Anson Academy - Anchor Yearbook (North Anson, ME)

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thirteen now, but in three more days she has a birthday, answered Sue promptly. H Then the old lady smiled and said, I will see, but first I would like to see her and talk with her personally before I decide. You see, there are times when I cannot go out because of my health. I would like to have someone to talk with, someone I like, and my maid is busy most of the time so she can't beamy com- panion. I Yes, I see. Vllould you have to have her stay with you all dayiand at-night ? , asked' Sue wonderingly. . Yes, I would like her here all the time and into the summer. Next winter I am going south because the doctor says I cannot stand the cold. 'Then I wouldnlt need her' as much, answered the lady. Then, at the mention of doctors, Sue thought. Oh dear, the operation. I will have to tell her about that so she won't expect Bets all the time. . . Sue told the lady about the operation and why she needed the job for her sister. The lady then said, I'Bring over Bets and the things she is making. I may buy some. I Lifted in spirits, Sue went out into the cool air and was walking slowly home, deep in thought. As she entered her home, she heard a masculine voice. Vlfhose was it? Hadn't she heard it many a time before? Of course, it was Bill's. Rushing into the room, she cried, Bill! Oh,iit's good to see you back! You, too, baby. lVhere have you been. I have been sitting here for an hour and nobody knows where you wentfl ' Yes, where have you been F cried Bets. I would have come earlier if I had known you would be home, then adding, I have a place for you, Bets, with enough pay for you to have the operationf, she continued. She told them all about securing the new job. Swell! You won't have to leave school and' the sooner you get through- said Bill, but now we are all happy except me. Mrs. Winters, may I borrow Sue for awhile? VVe haven't had a moment alone. Sue gave her mother a look and Mrs. Win- ters said, Well, yes, I guess so, but behave yourselvesf, They both said an absent-minded yes'l, and went out into the night, looking at each other. -BARBARA JUDKINS ,ALS . Life Is What You Make lt Once in a large, busy city, Miss Bryce, a welfare worker, was notified of the poverty of two motherless' girls, who, with their father, lived in a squalid. tenement house in the slums andivvho were tleftiialone during the day while their father walked the streets hunting for work. The helper sent to investigate the matter, found the tenement house, climbed a Hight of dirty, rickety stairs to the second floor, and ap- proached the door, which, she had been told, opened into the room where the two girls lived. I-Iearing childish voices, she stopped to listen to what they were saying. Had you rather have some tender, broiled chicken or some juicy beefsteak pn I prefer the beefsteak. Would you care for some of this ripe, lus- cious fruit ? Oh yes, thank you. Thereupon, the woman said to herself, If they can dine like this, why was I ever sent here PM She returned to the welfare office and related what she had overheard. b Soon, however, the office was again notified of the plight of the two girls. This time Miss, Bryce decided she would go herself, and get the facts of the case. As she neared the door to the room where the girls were, she heard a conversation similar to that which her predecessor had heard. Not being satisfied, however, she opened the door and beheld two children sitting at a rough, wooden table, eating crusts of bread. She inquired, Are those crusts of bread all you have to eat? Where is the broiled chicken, the beefsteak, and the fruits that I heard you talking about PM Oh, we don't really have any of those things, but every day we play that we do. We break up our crusts of bread and make believe one Tzafmzty-Seven

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Kennebec river were startled to see a group of boys .Hoating down the river on a mattress with some boards under them. But the boys knew nothing about this perilotis journey. for they were all sleeping soundly. '4LUCILLiE' Bicnkvq '48 t Visions The earth was still, and far atuay, Two lonely soldiers knelt to pray, And, as they prayed, the dark, dim past Slid softly by, but oh, so fast. They caught a glimpse of loz'er's lane Arid moonbearns, shining bright, A-nd eehoes of the songs they'd sang While walking through the night. They eaught a glimpse of mother, Whose sweet, but tired face, Seemed to haunt their favorite dreams And to follow them every place. Soon these visions all had passed, And their hearts once more were calm,- The past was not an open wound, But instead, a soothing balm. -Im INiIoU1.'roN '48 Two Miracles Sue didn't quite know what to do. lier sis- ter needed to go to the hospital for an opera- tion and it would cost a lot of money. She would have to stop school to help around the house and maybe, get a small part-time job so her mother could work all day. Oh, how she hated to leave school yet. the next day. she told her mother what she would have to do to help. Oh, Sue, you mustn't, complained her in- valid sister, Bets, UI can get along without the operation. . Yes, you could, but since the doctor says there is a chance for you to walk again, we must try it, even though it would cost a lot. Anyway, I donlt mind working to earn more money. I can go to school later. Sue an- swered, encouragingly. All right, but isn't there something I could do ? inquired Bets. ' Her mother was the one to reply, Yes, there is, Bets. You could make things to sell, TTC't'lIf,X'-Sl.l' like pins, embroidery. stuffed dolls and many other novelties. f'Oh, mother, that is a wonderful idea,', exclaimed Sue. f'XN'e could buy the things we need for making and sell them for more. 'XYe could get quite a lot of money, after all. Then, that is what I'll do. Wlhen shall I start? Now ? asked Bets. Yes, Sue, run down street and get the ne- cessary materials so Bets can startf' After the meal was over, and the dishes washed and dried, Sue went downstreet to get the things Bets would need for her sewing. On her way sheapproched a sign which read: YoUNG GIRL XY.-XNTED TO KEEP COMPANY WITH ELDERLY L,xDx'. APPLY .rr REDWOOD BIANSION. Goon PAY. At this Sue's heart jumped. She proceeded on to the Redwood Mansion. At the door, Sue was a bit scared. Maybe she wouldnt want-- the sentence wasn't finished. I mustn't think that, thought Sue. At that moment the door opened and there stood a small, kind faced lady in a tidy black dress. Her hair was of silver gray. H-h-hello. stammered Sue. I-I came to see about the job. You know. the one down street on the poster. The lady smiled. Yes XYon't you come in F This is heavenly. thought Sue as she en- tered. I should like very much to live in a huge house like this. Her thoughts were interrupted by the lady saying, You would like the job? But don't you attend school F Oh, yes, but I wanted the job for my sister, if you would take an invalid. She has a wheel chair and is very entertaining. Oh, I just know you would like her l' Sue exclaimed. feel- ing more at home. f'Does she go to school, inquired the lady. No, she has books of arithmetic, and others I have brought her. I have taught her also other things she would have been taught at schoolfl How old is she and what is her name ? asked the lady. Betsy Wlinters. Vie call her Bets. She is

