Arlington High School - Indian Yearbook (Arlington, MA)

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6 THE ARLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL CLARION of Christmas wishes men to have, and which they could very well learn from that poor, dumb creature, who was made by the same Creator, and did as that Creator wished him to do. Thomas Lyons, '14. AT TWILIGHT. The sun was set. the evening air was chill. And o'er the grey and naked hilltops drear And thro’ the leafless trees with arms outstretched The winter wind soughed with a mourn- ful tune. The world looked barren, hard, and full of pain. Then suddenly the wind was hushed and still. And all was wrapt in quiet, deep and full, As tlio the world were waiting for a sign That should a promise be of joy and peace. From heaven a token of God's grace was given ; Gentlv the soft white snow began to fall And cover up the sins and scars of earlh With that pure symbol of God’s love and cheer. And the whole world seemed nearer unto God And Holiness and Peace reigned over all. (t. 7 . Morgan. A SIGN OF WINTER. Although pheasants are seen through- out the year, they seem especially nu- merous in the autumn and winter, when one can hardly see fewer than three or four while on a ten-minute walk through the woods. My first introduc- tion to a pheasant was made several years ago in the latter part of the win- ter. 1 was gathering pussy willows on the edge of a small swamp, and had stepped backward into some tail, dead grass, so that 1 might see better the best place for my knife to work, when suddenly, without any warning: Bang 1 bang ! boom ! boom 1 whr-r-r ! whr-r-r! To say that I was frightened was to put it mildly, and if anyone had l een around with a tape he would have found that I had taken the record for high jumping. I landed facing the direction from which the explosion had come, only to see a large bird dapping leisurely away. Yesterday while I was returning through the woods from a tramp at dusk. I saw seven, and heard many clucking on their roosts, while the day before I watched one retreat silently by scooting away on its feet. I have noticed that in the early spring and late winter their explosions are clear, not unlike a bunch of lady crackers going off. but that now the ex- plosions are not so clear: a sound more like someone drumming on a tin can. The clucking in the dusk of in- innumerable pheasants on their roosts is one herald to me of the winter Parry Reiche , '17. A CHRISTMAS OX A COASTER. We were snug in the cabin of the Ellen Bayne, and our captain’s little girl kept asking if it wasn't time to hang her stocking. I lounged in my bunk reading, and when the schooner staggered in a hol- low of the sea I was glad 1 was a pas- senger and not one of the crew. The captain came below at six. Well. Sweety. said he. “What do you think Santy 'll bring you tonight? “Maybe he’ll bring me a doll.'’ “That'd lie jolly. I hope he brings me a let up of foul weather.” We had a large cargo of cypress, and had been beating northward for a week. Tt had grown bitter cold, and the gale had struck us good, but Sweety didn’t mind. Her head was full of Santy, and her stocking was now hung at the foot of her bunk.

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THE ARLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL CLARION 5 Til 10 Till H SIM KIT. Ilis name was Friend. It was an appropriate name, for lie had no enenn in (lie world. Friend was a little brown dog. He was not a pretty dog, but his de- Jieienev in appearance was more than counteracted by his wonderful intelli- gence. Nobody knew anything about Friend. He had no home, no master. The only food lie obtained was from refuse cans, the only kindness, from the people pass- ing his establishment every day. Friend was a business dog. He did not work for any firm or corporation. He was in business for himself, his work being to help mankind. Every day, at a crowded corner in the business section of a great city, Friend would be seen. He was a guide. When any old or infirm person came along, or any frivolous child, Friend was immediately at his side and would conduct him over the dangerous crossing to safety. All the teamsters knew Friend, and when they saw him coming they would stop their vehicles and allow him to pass with his precious party. Sometimes the person he was con ducting would know his intentions, sometimes they would not. When they knew, he was sure to get a kind word or pat, which would please him very much. When a person did not know his intention or did not recognize his service, he would look wistfully after him, and slowly make his way back to his post. One day if was (lie day before Christmas — Friend had an exceedingly hard day. The holidav rush was at its height, and the crowds were large and heedless. All day long the little dog had walked back and forth over the crossing, first with an infirm old lady, then with some heedless children. At ten o'clock at night there was no' decrease in the crowds. Friend was very tired, but he still kept on his mis- sion. He saw in the distance an old blind man coming, his heavy cane resound- ing on the asphalt pavement. Truly, here was one who needed protection. The dog was at his side in an instant, and together (hey started on their perilous journey. The wagons and automobiles seemed to be increasing as the night went on, until now there seemed to be an endless stream, all impatient to be moving on- ward. When Friend reached the mid- dle of the road he seemed surprised, for the teamsters did not stop for him as they usually did. He was just about to lead the blind man through a break in the line when an automobile came rapidly from the rear and struck him. He emitted a sharp, painful bark, and all was over. “Oh, its only a dog! He was killed by an automobile. Come on.” Only a dog! If some men had the kind and brave heart that that little dog had, and would so willingly risk their lives to help their human broth- ers, then there would be a true Christ- mas spirit, a spirit which the founder

