Berkeley High School - Olla Podrida Yearbook (Berkeley, CA)

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10 THE OLLA PODRIDA Ah! here was the opportunity to confess! But, in that moment, Elsa ' s courage failed; oO she went to her seat, her heart bursting with sorrow and shame. School closed, soon after, and Elsa never saw Miss Jackson again. She felt that her last chance had gone, for making restitution. She had little comfort in her promotion, for it always seemed that she had no right in that class; she did not belong there. Of course, being a child, she often forgot all about the af- fair, but then it would appear again sudden- ly, bare and ugly. One day, as she walked along the path, she overheard one little girl tell another, That girl is Elsa Green, and she never told a lie. Elsa ' s face flushed with pride, at first, but then the awful truth swept over her. There had been the time, yes! — but that was all past, and things were different, now. Oh! why had she never confessed it? Could she never be called honorable, again? After a few years, Elsa ' s grandmother died, and she and her Aunt Jane moved away to an- other city. Here was the chance, Elsa thought, to make amends for her sin. She would begin a new life here, and would w ipe out her past error, with a new and spotless record. Elsa was very popular in her High School life; but never did she forfeit her school-work for any sort of pleasure. High standing in school was her first thought. She felt as though she owed good, hard studying to some indefinite being. She was making amends. But somehow, with all her earnest labor, and efforts to obliterate her early mistake, the memory of it would remain — she could not forget. It is not the cheating, exactly, that haunts me so, she explained to herself, although that alone is bad enough. But it is the knowl- edge that, all these years, I have lied to my aunt, and my teachers and my friends. I have been acting one long lie. 1 have allowed them to give me undeserved honor, when 1 should have undeceived them. It was hard, at first, to confess. It is impossible, now. ' Near rhe end of Elsa ' s Senior year, her class gave a reception to the parents, friends, and the faculty. Elsa was very happy that night, and moved about gaily in her white dress. Her heart was care-free, and she laughed and talked with the rest. She was an import- ant person about this time; for she was to be the class prophetess, the heroine of the class- play, the leader of the cotillion in the dance, and a prominent factor in the class affairs, gener- ally. And, so, Elsa was happy, because she was young. Once, during the evening, Elsa discovered her aunt conversing with one of the professors. We have just been discussing you, Miss Elsa, the instructor said to her. Oh! don ' t go, as the girl started, laughingly-,-- to with- draw. Stay, and I will tell you what nice things we said about you. I said to your aunt, ' there have bee n many more brilliant scholars in the school, and many more digs, but in all my years of experience, here, I have never seen a more earnest student, or a more honor- able one, then Elsa Green. ' I would like to clasp the hand of an honorable student. I am not able to do so often. And the professor extended his hand frankly. But Elsa grew very white. Her arms hung limply at her sides, and she dared not raise her eyes. I will tell them both, now, she said to herself. I will tell them how — . For shame, Elsa! ' ' cried her aunt. Shake hands with your teacher, quickly. We Greens have always prided ourselves on our honor, you know, Mr. Krillan. And so, with burning cheeks, Elsa extended her hand. The cruel memory of another un- truth was heaped upon her. The burden of them all was so heavy — so hard to endure ! Soon after the reception, the day came that was set apart for the final examinations. It was a time of unhappiness for many, but others were more fortunate. Elsa, when the noon hour came, went home, rejoicing. She was well-satisfied with her morning ' s work, and did not dread the afternoon.

