Bement High School - BIM Yearbook (Bement, IL)

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1 here, Barton Fairfield is coming back now and his sleigh is full. They soon come rushing into the living room, throwing off their wraps. First to kiss his mother, Delia, is Harry, the eldest son, then his wife and children, Jack and Elizabeth. Then came their youngest daughter, Helen, who was home on the Christmas vacation given at the college she attended. Then their oldest daughter, Dorothy, and her husband. Last of all came their other daughter, who is a school teacher in the city. She came in with her father, whom she had gone to the barn with, to feed and unharness the team. Soon after, they had their Christmas dinner, not soon to be forgotten. Such exclamations as follows ensued at the table: “1 haven’t tasted so tender a turkey since I left home.” “These cranberries and sweet potatoes are so good.” “Oh, granny, bring on the p-i-e,” exclaimed Jack. “Oh, look, see the cakes and pies, just look ! Oh, goody, goody!” “Well, well, my pretty dears, you shall have all the pies and cake and candy and nuts you want, at grannie’s”. After that long-remembered dinner they had a regular musical. They played the piano, sang, piayed games and did most everything that was suggested. Barton remarked that the old piano hadn’t had so much exercise for years. In the afternoon they all went away in the large sleigh and gathered mistletoe. The merry Christmas home gathering ended with Barton and his wife taking their children and grandchildren to the train in the large sleigh. When Barton Fairfield and his wife reached home they sighed a great sigh of relief and remarked of the happiness in having their children there and the happiness in having them leave and being once more in peace. Soliloquy of a football Mary R. Parker “ ‘ I hold the world, but as the world’, a stage, where every man must play a part and mine a sad one.” Before I had played a game of football 1 did not realize how true this was, hut now I get full meaning of Shakespeare’s words. I remember well the first game I ever played. I was laying on the shelf when one day a young college student purchased me and carried me out to the football ground where T (after being handled and thumped to see if I was blown up

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ft be Christmas Ibome Catherine Esther Dav. It was a cold, cold afternoon. In all of the houses one might see great fires burning. In some houses there were great old-fashioned fireplaces with kettles on the hearth singing like larks. In others there were base-burners and other stoves which are known in these years, that sent a red glow over all the room. There were large flakes of snow falling thru the air and the once barren ground was covered with a great blanket of white snow with here and there a hill like place where the wind had blown nature’s great blanket into soft-flowing folds like those in a lady’s garment of satin. The air was very cold and crisp with now and then a little breeze stirring. One could hear the tinkling of the merry sleighbells as the sleighs glided past. Then, if one listened very close, he might hear the sweetest, softest and most clear tinkling of sleighbells. There in the middle of the great wide road could be seen a large sleigh, filled with the softest of fur skins. The driver was a man whose shoulders were slightly stooped. His hair was as white as the snow. His faded blue eyes twinkled with merriment. There was the finest team of great brown horses pulling this sleigh. They pranced along like a small boy when he is on his way to the circus. On West Macon street, just on the verge of the city, there was an old house. It was a great brick house with a large porch facing the east. In the large kitchen at the back of the house was the man’s wife. Her hair was streaked with gray. She was the best of cooks, so her children thought. In the kitchen, there in one corner, was the large cook stove with savory smells coming from the several large kettles. If one could peep into the oven he might see the large turkey just turning brown. In the wide shelfetl pantry were cakes with brown and white icing on them. Beside these there were apple, peach and berry pies. Next to the kitchen there was a large dining room. The table was covered with a snow white cloth and was set for ten. In the center of the table there was a large bouquet of red roses. If one passed on into the living room he might find a large warm room. In one corner there was a fire place. The walls were tinted gray and the rug was a mixture of gray, blue and red. There were large red coals in the fire place which sent a red glow over all the room. We might wonder why the table is set for ten. The old man whom we saw with the sleigh has gone to meet his children, who are expected to arrive on the train from the city.

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tight enough) was laid down next to one of my own kind, who look-ingout from above numerous patches, said sadly: ‘Let me warn you— football life is only a series of knocks and kicks. It is with great pleasure that 1 find I am to retire from active service.’ I laughed thinking that his melancholy mood was due to just having played the first half in a game between Harvard and Vale. But when the game started 1 commenced to feel quite nervous because the score was nothing to nothing and all the players looked as if they were ready to fight. “The first thing 1 knew was that Harvard had me and was rushing toward their goal. When all of a sudden a Yale student who looked as if he was able to down any player on either team, downed my 1 larvard owner and they both fell on top of me. Still Harvard held me. It was not long, however, until I was ii Yale’s possession and was rushed old in the opposite direction. It seemed as if they were near their goal, but wishing to get there quicker, they tried a forward pass. Fhis was a failure. Harvard got me again and 1 was started back toward the 1 larvard goal. All players seemed tired out, but I thought, no wonder from the numerous times 1 had had the breath knocked out of me. This time I larvard reached goal and succeeded in the goal kick. This ma !e the score six to nothing in favor of Harvard. This ended the half. Yale was determined to bring up their part of their score and now worked harder than ever. After I was gotten by both sides several tim.es, I found myself back with Yale. They made poor plays and with the third down had five yards to gain. They were desperate and again tried a forward pass. This time th:y were successful and got to the goal. The position to kick from was extremely difficult and they missed. This made the score six to five in favor of Harvard. Both sides played as hard as possible and tried as many tricks as they could, but all in vain. The score still stood the same, six to five, in favor of Harvard. While I was lying on the floor in the dressing room, 1 heard every one say that this game had been the best one of the season. After playing several games which were hard, but none ; s hard as the first, I began to think quite seriously of what had been said by the ball whose place I now occupied. Now 1 am about to be put in play for another game. I hope it will not be as hard as the first, because 1 have grown old and am all covered with patches which makes me feel as if I could not stand it. I think this game will he my last and should I happen to meet the ball which is to take my place I will warn it of its future, so that it may be prepared for the hardest of kicks. But alas, it may be as foolish as I was and not listen to one who has played many games and learned that experience is the best teacher.”