Bancroft School - Blue Moon Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

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THE BLUE MOON 83 SELECTIONS FROM THE DIARY OF FRANCIS CARLTONWOOD Captain Smith was out in his boat and his clothes took fire. He was badly burned. July 15, 1619 Today the first women arrived. Most of the men chose wives, but I did not. August 5,1619 A few slaves got here to take care of the tobacco. Later, when I have more money, I will buy some. April 15, 1623 An Indian Maiden, Pocahontas, or Matoa as she is known to her tribe, and John Rolfe, a settler, were married by the Rev. Mr. Whittaker. I was sick and couldn't attend the wedding, but I heard every detail about it. The chapel was trimmed with scarlet-berried holly. Pocahontas was dressed in a tunic of white muslin. On her head was a long and flowing veil, and hanging loose to her feet was a rich robe presented to her by the Governor, Sir Thomas Dale. On her head she wore a filet of gorgeous plumes, and on her wrists and ankles many native bracelets. The people of Jamestown are very pleased with this marriage. Pocahontas is the first Christian convert in the Virginia Colony. ANNE BIGELOW, Class V1 April 20, 1608 NEWS OF CORNWALLIS' SURRENDER UTHEN it was a defeat for us? No. Lieutenant James had not been present at the surrender at Yorktown. Captatin Dane, on the contrary, had had an active part in it. These two pals were talking together in the Lieutenant's house, where, two days later, the news of the surrender had not arrived. We won then? said James, unable to believe his ears. Tell me about it. , What could Cornwallis do but surrender? You see he was surrounded on all sides at Yorktown: American troops-French troops-French fleet- and then came Washington down from the North. Clever of Washington. Very. Well, as I was saying, Cornwallis had to surrender. So the cow- ard pretended he was sick, and he had another soldier present his sword. Mighty sneaky, I call it. So do I. Here the Captain paused to light his pipe and put another log on the fire. Washington forbade our cheering. He said, 'My boys, let

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82 THE BLUE MOON her to the veterinary to have her shot, when my aunt met this gentleman with the dog. She liked the dog so much that she took it home with her. When I Went abroad to visit my aunt, I spent most of my time with Fifi. We both liked each other very much. As I left to go home, my aunt gave me Fifi for a present. She is a very clever dog, and understands three languages-French, Ger- man, and English, She also can sing and almost talk in dog language. IRENE MCLAURIN, Class VI THE BOSTON TEA PARTY WE ALL like tea, And so you see The Boston people drank it. Taxed tea came in, And in the din Some Boston people sank it. It was this way- Ill-fated day- To Boston came some tea, The people said Noi Back it must go, It is taxed too heavily. It happened then Some Boston men Appeared as Mohawks dressed: Right down the street, With hurrying feet, They ran and yelled their best. They reached the floats, They manned the boats, And to the tea ships rovved. A motley crowd, They shouted loud, What feathers and paint they showed. The tea was dumped, The bottom bumped, Too bad it had been sent. And so the sea Got all the tea And did not pay a cent. BARBARA EMMONS, Class VI

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84 THE BLUE MOON there be no insults to a conquered foe! When they lay down their arms, don't huzzaz posterity will huzza for you!' But we cheered when we got home, all right. You had a right to. But tell me more! So, long into the night, questions were asked and answered, until Lieuten- ant James had a full first-hand account of the surrender. FAITH BAKER, Class VI FROM MY BEDROOM WINDOW ONE dark and moonless night I in my bed was lying, When suddenly out of the blackness I heard a noise like crying. I tiptoed to the window, And saw in a hollow tree Two round and fiery eyes Glaring straight at me. It was an owl I saw there, Out in the depths of night: So quiet was he perching I had not any fright. Next morning very early I looked out over the trees, And the faint hoot of an owl Came floating on the breeze. BARBARA BIGELOW, Class VI il,-,i- THE SKELETON'S DANCE IT WAS dark one night when I went to bed, and I was alone in the house. Pretty soon I fell into a light sleep. Suddenly I heard a low voice saying. Come with me this minute. It seemed as if someone were dragging me into nowhere, until bang! we crashed, and there in front of me seemed to be grave stones, quite a number of them. The little man disappeared, and I was left alone. Dingo! Dingo! Dingo! The grave stones opened, and out jumped skeletons, one by one. They seemed to be dancing. First their heads popped off, then their arms, but they came back again. Dongi! Dongi! Dongi! The grave stones opened and in jumped the skeletons-all but one who stayed out. You see, the skeletons believe that if they don't go back into the ground when the bell rings they will perish with the cold. But this skeleton said, Who cares? Besides, I don't believe that saying is true. I am