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THE OLLA POD R IDA 9 THe Family Honor Elsa ' s father and mother were dead. As far as she knew, she had always lived with her exacting and unsympathetic Aunt Jane, and her poor, bed-ridden, half-crazed grand- mother. Under the strict authority of her Aunt Jane, who, though seemingly indifferent to and uninterested in her little niece, yet con- scientiously preached truth and honor to the child, Elsa grew to have the excellent reputa- tion among her schoolmates of never having told a lie. And Elsa ' s fame was hardly won and well-deserved. One day, when all the children at school had marched into the class-room, they found their teacher busily writing at her desk. Her ac- tions looked suspicious, and there was a buzz of excitement in the room, for a few moments, since each scholar felt it his duty to impart to his neighbor, in a stage whisper, just what he thought was going to happen. But Elsa sat quietly with folded hands, as was her custom. Her heart beat uncomfortably, for she predict- ed an examination, and feared the results of one, for herself. Soon the teacher arose, and informed her pupils of the importance of the writing test she was going to give them, which would decide for each one whether he could be promoted or not. As she wrote the questions on the board, Elsa ' s face grew hot, and she thought to herself, I must be promoted. If 1 am not, Aunt Jane will be disgusted with me. She will say that if I am never to oe anything else than a stupid, I might as well not live. Poor Elsa! Her Aunt Jane ' s opinio n meant everything to her in those days. The questions were hard, but Elsa answered all but two. There was one that she had nev- er heard of before. The girl in front of her was writing, excitedly. Elsa wondered, idly, if that girl would be promoted. She felt the time slipping away gradually, and her heart beat faster and faster. Soon she got disagree- ably warm; then her head began to ache, and for a moment she rested it on her hand. Al- most unconsciously her eyes fell on the paper of the girl in front. There in black and white was the answer to that awful question. She knew her promotion depended on that question, and she thought of her Aunt Jane. It was the work of an instant to copy the answer on her own paper; then the bell rang, and the papers were taken up. That night, Elsa cried herself to sleep. She had never cheated before in her life, and her conscience rebelled. She would tell Aunt Jane the first thing in the morning; then everything would be the same again. But when Elsa went to breakfast the next morning, she was met with new difficulties. Miss Jackson has just told me that you did very well in your examination, and that you are promoted, said her Aunt Jane. I am very glad, Elsa, that you partake of the fam- ily intellect. You must remember, child, that honor and intellect are two of our family traits. Aunt Jane left the room then, but when she returned, Elsa was sobbing, violently. Come, come Elsa. You will barely have time to get to school. Run along! I will tell Miss Jackson about it, Elsa re- solved, miserably. But Miss Jackson met the little girl smilingly. I am delighted, dear, she said, that you succeeded so well. Your paper was very good, and I feel satisfied in promoting you. Oh! cried Elsa, with tears of despair, I don ' t deserve it — the promotion. Why, nonsense. Elsa. You mustn ' t cry, dear. You must feel happy about it. Awarded second prize in the prize story contest for this edition.

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THt OLLA PODRIDA But that afternoon, the History examination was much more difficult than Elsa had bar- gained for. Indeed, she was at a loss to ans- wer several of the questions. She could not even attempt them. But she was wise enough to keep from being overcome by nervousness, and for about half an hour she gave herself over to hard thought. Finally, the answer to one of the questions, slowly dawned upon her, like a figure approaching in a dense fog — in- distinct at first, but gradually, more clearly defined. Elsa hailed it with delight, and seiz- ing her pencil jubilantly, she proceeded to write down her thoughts. Suddenly, abruptly, the joyful expression on her face, vanished: the pencil dropped from her fingers, as though it burnt them, and fell, noisily, to the floor. Elsa had seen that ques- tion before, and she remembered it, only too well. It was the fatal one that she had ans- wered years ago, unfairly. The wording was entirely different, of course, but the same thought was there. She had not seen the question, since then, until this moment, and would have been unable to master it now, were it not that her good memory served its purpose. Surely, I may write the answer down, now, Elsa argued to herself. All the other is past and gone, and I have obtained my ideas fairly, this time. I see no reason why I should not write down my own ideas. Her own ideas ? Yes, her own; — but stolen possessions. However, if they are her own now, why may she not use them for herself ? Elsa had been taught, in her childhood, that the eating of stolen fruit was as wicked as the stealing of it. The old lesson recurred to her now, and she applied its principles to her own case. If what Aunt Jane said was so, then it is as wrong to make use of knowledge, gained by cheating, as to cheat. I will never cheat again. But I must give the answer, or I will fail in the examination — and that means that 1 may not graduate with my class. Elsa Green, a left-over ! Oh! what shame, what disgrace! And Aunt Juie, I must not fail. But if 1 do give the answer, I know what that will mean, too. The bitterness and dissatisfac- tion that I have experienced since that other time, will be doubled; and I know I cannot en- dure that muchlonger. Perhaps, if I am honest this time, it wili atone for the other. At least it will not add to my affliction. Oh ! how can I dare to do it ? Aunt Jane, the face and the prophecy will be out of the question. Oh ! it is hard, and 1 will suffer for it. But I will do it. Elsa tore the paper into small bits, and threw them into the fire. Elsa, cried Aunt Jane, sternly, when the news reached her that her neice would not graduate that year. What ailed you? What on earth was the matter ? I am heartily ashamed of you, and surprised beyond expres- sion. A Green failing in an examination ! A Green lacking in intellect ! It is good your poor father is dead, since he may not know this. The family pride has received a deep cut from your ignorance, miss. I wonder at you ! Aunt, listen to me, Elsa demanded in desperation. You call me ignorant. But I tell the truth, when 1 say that, if I had wished, I might have graduated with the rest of my class I chose not to. Am I ignorant ? You say so. Perhaps 1 am. But 1 do not regret my choice for an instant. The family pride has suffered from my actions, 1 know, and I am sorry. But, aunt, I have preserved the family honor ! And whereas I have been miserable all these years, now I am happy ! ROWENA ELSTON, ' 03. j£? JZ? j£? Does beat expand? the teacher asked, If so, examples cite. The days are long in summer, Said the student, who was bright.