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THE ARLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL CLARION Shortly after the mate came below. Here's the doll, Mr. Turner, said the captain's wife. Sweety 'll be too proud. said Mr. Turner, grinning. It's all right, he whispered. Here, let me stick it in her stocking— so I About midnight 1 was awakened by a crash. The stern of the schooner went up, her nose went down. She seemed to rush ahead, then she came to with a lurch. As I tried to pick myself up. Sweety thrust her head out of bed clothes and rubbed her eyes, and then, catching sight of her doll, exclaimed : Oh, oh, Santa Claus has come!” She seemed heedless of the storm, yet the schooner was listed to the port and rolling heavily. The captain rushed in, shouting: Here, get the belts on quick's ye can !” Have we struck?” Xo, but the rudder's gone, and the fore-mast’s down. The schooner's done.” Oh, Papa,” called Sweety, see what Santy has brought me!” Yes, yes. Sweety; it’s nice, ain’t it ?” lie answered absently. But you'll have to get dressed, Sweety, soon's you kin. Fix her up warm, Mother.” When day broke, we all dotted the rigging, like dies in a web. I looked over where Sweety and her mother were. 1 could see the child's lips move as she looked at her doll. Toward noon a smudge of smoke blurred the skyline, and two hours later a large steamer was standing by, two miles away. Then a boat’s oars flashed on the crest of the sea, and came, nearer and nearer. It wasn't until sundown when we were finally lifted out of the rigging and hoisted on board the liner. Tn some way Sweety dropped her doll overboard. For a minute I feared that her Christmas would be spoiled after all. But Mr. Turner, being yet in the boat, as luck would have it, made a grab for the doll, went over- board, seized it, was pulled in, and presently had the pleasure of restoring the treasure to Sweety, where she lay curled up in a bunk with the ship's surgeon busy at work at her little frost bitten fingers and toes. But Sweety didn’t mind her lingers and toes, now that she had her Christmas doll again. Thornton C utter , 14. KFTBOSPFCTIXd. Drifting, ever drifting the white flakes silent fell, Ottering jeweled billows to hill and plain and dell. Moaning, always moaning, the plaintive pine trees weep, (Guarding slumbering nature, reposed about their feet. Laughing, gently laughing, the tiny streamlet sings. Sheltered neath its silvery roof, long- ing just for spring. Drifting, moaning, laughing; how like humanity ! Living in a struggling world, 'midst a troublous sea. Drifting is temptation, that helps us learn to rise. Moanings are the sorrows which lure us to the skies. Laughing comes to greet us. though de- feat stands in our way; AN hile, hoping and believing, our skies will not stay gray. Failures and despomlings give only just a chance To help us fully realize, the worth of an upward glance. Defeat, that seems to threaten our last supporting pride. Teaches us the sooner, in simple faith to hide. Day by day will brighter grow. Let it be confessed, Things which seemed so hard to bear were for us the best.