Anson Academy - Anchor Yearbook (North Anson, ME)

Page 26 text:

You can talk and yell, and they just won't. It knocks and rattles, and hammers and pounds, And it makes some of the darndest sounds. It groans and rumbles and rattles along, And that folks,-is the end of my song. Richard Whitaker '48 PLAYING PRANKS ON LEM As we look back into the 1880's in a small town on the outskirts of Washington we find a big lumber camp where there are negroes as well as a few white men. On the crew there was one negro who was always careful that he didn't over work, and the other men were always playing pranks on him. - One morning before breakfast the cook rang the mess bell and they all turned out except Lem fthe lazy negroj. While eating, one of the boys thought they would break Lem of ly- ing abed mornings, so Ioe goes to the cupboard and finds the red pepper and mixes it with the cereal that remained on the stove to keep warm for Lem when he got up. Soon after, Lem came out to breakfast. He took his plate and helped himself to the cereal, leisurely taking his time. He took a mouthful, then asked, Who cooked de cereal dis morn? Ioe told him that the cook did, same as usual. Why it tastes mighty funny. Well Lem, the longer it sets around the stronger it gets. Dat's funny, de cook must have changed de brand, l'd never knowed it growed stronger befo. Me tinks it about time somebody git us a new cook den, if day can't git a new brand of cereal. I think it must be your taster, Lem. Well den, me taster has changed since yester morn. Disappointment showed on the faces of the men that were sitting around the breakfast table, as they rose to tramp off into the woods. Everybody was at their post but Lem, he did not show up, and the boss came inquiring where Lem was. The men said, He was eat- ing breakfast when we left. They sent a man to see if he could find Lem. On arriving at the camp, Ioe found Lem in the bunk camp asleep. Ioe went and got a long icicle and hung it over Lem's head. ln a few minutes it began to melt and run into his face. Lem woke up and said, Boys, we must be getting a big rain, de camp is leak- in . gkfhile Ioe is waiting for the icicle to fully awaken Lem, he takes Lem's rubbers and puts Page Twenty-four a little molasses in each one. By this time Lem is awake so Ioe says, Lem, the boss says you get up into the woods or take the tote road. Where are my rubbers? says Lem. Right here, says Ioe. So Lem puts them on as quick as he can and starts for the woods as fast as he can travel. As soon as Lem got to where the men were working, they discovered that they didn't have a peavey, so they sent Lem to the camp for a cant hook. He was gone some time when they began to think that he had lain down some- where for a nap and were about ready to send someone in his place when they saw Lem com- ing down the toe path leading a de horned cow. The men began to rave. What have you got that cow down here for? Masher sent me fo' a cant hook and she can't hook. It was getting late so they all decided that they might as well go back with Lem. When they all had gotten cleaned up and ready for another meal, in dragged Lem, with rubbers on filled with molasses that was run- ning out the tops. Ioe asked Lem what that was coming from the top of his rubbers. Masher me had a soo toe and I treated it last night with peroxide and she sho' am working. The boys laughed and decided that there wasn't much use in playing any more jokes on Lem. Ruth Newell '48 TOGETHER The shrill whistle of the rapidly approaching train cut through the still air. The sound brought many persons rushing out on the plat- form. All this commotion was unnoticed by Glen Gray, however, as he stood in front of the dingy railroad station deep in thought. He was thinking of Karen, and of how happy they'd been before the war. As he relived those years in memory his face seemed to change. The worried lines relaxed and he looked young again. He could see Karen now, in the living room of their home, her dark hair shining in the glow of the fireplace. Now they were walking to the top of Sun- nyside Hillf' There they would sit under the big pine tree and listen to the wind whisper through the branches. After watching the sun set, and the lights go on, one by one, down in the village, they would race home through the dimly lighted streets to a big steak supper.

Page 25 text:

WHAT KIND OF CITIZEN ARE YOU? Take just a few seconds right now to nomi- nate your candidate for the girl or boy who is the best school citizen. It's not as simple as it sounds, is it? Are you going to choose the person who heads committees, plays in all the games and would probably be chosen the most popular school member? Are clothes, personality and dancing ability to be considered? When I think of school citizenship, I recall a boy who never played in a game, who couldn't dance a step, and who passed his courses only by a narrow margin. I-le never missed seeing a game, however, and there was never a dance for which he had not helped wire the gym. To gain those passing grades he had to put forth more effort than brighter pupils had exerted for their A's. When he was graduated, a big gap was left in the school. I-Ie had made his good citizenship felt. Well, have you chosen your candidate? Is it the fellow out front who gets the applause and takes the bows, or is it someone who is in the background doing the dirty work without complaining? And incidentally, what kind of a school citizen are you? Preston R. Charles '49 MY DEAR Sitting by the window in the afternoon, I wonder and dream my dear of you Wishing and hoping that you would come soon. Sitting by the window that evening with you, I didn't have to wonder-'cause then I knew- The only thing I wanted, my dear, was you. Edith Spencer '49 A DAY AT SCHOOL In the cold sub-zero weather, Along about quarter past eight, You can hear the chugging of the Ford Coming down the Solon straight. Way off yonder you see a streak, She will be here in a jiify, And we won't have long to wait- Because I'll swear she's doing sixty. As Miss Durgin pulls into the driveway And shouts, Isn't it chilly? Among the agreeing crowd, Undoubtedly the happiest is Skilly. As the crowd adjourns to the building And Skilly leads the way, Miss Durgin draws the conclusion That it's going to be a perfect day. The oHice door flings open And Connon rings the bell. It's time for Skilly to quit flirting, And who with is not hard to tell. The Sophomores are quickly accumulating, To see their handsome teacher, Also, in walks Connon, And you'd think he was a preacher. ln spite of the very cold weather The fuel is on delay, I know you all will be sorry, But there will be no school today. The crowd is very rushing, Nobody is ever shy. Skilly comes prancing in To tell Miss Durgin Good-by. Everybody has gone now, And Skilly is being tricky. Who should be coming, arm and arm, But Becky Briggs and Ricky. Eugene Norton '50 MY FORD To many people a Ford I've shown, To many a fool my Ford I've loaned, But some fellers say, A car, that's all, But most of the time, I go by them all. There are many things wrong with my car, But nothing I cannot I-ix, by far. I have learned a few tricks of the trade, But for my Ford, they seem to be made, Bolts and nuts, wire and nails, All together they would fill four pails. Those are the things of which my Ford is made. But it flies through sun and shade, Through spring and summer, rain and shine, In some of the darndest places my Ford you'll find. Some people talk with scorn and hate, But in my Ford they just don't rate. Some people whisper and talk, But on the highway I let them walk. Some cars are good and others bad, But many the troubles in my Ford I've had, Some people like a Ford, and others don't, Page Twenty-three

Page 27 text:

Karen always had steak, that was her favorite dish. Then the war came! Karen, without a moment's hesitation, had gone to serve her country but Glen was left behind because of a weak heart. He was left behind to keep the home fires burning and to worry. The latter, he did a lot of in the two years that followed. There was very seldom any word from her, but now and then there was an account of some heroic deed in the papers and her name was mentioned. Yesterday, when the telegram came every- thing in the world seemed brighter to Glen. Karen was coming home tomorrow. A lot had to be done before then. The house was cleaned and the best steaks in town were bought. Now, as the train pulled into the station, Glen felt a moment of panic. What if she shouldn't remember him! Several passengers stepped through the gate- way. The band began to play, and there she was standing bravely in the doorway of the baggage carl A gleaming medal hung from her collar. Suddenly she saw Glen and with a joyous bark ran to her master, Karen, the heroic dog of the year. Mary Iacques '48 A FRIEND INDEED Certainly if they didn't find Mickey in the next hour or two he'd be frozen somewhere in a snow drift. He left home earlier this morn- ing for his morning exercise, which wasn't un- usual, but he'd seemed lonesome and maybe even sick. Mother had said she shouldn't have let him go out, but did and now all the boys and girls in the neighborhood were hunting for him. Mickey had had no home before coming to the United States from Africa and as far as anyone knew, he'd had only one sister and she'd been adopted by a man from Texas. People were sure she'd run away from home because the climate was so different and she couldn't get accustomed to it. The men of the B Divi- sion of the Army Air Force had found them sheltering under an old barn trying to keep warm. The children's hearts were aching now as they dragged their tired feet over the snow cov- ered ground and shouted Mickey's name but still he did not answer. lt seemed as if they never could go on if their best friend were not found soon. And spring would be coming soon and he played on the neighborhood baseball team, not too well, but the boys liked him and let him play. It seemed as if Mickey were always the center of attraction and always do- ing something funny or getting into some kind of mischief which his friends had to help him out of. But he was always grateful for their help and even afterward never forgot them and what they'd done for him. Many times he'd gone into the woods hunting with them and had run away from home down to the nearby brook fishing with the boys. One time the boys had all gone into the large field to fly a kite and Mickey had torn his new pants and felt terribly about this because in his country new clothes were a great blessing. The boys assured him everything would be O. K. and that Mr. lakes could easily get him a new pair. Mickey had learned to play a piano since he'd been here and this was great fun because never before had he seen one and the music seemed wonderful to him. All of a sudden a noise came from over the next snow covered hill, and the boys all started in the same direction with shouts of glee and calling Mickey's name because it must be Mickey. Then they could see his little red cap and his long thin tail sticking up from be- hind the drift and then he jumped up and came running toward them and he looked just as funny as he did the day they gathered around to see their little monkey friend taken from the box the day he arrived and from then on every- one had loved this cute little monkey. Beverly Paine '49 STINKY AND HIS PET FROG Stinky was a little fellow six years old, and lived in a small town named Brownville. In the spring and summer Stinky's favorite pastime was catching frogs. Every day when Stinky's mother was not in sight he'd sneak down to the frog pond with his bean shooter and every time a frog would come to the sur- face, Stinky would shoot at him but he always missed. Stinky couldn't understand why he couldn't catch a pet frog for his little friend. Chubby did, and he couldn't let Chubby get ahead of him. One nice sunny morning after Stinky had eaten his breakfast he asked his mother if he could play with Chubby, but Stinky didn't go to get Chubby. He headed straight for the frog Page Twenty-five