Arlington High School - Indian Yearbook (Arlington, MA)

Page 11 text:

The Arlington High School Clarion 5 EXTRACTS FROM HIS DIARY May ioth I guess I’ll keep a diary — all the fellows do an’ so does Sis, only she keeps hers locked up now ’cos one mte I got it and red part to Carl when he came to take her to the show. Gee, wasn’t she mad! An’ I got licked, two. May i ith They made me go to church. I mostly have to on Sundays — there was a funny man sat in front of us an’ he looked ’s if he didn’t have on his own hair an’ I wanted to find out so when we got up to sing I got up quick an’ bumped his head with the him book, an’ it wasn’t his own hair, it was a wig an’ Dad said, “ Wait ’til I get you home and I did an’ I wish I hadn’t. Sis has got the meesles an’ say, there’s spots all over her, an’ maybe she ain’t cross. I hear Dad — guess I’ll go to bed ! May 19th Its orful hot. Ma got my new suit. I went to Susy Smith’s party. We played post Oflfis an’ I kissed Susy twice. I like her. We had ice cream. Gee, I’m sleepy. Sis is better, the spots ain’t so big. May 20th Had to go back to school. We’ve got a new teacher an’ she’s pretty, but her hair is red. I told Sis an’ she says its “ tissu,” but it ain’t its hair an’ does Sis think she’d wear paper for hair ? May 26th Its Sis’s Birthday. Ted sent her some flowers — orkids — but she didn’t like ’em. Carl sent her a book named the modern house and it had pictures of rooms an’ Sis liked that and she got red. I give her a handkerchief. Me and Johnny played tag after supper. I was going to hide behind the piano when Carl came but they went out an’ I only got to the gate an’ Dad cot me but I heard Carl say kinder shaky, “ Are you sure, Little Girl ? ” An’ Sis ain’t little — she weighs 140 lbs. and she’s tall but she didn’t get mad when he said it an’ then Dad got me an’ I think lie’s mean. June 1st There’s a new girl at school an’ she sits near me — her hair is black and her name is Laura and I smiled at her an’ she smiled at me, to — I don’t think I like Susy Smith any more. June icth Sis is going to be married an’ I’m going to see it an’ Laura’s goin’ to carry flowers, I guess. They’re goin’ to Switzer-Land on a huney moon an’ I asked teecher why didn’t they go on a boat an’ she laughed and Mr. Adams he’s the principal said it meant a slushy moon an’ I shouldn’t think that would be nice ’cos slush gives you sore throats. June i 6th School has stoppt an’ I’m glad an’ I’m goin’ to Uncle Eds up in Main for all summer and I guess I won ' t take my diary with me, it takes to much time. I found a nice dog on the road an’ I brot it home an’ Mary the cook says, the saints bless us (an’ there aren’t any more saints ’cos I heard Dad tell Mother they all died |ust before she married him) its hidrofobia he’ll be givin’ us next.” An’ I asked Dad what it was an’ he said shut up an’ I did. I went down to say good-bye to Laura an’ she cried an’ I didn’t cos I’m a boy an’ I kissed her an’ I guess I’ll marry her when I grow up. Dad just said “ Alice, that child isn’t in bed yet,” so I guess I’m goin! Teddy, ’1 1.

Page 10 text:

4 The Arlington High School Clarion meant no neckties or embroidered hand- kerchiefs. Betty, finally growing desper- ate as to what to do, made an enormous corn ball for each boy and let it go at that. At last the great day came, and each invalid was hurried off, bag and baggage, in the Child’s limousine. Russell and his mother stood in the hall ready to welcome each new guest, and relieve them of their bundles. Everyone was overjoyed at seeing each other again, for it seemed years to them since they had all met. Never was there a jollier crowd to sit down to a Christmas dinner than the one at the Child’s homestead. Their repast was not just what they would have enjoyed under ordinary circumstances, hut their meagre diet appeared in a new light under such pleasant conditions. The afternoon was spent in talking over things, as much had happened during the long week. The general phrase that came in every now and then during the course of conversation was, “ Poor Sally! isn’t it a shame that she can’t be here, too.” Finally, it got so tiresome that Ralph suggested that the tune be changed to, “ Isn’t it mean that poor Russell can’t have Sally! ” After supper, Mrs. Child announced that they would have their tree A general rush was made for the door that had remained closed all day. At one end of the long parlor stood a tall, well-shaped Christmas tree, laden with presents of all sizes and shapes. Near it stood Mr. Child attired as Santa Claus. When every one was seated he began to distribute his parcels. All sorts and kinds of things came from that never-to-be-forgotten tree; there were many jokes and hits on the as- sembled company, as well as useful and pleasing gifts. The greatest laugh was raised when one after another of the guests opened variously shaped packages each of which yielded up a pair of blue glasses. These were the gifts of Russell. He said that he had had to wear them ever since he had been sick and so thought that the others had better follow bis example. After an hour of a jolly good time, Mrs. Child hustled her flock off to bed. The next morning’s mail brought a letter from Sally’s mother to Russell, saying that Sally had been taken with the measles the afternoon before, but did not seem very sick, and if it was convenient for Mrs. Child, she would like to join her schoolmates in a few days. Joy reigned supreme at this joyful news. The following days were indeed lively ones at the Child house. It was “ a continual rough house, and Mrs. Child a perfect brick,” as one of the boys ex- pressed it afterwards. As the vacation drew to a close the crowd tried to think of some fine way to celebrate the last night of their house-party, and, as usual, a dance seemed to be the favorite sug- gestion. The doctor thought that if fairly early hours were kept there could be no harm. So plans were soon laid for the “ best dance that ever happened.” Sally was the only one who was not thought strong enough to dance, but she did not lack partners to “ sit out with her. The whole week had been a grand success, and all seemed better, rather than worse, for their good time. Mrs Child afterwards acknowledged to one of the mothers that it was quite a responsibility for her and that she had felt like the Old Woman in the Shoe; hut that after they had all gone it seemed very lonesome and quiet at the big house. Gladys Richardson, ’io.

Page 12 text:

6 The Arlington High School Clarion THE ECCENTRICITIES OF FATE IN the private office ot A. N. By a rip a lawyer in New York City, two men had been conversing earnestly for more than an hour. Finally, one leaned forward and took a piece ol paper which the other extended, affixed his name to it, and lighted a cigar with a satisfied air, saying as he did so the one word, Done.” I his paper provided that if within ten days after that date William Atonson executed a deed for certain real estate in New York to John Tyler, the man who had signed the paper, he, Tyler, would in turn deed a piece of property along the D H tracks in Eroy, N. Y., to William Aronson. It was further agreed that the transaction was to take place at the Renssalaer Hotel in Chicago. The two men shook hands, and Aronson remarked that as he had promised to take his wife to the theatre that evening, he must hurry home. As the two men stepped out on the street, a broad smile covered Aronson’s face, and he kept saying to himself, “ Fifty thousand at least, fifty thousand at least,” and each time he said the num- ber his smile grew broader, till the people who passed wondered what good fortune had befallen the tall dark man. In a moment or two the smile left his face, and a feeling of faintness stole over him, and, before he could hail a passing cab, he fell unconscious to the sidewalk. Tyler at once had the stricken man taken to his home, where he was put under the care of a new physician, the family doctor being off on his vacation at the time. When Aronson had been put to bed, his wife explained to Tyler and the physician that her husband had suff ered from attacks of this kind before, but that they never lasted more than an hour or so. When the attacks were on him he always took on the appearance ot death, and remained so until they passed over. sfTyl er remained an hour or more and then left, saying that he must catch his train for Chicago. II Tyler, lying in his berth in the sleeper, flying towards Troy, congratulated him- self on the disposal of his troublesome D H ” property. He felt that he had made a “ good deal.” With this thought uppermost in his mind, he dropped off to sleep, and did not wake tdl broad daylight the next morning. After finishing breakfast he was won- dering how to pass away the time before him, when a newsboy came through the train with the morning papers. He bought one and settled back in his seat to look it over. Finding nothing of interest, he was about to lay it aside, when his eye was caught by a small headline, “ l roy Depot Site Located To Be Built at ‘ D H I racks and Main Street.” Tyler read the article through twice before he fully compre- hended its meaning. It suddenly dawned upon him that this new depot site was on his own property. Then, with greater force, he remembered that he had just entered into a contract to trade that very property! He began to realize that the real estate along the tracks which had been worth perhaps fifty thousand dollars, was now worth at least a hundred thousand, and he had traded it for New York property worth about fifty thousand! His eyes narrowed; his face became seamed with lines as he tried to think out a scheme to block the trade. 1 hen his face lighted up a bit. There was