Bloomington High School - Aepix Yearbook (Bloomington, IL)

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Lp, H Q ...M-.....,,-.......,.,,.,,,...f.,,....... L-ww bl J .-.,-,-..,.....,-.,......M.,M.. ln The Absence of John Bicm-zsien Bon1Nn '23 Winner ol' Merwin Cup lt was -lune and strawberry time. In the - I tields around an old New England farmhouse, weathered to a eomlortable brown by many winter snows and summer rains, the berries were ripening in the wal'n1 sunshine. It was a pity that Peter tlraham out ol' whose toil and hope these fields had borne fruit, eould not witness the result ol' his labors. I llis oldest daughter, Phyllis was sitting on the step ot' the long deep veranda, hulling a big panlul ol' the luseious erimson berries. She sat where she eould get a whiff otf the south wind, laden with the salt invigorating I breath ol' the sea. 'l'here, too, the investigat- n ing sunbeams l'ound the gold in her bronze hair. ln various pieturesque attitudes, the other members ol' the l'amily reelined on the veranda, likewise engaged in this interesting oeeupation, t'or strawberry time meant pre- serving time, t'rom the deleetable odors whieh eame l'rom the kitehen. Mrs. Graham paused in the doorway, and ' L at sight ot' her Phyllis exelaimed, Do eome laalmxtt-1.3 izomgtg out here with us Mother. This is really too perteet a day to spend in the kitehen. even t'or the sake ol' strawberry jam. ll' you will sit a while in the sunshine, and smell the honeysuekle, and that sea breeze, you ean't help but t'eel the joy ot livingf' ller mother smiled a tritle wearily. It was sometimes hard to get Phyllis' point ot' view. Ilowever, she was glad to relax in a eomtortable roeker. That reminds me otf Uousin Agatha 's letter. Mrs. Graham said with a twinkle in her ealm eyes, She thinks that growing strawberries is just too poetie t'or anything. l think we ought to invite her up to enlighten her. Neverl replied Phyllis, was an harassed, toilworn sehool teaeher I elaim my right to a. smnmer ol' domestie peaee and tranquility. t'lluhl'l put in Ted, aged ten and the man ot the family, she ought to have to weed and piek them like I do, then she'd forget about the poetic side. Like you dol'l retorted Barbara, his twin, I'll bet l've pieked as many as you havef' t'NVell, never mind, said fifteen-year-old Aliee, the peaeemaker, ' The-re's enough to keep us all busy. Yes indeed, her mother replied and then added anxiously, Hthe most unfortunate thing has happened, and right now at strawberry time too. John told me that he would have to go to Indiana, as his mother is seriously ill. John had managed the t'arm t'or the family sinee the death ot' Mr. Graham, five years het'ore. Faitlilul, eftieient, taeiturn, he had eome to be regarded as their prop and mainstay. H80 you see,' she eontinued 'talthough we ean get Joe 'l'rumbull to do the t'arm work, he will need help in paeking and shipping the berries. They will all be ripe next week. i 24

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.. QAEGIS .. This will be the first time in five years, that John has deserted us. He has always seemed as dependable as the Rock of Gibraltar, returned Phyllis mischievously. But we will surely be able to hire another man while he is away, said Alice. Oh yes, he promised to get someone before he leaves tonight. He went to the village early this morning. 'tGoodness me, mother, exclaimed Phyllis en route for the kitchen, We have forgotten all about the preserves. It will be a mercy if they haven't burned. When she returned, cheeks flushed and blue eyes glowing, Mrs. Graham was gazing out over the strawberry beds, a far-away look in her eyes. Strawberry time always makes me think of your father, children, she said softly. t'You set out the first plant, Phyllis, don't you remember? , t'Yes Mother, she answered dreamily, I can hear him now, saying in his kindly, cheery voice, 'I know that this will bear the finest fruit of all, little daughter. Would that all bitterness and misunderstanding might be removed before it blossomsl' His voice was sad then, but why, I did not understand. 'tHe meant the quarrel between himself and Frank Russel, a distant rela- tive of his. There was a misunderstanding about their uncle's will. Frank Russel felt that he had been wronged and blamed your father for it. He never became reconciled, though they had been great friends. He became quite wealthy. I believe. Did this Mr. Russel have any ehildrenfll' inquired Alice. Yes he had one son. It seems that he was rather a disappointment tc his father, as he had no taste for business. They were not congenial. Let me see, he is your third cousin, children. Too distant to be alarming. Anyway he is probably not interested in poor relations, said Phyllis decidedly. Poor but particular, came from Ted. Besides he might be just like his Dad. Dear me, Mrs. Graham replied, smiling, I see you are already preju- diced against him. But he is not likely to trouble us, as he is studying music abroad, I believe. 'tWell dear people, said Phyllis lightly, speculating about unknown cousins is very interesting, but we shall have to get back to realities, for John is coming up the road. The poor man must be hungry. Mother, what will we have for lunch? Sure enough the old white horse and buggy were turning in at the driveway. Why that isnit John! exlaimed Barbara, in the act of eating a particu- larly large, luscious strawberry. The buggy stopped at the barn. A young man jumped lightly out, and hat in hand approached the veranda. Good morning he said smiling at the surprised faces of the Grahams. Mr. Prescott asked me to tell you that he left on the early train and hoped you would not be inconvenienced by his sudden departure. I understand that I am to work for you during his absence. Mrs. Graham seemed at a loss, so Phyllis came to the rescue. How do you do, she said, frankly, I am Phyllis Graham, and these are my mother and sisters, my youngest brother, Ted seems to have vanished. And yours? David Porter, he replied after some hesitation. Oh, she found herself saying inanely, her eyes on the initials D.P.R. which were plainly stamped on his suitcase. 25 -31923 Q'