oil lay on the water, but, otherwise, there was no evidence of the fight of hatred and death below the surface, which had just taken place. The S-19 made her way slowly into her Naval Base a day later. The men would be on land for Christmas and its joys, but their minds were on the unfortunate men in the enemy sub U-27 and their death. They wondered if their turn to perish was coming. If so, when and how? Christmas Day The dawn broke quietly and stealthily over the slumbering village. The lazy sun rose over the hill and shone brightly, reflecting on the milky snow. From the gray-blue skies fell large, fluffy snowflakes, covering the earth with a deeper and heavier blanket. The branches of the bare trees were hanging low, threatening to crack under the strain of the snow piled on them. Gradually the village awoke from its slum- bering stillness. Signs of life appeared, shades went up, and gay colorful wreaths hung in the windows, or some bright bearing Christmas tree was trying to show off its ornaments behind the curtains. Men hurriedly made paths to the woodshed to fetch wood. Smoke curled from the chimneys into the cold, frosty air. Everyone arose joyfully for it was Christmas Day, the birthday of our Saviour, a day of cele- bration and happiness. The church bells chimed, and from every doorway children ran out, laugh- ing and jumping as their thankful parents fol- lowed behind. They were going to the Lord ' s house to thank Him for all He had given them and the joy and happiness He had brought. Lucie Leone ' 37 REFLECTOR . ..9...