Butler High School - Magnet Yearbook (Butler, PA)

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16 7 E SENIOR IM A G N E T an instant I was pressed to his heart. Here, Nell, it’s the doll I brought from France, and, by the way, I am going ovej-next month for Yevonne. They worked four hours to make everything fine. I was quite dazed by the beautiful tree. It didn’t seem possible to me that one little boy could have such a succession of mechanical toys. There was a bear, an elephant, a lion, a horse, in fact a whole menagerie. As 1 sat wedged in the top of one of his stockings, 1 glanced around and saw my friend sticking out of the other. Dear old black cat, I fear I have traveled far in vain, for among all these wonderful toys I feel so shabby and 1 know 1 will not be noticed at all. “Don’t worry, little rag doll, for I am sure you are wrong. We were not made in a big factory all dingy and dim. You were made by the loving hands of Uncle Jim’s sweetheart Yevonne, while 1 was made by darling Aunt Jane. As she twisted my tail and sewed me up tight she was thinking of Jackie so that I know that every stitch was a stitch of love. Don’t you think that places us in a different light? And besides after a child loves you for a long long time you become real. Oh, dear little cat, will it happen to me all at once?” “No, it doesn’t happen all at once, little doll. It will take a long time and that’s why it doesn’t happen to all these toys who break so easily. We will become shabby and loose in the parts. But these things don’t matter at all except to people who don’t understand. So good night little friend. I hope I have given you pleasant thoughts for your dreams.” Next morning quite early there came in with a rush a youngster just bubbling over with joy. Of all these toys, which do you think he loved best. The old black cat, the little rag doll. That night as he knelt by his bed, he held one in each arm. The little rag doll was almost too happy to sleep and so much love stirred in his saw dust heart that it almost burst. And into the shoe button eyes of the old black cat, there came such a look of wisdom and beauty that Jackie’s mother said as she tucked him in bed, “I declare if that cat hasn’t got quite a knowing expression. --------------b.h.s.----------- GOOD OLD BUTLER HIGH Rhea Cooper Eor good old Butler High, Who has always treated us right, Let’s give it a cheer, With all our main and might. Rah! Rah! Butler High. Eor good old Butler High, With its kind and loving teachers; They ought to give us a cheer, Eor they know we are some” peaches. Rah! Rah! January, 1924 An revoir” dear old Butler High, Eor you know we will ne’er forget, And hope you will remember always, The class of January, 1924. Rah! Rah! Butler High.

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THE SENIOR {MAGNET 15 Rag Doll and Black Cat Helen Burckhalter Said the little rag doll to the old black cat, “If I don't get out cf this package I'll choke.’’ “Now be patient, my dear,’’ said the wise old cat, For as soon as Jackie’s prayers are said, they will be here to get you out and place you among so many toys your head will swim. 1 have heard so much of Jackie, his family, and all because his aunt Jane made me; she talks all the time. She hoped 1 would take the place of the old Teddy Bear he has lugged to bed with him for more than a year. But now that you are here, you seem so very nice I’m afraid Jackie’s affections will be divided. 1 will tell you, little rag doll, a bit of my life. You see I am made from one of Aunt Jane’s stockings, that is why I'm so w'ise, I have traveled so far. Last summer 1 went out west where I stayed eight weeks. 1 even went up in an aeroplane, seeing wonderful sights. I fox-trotted and danced until I wore out my toe, then 1 was thrown aside until Aunt Jane contrived the idea of making me into a cat for Jackie dear. 1 am very glad she did for oh, if she had not, I would have been thrown to the rag man, and my life would have ended then. Now that 1 am here having you for a friend, 1 expect a wonderful time, don’t you, little rag doll?” “Your words cheer me, little black cat, for my life has been a sad one. 1 haven’t had any pleasures at all. 1 have had some wonderful experiences, too. I have seen many sights too terrible to tell, for you see the blue cloth out of which I am made adorned the back of a very brave French soldier. 1 low happy he was when his new’ coat he donned, so proud was he to fight for his own. He went out there and he never came back. He played the game. He.was true blue. His coat was sent to his little wife Yevonne. “She carried it about in her arms for days, his coat, that is all she had of him then. After many months, which seemed like years, your Americans came to fight for France. I low proud we were of your stalwart big men as they marched through our streets, armies of them. After that terrible war was over, one day there came to our house a handsome big American to purchase a doll. He paid for me what 1 thought was a big price, but he didn’t mind for 1 could see he thought Yevonne very fine. His cheerful manner made her so happy and gay it brought tears of joy to my eyes, for 1 loved her dearly, my little mistress Yevonne. One day she packed me away and went to bid him good-bye. I could not see them, but I heard every word and I know that he cares. So that’s my story, you old black cat, but listen they are coming. I hear a voice. The fine American who fought for France, who loves Yevonne and brought me here.” “Oh, that is the voice of Jackie’s Uncle Jim. You see he talked to Aunt Jane all the time she was putting my stuffing in. This is the house of their sister Nell, and we are Christmas presents for their little nephew, Jackie Kent. But hush, they are here!” “Really, Jim, I thought that child would never give in. He is so excited about Santy he couldn’t get to sleep at all so we will be very quiet in here. You unwrap all the toys while 1 trim the tree and we will scatter them about. It is wonderful what Christmas means to me since I have a little kiddie of my own to fuss about.” At last Uncle Jim lifted me out, just a little rag doll, but the look he gave me as he thought of Yevonne. Just for