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piece is chicken, another beefsteak, and another piece, ripe fruit. Miss Bryce immediately saw that a large basket of fresh fruit and vegetables. and sev- eral bottles of fresh milk were sent to the girls and their father. Later. she interviewed the father and learned that he had not had a steady job for months. Through the employment agency. she located steady work for him. The girls were given a better home and an education with religious training. Years later. one girl became an accomplished singer and the other, a literary writer. They never forgot their father, and provided for him when he was too old to work. -HILDA XY.-xt.K1-:R '48 Mow, Paw, And A Surprise Time: Any late afternoon. Plate: Any place in Northern Maine. Supper! Supper, paw! Spit thet cud o' to- bacca out and wipe thet juice off ye chin. Now. come an' eat aforc everythin' gets cold. Come 'long and wash thet derned pitch off, ye gut frum thet tick ye been a whittlin' on half the day. By hemp, Maw! Don't a hurry me none. I gut a touch o' the rheumatics agin. and 'sides I ain't as kinkey as I used to be. when jim Flagg and I was a loggin' on Bald Mountin. 'Member whin we uster go forty mile on a buckt-oard jes' ta court you and Cora? Maw, fetch me a little hot water ifin ye wants me ter wash. He, He, He! Maw. do ye 'member the time Dekon Morris was a goin' 'cross the ol' muck hole after the Hood ? Yes, Paw. I reckon he used every word in tl-e ol' Testament. Uh, Paw. why don't ye use a little soap? All ye a doin' is makin' a nxess o' mud all over ye. Vx'ell then, Maw, where the duce is the slip- pery stuff P Paw, ye must be blinder a bat. 'cause it's right there afore ye eyes. Paw. with a quick whisk of water and not 7 :uv11 fy-Eight enough soap to hurt. said, Maw, which one o' these things is the towel ? The one with the most dirt. Come, Maw, let's eat. If ye keep a putter- in' round. it will be bed time afore Ye know it. Gracious. Maw, guess these is the best vit- tles ye cooked since God was a cowboy. Paw! Stop talkin' like thet. M'hat do ye think our little Jimmy boy would say. to hear ye a talkin' like thet about our good Lord P KYell, Maw, I don't care what He thinks about me, as long as He is taking care of Jim- my 'way out there in France 'er some place, a tightin' his heart out. jest ter be home ter take care of me au' you. Maw, speaking with a sigh. Yes, Paw, I bet he's 'way out there in one o' them wolf holes. er whatever ye call 'em. Jes' think, Paw, it don't seem only yisterday thet jimmy woulda come a runnin' inter the house with a bunch of kids thet were wildern hawks and want somethin' to eat. then erway they'd go. to beat glory. I kin still a see him a blushin' when he hrot young Sally Smith home. Yes, Maw. He was a dern good feet ball player, and the way he could go over a bas- ketball floor. 'Member how the gals would a iight over him when he went to school? I don't wonder, Paw. Tain't every day ye see a six feet, light haired, blue eyed feller with big. broad shoulders, and the weight to go with 'em. Yea, Maw. Don't ferget his big feet. I wisht he would come home afore long. Mighty lonely without him eroundf' M'ell. we mustn't dally. Maw. 'cause it's dark an' beginnin' ter snow. Ye gotter be get- tin' the dishes washed. then a whin' o' me ol' pipe, and erway to bed, eh, Maw F Yep, Paw. gotta git into gear. Ye know. Paw, sumpin struck me funny jes' now. Yes Maw XYell. ye know about thirty year ago this eve. I had the happiest feelin' that I can't explain. Paw. it was the night we was married, and just now I had thet same feelin' like some- thin' great was agoin' to happen. Maw, ye feel all right P