Arlington High School - Indian Yearbook (Arlington, MA)

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8 THE ARLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL CLARION The past year's gone forever (it’s joys and sorows o’er), And shining stars now tell us, eternity lies before. Drifting, moaning, laughing, our por- tion still has been, But may we live more nobly ’til Heaven will here begin. Then gaze with upward glances 1 o where a chorus swells, Of angel voices singing, “All must be well.” Adella IF. McMillan. '14. “MA’S” PRESENT. “Pa” Benson wrinkled his forehead in deep thought. Because of unex- pected profits this year, he was eager to make the approaching Christmas a red-letter day for his worthy spouse. Gift after gift present ed itself to his mind, only to be rejected on one ground or another. Suddenly a thought flashed over him so quickly, he jumped right up as if he were sitting on a hot potato, and just chuckled. There were no more doubts in bis mind now as to what “Ma’s” Christmas present should be. So eager was he to go to the city to select it, he could hardly wait for the next day to come. When it did come, and he found himself in all the bustle and confusion of a big city at Christ- mas time, he felt like a fish suddenly lifted from the water of his native brook, and cast into the roaring ocean. With a “do or die’’ expression on his face he followed the crowd, or speaking more properly, was carried along with it. info a store fairly glittering with lights and the brilliancy of Christmas decorations. II is mind was fully made up as to what lie wanted, but — he looked around, dazzled by so much splendor, — how was he to find it here? Why here was a sma'l town in itself! Finally, after wandering aimlessly about for some few minutes, he stepped up to a beautifully gowned woman who looked as if she might know everything — or nothing, perhaps ! — and said politely : “Could you tell me, ma’am, where I might find — dresses ?” She looked him over from head to foot, while all the time conscious of the shabbiness of his best suit of clothes, he felt himself growing smaller and smaller, fairly dwindling away. At last she condescended to murmur: “I have no idea.” Pa, turning away in utter despair, took out his great handkerchief, and wiped the drops of perspiration from his face. Oh, but Ibis was infinitely harder than a day’s work on the farm! But when he put his hand to the plough at home, he went on, regardless of obstacles. So did he here. Seeing a group of people crowding into a little box-like contrivance at one end of the store, be folowed. As the elevator sped upward on one of its in- numerable journeys during the day, he was rewarded by hearing the welcome words : “Fourth floor, suits, coats, dresses,” and he hastily stepped off. his hopes rising rapidly. Looking about, he descried a gown draped upon one of the forms, which he considered prettier than anything he had ever conceived of. As a haughty young woman sauntered toward him, he ventured to ask its price. One hundred and forty dollars,” was the answer, as indifferently as one might say, “one hundred and forty cents.” Gathering up the last remnants of his fast oozing courage, he heard him- self asking if there wasn’t something not so expensive. Not in this department. She di- rected him to another section of the store with a vague wave of the hand. “Pa,” after following as nearly as possible the direction pointed out, stated his desire to another very elab- orately dressed person, who calmly asked him what size. The question struck him as a thunderbolt from a clear sky.

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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.

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THE ARLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL CLARION 9 I don't know, he s;iid, weakly. ••I'll — I'll call again.” That evening as he leaned across the supper table, he inquired of Ma with a twinkle in his eye, if she wouldn’t like to choose her own present this year ? .Million ■’. Anderson, ’15. A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Joyously the hells are pealing Carols wild and free; O'er the earth, sweet peace is stealing Softly, silently. In the sky a star is gleaming. Wonderfully bright, And below the earth lies dreaming 'Neath its twinkling light. Silently the gift is given, Christ is born tonight. Sing, oh angels, high in heaven, Of earth's eternal Light! Marion E. Busliee, ’14. CHRISTMAS IN THE FOREST. It was a clear, cold day in December, and a heavy blanket of snow covered the earth. The birds were chirping, busily hurrying to and fro to find food, which was a hard task because of the covering of snow. In the forest all was quiet. The trees stood tall and gaunt, devoid of leaves, and the evergreens sparkled brightly in the sunshine be- cause their green needles were threaded with snowy silver cord. The sun shone high above them and then began to turn to the west. Sud- denly a tall pine spoke, and the trees near him listened attentively, for they all respected the majestic giant. “Two years ago,” he said, “some people came into our home here and had what is called a winter picnic. They swept the warm snow from the arbutus and evergreen . and trampled down the sleeping plants. In fact they did everything to disturb our peaceful- ness.’’ Rut, asked a little froslpine near, they didn't take away anything, did they?” Yes, stormed the stately one, in re ply, they brought sharp, cruel axes, and cut down a small tree about your size. They talked of how pretty the spangles and gifts would look on it. Rut I know that tree would not hold much because it was only as large as you.” Oh,” gasped the little tree, and her branches shook with terror. I do not think they will come this year, because tomorrow is their Christ- mas Day, and they usually come a week before then.” Suddenly on their ears broke the sound of human voices, and the tramp- ling of underbrush. They are coining!” whispered the little pine, and I know they will take me! Oh, if only I were big like you !” Well, maybe they won’t” said the big tree, consolingly, there are many other trees here you know.” Rut they came tramping in, and the eyes of one of the men fell on the little frost pine. Here’s the one we want,” he cried to the others. They immediately set to work and cut down the poor little tree, while the big pine angrily looked down on them. They varied the tree off, and its branches seemed to be waving a pathetic farewell to its friends in the forest. The trees left behind whispered mourn- fully among themselves, and the wind moaned with a wailing sound through the branches of the great tree, who mourned the loss of his little neighbor. Rut Christmas morning dawned clear and bright, and the trees nodded a “Merry Christmas to each other. Although the men had robbed the woods of a tree, yet Nature, the mother of them all. would plant another, and where the snow was trampled she