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7 E S E NIO R 51 A G N r. T 17 You Never Can Tell Martha Worcester Mr. Davis was a common, ordinary business man, with two children who were in college. Norma and Jenny, the two young hopefuls, were bv no means common or ordinary, according to their own estimation, as their parents soon discovered during the first vacation spent at home from their respective schools. Somebody had told Norma that she had talent, and Norma believed it. For this reason, in addition to her other studies, she cost her daddy in the neigh-borhood of five thousand dollars a semester for lessons in classical dancing from a famous Russian instructor. Mr. Davis could not see anything commendable in that, but he let his daughter go ahead in her “art” simply because it was her wish, anti within reason. Jimmy was a real college man, which means in our language a young man of about twenty-three years of age, handsome of course, and possessing the distinguished air of a man who has the world at his feet. And inevitably, as all the rest, Jimmy knew exactly what was wrong with the world and everything in it. Don’t you think that Mr. Davis should be proud of a son like that? No doubt he was. Well, anyway, since college boys are practically all alike, you get the point. Norma and Jimmy graduated in the same year, the minds of both filled with ideas to make the world realize that they were absolutely essential for its progress. Graduation was a grand affair, and Mr. and Mrs. Davis were by no means the proudest parents there. The exercises lasted for three days, after which the young graduates returned to the parental nest,—for the time being. This was short. Soon after her arrival at home, Norma broke the news to her parents that she intended to go on the stage. Horrors! Dear papa and mamma were speechless for a moment. Then father refused to take it seriously, until his daughter began to cry and declare that she wasn’t appreciated, and all her work was for nothing. Oh dear! other girls weren’t confined,—and so on. Mr. Davis became exasperated. He considered actors and actresses merely as painted puppets, and would have been cut to the heart if his daughter should enter that profession. The subject was dropped, but resumed with increased feeling the next day. Dad finally lost all patience, and cruelly declared that she would either have to get that silly idea out of her head, or—. I le didn’t finish. But Norma was more firm than ever. One evening while her parents were at an entertainment which was destined to last for some time, the dutiful daughter packed up and started for California on the night train. She left a note on the library table which was stated something like this:— “Dear Mother and Dad, You don’t seem to realize that I am a genius, and so cannot appreciate the opportunity which has knocked at my door. When my career has been assured, 1 shall come home for a short visit. 1 shall go to Aunt I lelen’s in Los Angeles until 1 get settled. Don’t worry. Love and forgiveness, Norma.” Needless to say, that was a terrifically hard blow upon those who loved her best. It was too late to call her back— the night train had left four hours ago. The best that could be done was to wait and hope for her safe arrival in Los Angeles.