Annie Wright School - Shield Yearbook (Tacoma, WA)

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THE HYAK 9 become of my classmates in the Annie Wright Seminary. So, with fear and trembling I said, “O show me, thou discerner of the future, what my classmates are doing.” Immediately she beckoned me with her long, crooked finger toward the fire. Frightened though I was. I could not help obeying her. I was simply impelled forward by her will. When I- reached the fireplace I saw an immense cauldron simmering over the coals. I he witch waved her scrawny arms once, twice, thrice, over the cauldron, repeating a charm ending with the familiar refrain, ‘‘Double, double, toil and trouble. Fire burn and cauldron bubble.” As I stood there looking into the inky blackness of the pot. suddenly the surface was greatly agitated. Lurid blue flames arose and a black smoke surrounded the witch. A numb- ing sensation crept over my body and my head whirled. In an instant all was over and I was gazing on a beautiful broad street lined on both sides with large shade trees and broad paved walks. 1 recognized this to be one of the principal boule- vards in I’aris. There were many people promenading up and down, but one couple especially caught my eye. Something about the tall, stately form of the woman seemed familiar to me. She was talking earnestly with her companion, a tall, dark Frenchman, and as they passed I heard him say. ‘‘Yes, in if red, that is without exception your masterpiece, the car- rots are so natural.” Surely Winifred could not still be doing carrots, but then I almost forgot that “practice makes perfect.” Hut I had no further time for consideration, for the scene was swiftly changing, and I saw a comely woman in Mother Hubbard and sunbonnct coming down a quiet country lane, a dinner-pail strung over her arm. She was evidently carrying her husband his midday meal to the mill which I could hear tri biding awa in the woods. But which one of my companions could this be. It puzzled me. but not for long, as I soon heard her burst into a raphsody of song something to this effect— “Tell me not in idle numbers Senior life is but a dream, For the soil is dead that slumbers And seniors are not all they seem.” 1 his was Mel lie lluhhard and the song one of our own ver- sions of Longfellow. Again the scene changed and I saw Mary Kautz, I could not mistake her, presiding over a school of neat, bright looking young ladies. They seemed to be having a lively discussion and every once in a while I heard Mary’s shrill voice pitched above

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8 THE HYAK Our gay one, Ellen, fond, too, of society, And dances, parties all are her delight. Hilda is so demure, you don’t first see. The imp that ' s lurking iu her deep brown eyes. Our summer girl is she; and thus we end Our list, for me, you see before you here. When after this June day we separate To fight our fight in this small world of ours, We ' ll each one do her best, find the smallest niche. Where she is needed and we hope we may, As time goes by, remember this our school. Our Alma Mater dear to all of us. Her teachings not in learning ' s way alone. Hut in the example of true womanhood. Here urged upon may ever mindful be Of all the unselfish care and watchfulness By which we’ve been surrounded in these walls. Winifred Loomis. CLASS PROPHESY . Among the many singular incidents which happened dur- ing my stay at Pompeii was the encounter with the Witch of Vesuvius, of which I will tell you. While making my third ascent of Vesuvius I became so fatigued that I begged the party to leave me to rest on a rock near the base of the great mountain. After being assured by the guide that there was absolutely no danger, the others went on, and I sat for a while lazily watching them as they pain- fully made their way up the steep places, but soon I became restless and started to move around and examine the crevices in the mountain side. Several extended inward a number of feet and there were some in which a man might almost stand upright. One of these seemed especially large and lead farther in than the rest, so I decided to explore its depth. After I had gone about twenty feet I came to a sudden turn and immediately found myself in the cave of a horrible looking hag. At first I was about to scream, but instinctively I remembered the loneliness of the place and realized that a cry from me might only enfuriate the witch. I stood there motion- less from fear, unable to take my eyes from her hideous face. She gazed at me a while with her glittering snakey eyes and then asked in a low hissing voice, “What is your wish, prin- cess?” It suddenly struck me that there might even yet be some true witches left in the world, and that this one might give me the desire of my heart, that of knowing what had

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10 THE HYAK the rest in these familiar expressions, ‘ Quiet girls, quiet—” “History repeats itself—” “Now, in New York—” “I know, but if each one would do what she knew was right—” The scene shifted again, and much to my sorrow I had to leave Mary and her maidens, whom I soon forgot in the en- chantment of the next vision. It. was a street in front of the dear old Annie Wright Seminary in Tacoma, and as I stood spellbound gazing at all the beloved objects round about and longing for one of the luscious persimmons which hung -on our own class tree, I saw Miss Port come out of the door of the Seminary looking just as she did when I left school for college. But I had no chance to gaze on her longer as I heard a terrific noise and, turning quickly to avoid being run over, if possible. I saw an automobile lumbering down the street. It was the original model, I should judge from the noise. I just caught a glimpse of its occupant, whom I recognized as Sara Posner, then a cloud of smoke from the machine enveloped her, and she was gone. Again for the last time the scene changed, and I saw Ellen Lawler surrounded by a laughing group of children seated be- fore the fireplace reading bedtime stories. She seemed happy and really enjoyed the tales as much as the little folks. In one corner of the room I saw the form of a man stretched on the divan taking his after-dinner nap. 1 thought I recognized the form, but was not sure, and dare not say. After the last picture had faded away the witch beckoned me, and as I hurried past her I slipped a coin into her hand. I was even then too awed in her presence to pretend to thank her and was exceedingly happy to get out into the fresh air and sunlight after the uncanny surroundings of her cave. But this experience I have always recorded as the most fortunate, yet awe-inspiring, of my life. Hilda Vaeth. THE PLANTING OF THE TREE. Not long ago we seniors were holding an important meet- ing to decide upon an appropriate class-tree. We thought and argued, but came to no decision. At length we were interrupted by a knock at the door, and a little fairy came in telling us she knew of our trouble and would aid us in getting what we wished. With this she was gone, leaving us in such amazement that we all held our breath and stared at each other. Naturally we could do nothing more, si) our meeting ad- journed to be called the next day. No sooner were we seated