Bethel University - Spire Yearbook (St Paul, MN)

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fHE ACORN y Dear Billy, 1 will surely do what 1 can do for your poor, sweet little sisters.' I have now tried to picture, by this little story, my idea of real greatness. It is not the station in life a man holds; it is not what society he moves in; nor is it the superior ability which lias enabled him to rise to a lofty position that makes a man really great. But it is his sou!; it is his desire to help others; it is a noble, renerous, selfsacrificlng soul which will make a man a truly great man, no matter if he be a begger or a king.” The young man arose brushing the tears from his eyes and clasped the old man's hands with fervor saying: God bless you. I cannot thank you as I would like. I.—I think you need some one to lake you home. May I do it?” The moon cast her silvery rays over the two retreating figures. The heaven was set thick with stars which twinkled as if they had never lookod down on misery or deceit. All heaven and earth are still—though not in sleep. But breaibless, as we grow when feeling most; And silent, as we stand in thoughts too deep.” A powerful, an infinite feeling seized my very soul. I felt as if I were in a solitude where I was the least alone. The All .Mighty spoke in audible whispers to my soul. And as L arose and wended my way homeward I resolved to accept the old man's theory of true greatness, and thus seek to become a better man by practising it. A. J. Edstrom, 'll. SPRING. There also will the cool breeze blow; The modest violet nods her head. So glad to leave her warm soft bed. Gunhild Hagstrom,T2. O’er rocks and ril?s and wooded vales, The brock let flows into the dales; Where sunbeams play the daisies grow,

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8 THE ACORN yet the cold was rapidly getting the best of him. The last quarter of a mile he literally dragged himself forward on his hands and knees. It was one o'clock before he reached Andersons, the place where miss Frost stayed. The poor boy was. by this time, so frozen that it was only with greatest difficulty that he was able to knock at the door, whereafter he, exhausted, sank down. Miss Frost, who had laid awake for some time, heard the faint knock and got up to see what it was. When she opened the door and beheld the child she almost gave a shriek, but calmed herself and picked him up tenderly and carried him to her own room where she laid him on the bed. But when she had lighted the lamp and looked at her charge she could not surpress at My God, Billy Butts”! She at once went to work getting him something warm and rubbing bis frozen limbs. At last he looked up into her face and whispered. Teacher, don't trouble about me: but please go and help my sisters. Mamma is dead, and Nanney and Bessy will die of cold and hunger. Please, teacher, please go and help them. Miss Frost called Anderson's and told them the awful news, and it was not long before a team was sent off to see about the orphans and the dead mother. The children were taken to the home of Anderson's, but Billy, inspite of utmost care was sinking rapidly. He laid there in a sort of a stupor until late in the afternoon when he began to move. At last he sat up and called wildly for Naney and Bessy. Miss Frost laid her hands on his brow and tried to calm him, but be was not to be calmed. He cried repeatedly. ‘Where are my sisters? They are starving to death! Thev are freezing to death! And mamma told me to be good to them. Oh mamma, mamma. I could do no more. I did all I could.' and then he wandered off to the bed-side of his mother. He fancied himself administering to the wants of her and he would cry bitterly because he had no more fuel and bread. Miss Frost tried everything within her power to calm liim but all in vain. At last the little “tots were permitted to come in to where he lay, and when he saw them his eyes brightened. His raving mind seemed to calm suddenly, and looking imploringly up into the face of Miss Frost he said, I feel that I am going to die. I am going to my mother. 1 know I am. But Teacher, won’t you be good to Naney and Bessy? Mamma asked me to be good. Teacher, please be good to them for mamma’s sake.’ The last words were scarcely audible, and Miss Frost laid him softly back on his pillow. He laid thus quietly for a long while. For about two hours he was quiet, but at last he opened his eyes again and gazed on those who stood around him. His lips moved, but not a sound could be heard. It was plain that his soul was ready at any moment to take its flight, and at last he closed his eyes in the last long sleep. Miss Frost could not restrain the glistening tears from dropping on his cheek as she bent forward and kissed him. It was indeed pathetic to see this young hero pass to the land from which no one returns: and it moved even the stern Mr. Anderson into tears. Miss Frost arose, however, brushed away her tears and said. This is the noblest boy I ever met. In school, be was always ready to help any one in need, and he would do anything for one who was sad or in trouble. He was truly a great, noble soul. And now, he has gone to be with his Mother for ever and ever. He will never freeze and never hunger any more. Well. well, it is best as it is. God knows what He is doing. “Judge not the Lord by feeble sense But trust him for his grace: Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.”

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10 THE AC 0RN THE CLASS OF »11. Come tell, 0 Muse, a thing or two to me; Is this to be a tale of happy days. Now gone, now passed beyond our eager reach, Or shall it merely be a strain where sadness breathes? My friend, if you will listen to my modest lay, If you will banisii restlessness away, Then shall I tell some blissful mem Ties, clear. Of all who made their way so firm and clear. A know a group with youthful touch. Whose minds have stored up very much. Of them I wish to tell a story Ne’er found on page of fame or glory. Joel Burkman. bright, ambitious, gay, Is president of our Alpha Be—, In studies he is ne’er a shirker But e’er a busy, noisy, worker. I know a man, tall, slender, thin, But, say, his brain is never dim, Me smiles so cheerful all day long. His name is Waif red Anderson. There is a girl, a maiden fair, Of bright blue eyes and cheeks so rare. She can recite and well declaim. And Edna Skooglun is her name. There is a man who wants to be a parson. I’ll tell his name, it is good Jonas Larson, When study hours are getting nigh too gritty, He’ll take a stroll down to our saintly city. A man of action, one who picks the flower Of learning from the well selected dower Is Andrew Edstrom, president of our class, O let not on our path of friendship grow the grass! Paul Anderson, so strong and hale and hearty Was never known to miss a party; To his position many do aspire Who cannot sing as he in any choir. Joel Anderson, the theme of many lays, In Finland spent his early boyhood days, A student stiong, and poet of the dawn, He is the keeper of our well-kept lawn. .7. Ahlquist stands alone without a peer. No lesson is there but he gets it clear; To foreign fields is his ambition. Success we wish his worthy mission. There is a little boy, the smallest of the class. Who leads us all in running very fast, His name all can guess, who know how to read, He is nobody else but Oscar Freed. There is a girl with sunny face Who sings and plays with modest grace. She is a student with sound, clear mind, Yet, Alice Lund holm is always kind. Nathaneal Edwall, calm, sincere, meek, En joys his magniloquent words to speak Among this band he stands a preacher Romantic spirit names him seer and teacher. Alas! I see this class From Bethel's halls retreating; Into the world they pass A handful glad hearts heating. Fare thee well, O class of 'leven, May your message bring Sweet repose to hearts late riven And a hope for ‘‘Endless Spring. Contributed.