Butler High School - Magnet Yearbook (Butler, PA)

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18 THE SENIOR MAGNET Patsy Dorothy Sheef UW7 ELL, of all things!” exclaimed Aunt Mirandy as she banged W the receiver back on the hook. If that ain’t jest like your relations.” The speaker was Mrs. Johns, a thin, wiry woman of approximately fifty years and of an uncertain temper. Her remark was addressed to her husband, a plump, jolly man with a jovial expression on his face. What is it, Mirandy?” inquired Silas Johns, comfortably puffing his pipe. Will nothing make you take that everlasting pipe out of your mouth and show some interest in others?” exclaimed Mirandy. Now, now, Mirandy, don’t get all excited; tell me what’s the matter.” Matter? Matter enough, when your sister can’t take her own flesh and blood on a pleasure trip she and her husband are taking.” What’s that, Mirandy?” exclaimed Silas. Is sister Helen taking a pleasure trip?” Yes, Silas Johns, Helen and George are taking a pleasure trip. And that isn’t the worst of it. The operator just called from the telegraph office that there was a telegram for Silas Johns containing this message: 'Helen and I taking trip. Please take care of Patsy. George Johns.’ Patsy! that sounds like your relations, naming their child Patsy.” Mirandy had been very much disappointed when the child was not named for her. But somehow,” she reflected, I have no recollection of their calling the child Patsy; but then. I’ve never seen the child.” Nuther do I remember her name,” said Silas, but it must be Patsy, for that’s what the telegram says.” When does the train come in?” asked Silas a few minutes later. Silas, don’t sit there and tell me that you’ve lived here for twenty years and don’t know when the 8:15 train comes in. Hurry and dress.” As she spoke, she was rushing madly about doing useless things. Well, anything to keep peace in the family,” mumbled Silas, as he slowly got ready to go. Fifteen minutes later, Silas called from the front door where he stood ready to go. Well, Mirandy, I’ve been waiting an hour, are you almost ready?” Silas, I wish you wouldn’t exaggerate so; you know you just hurried down the stairs to be a minute ahead of me. Did you lock the back door and tell Jane to wait for us?” No, Mirandy, I forgot.” Humph, if that isn’t just like a man!” said Mirandy as she performed the designated tasks. Ten minutes later, Mirandy and Silas Johns were walking down the

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THE SENIOR MAGNET 17 Fired? You are not!” The face of the boss was a trifle white. You deserve to be, I’ll admit. You deserve a medal for bravery, too; but you’ll not get that either.” The boys are still together, Jim and Ben. Inseparable friends,” the men often say. Never saw the like of their friendship;” and then almost always, they add, And good workers, too. You don’t have to tell either one of them twice; they never forget.” Aspiration HcttJren Llewellyn There lay in the summer's twilight Beneath a shelt’ring, verdant oak A youth in deep contemplation. Above him arched the dark vault of tl e heav'ns. Besprinkled with the sparkling jewels of the sky. Ah! How happy those sparkling stars, Pursuing each his quiet way Amid celestial harmony! How happy their lot, tljat they, serene, pursue Their destined course, undaunted by man's discord and his strife, Pouring their calm light ceaselessly Into the dark world below! But oh, thrice happy, happy beav'nly souls Whose clear, bright flame burns on JJndimmed by passion’s raging fires, Holding their candle of self-sacrifice serenely high. To them 'tis given to light the night, To lift the leaden hearts and cheer the sad. Oh thrice-blessed — they arc spared The pining for the unattainable .... The eternal good is ever free, Forever proffered to the earnest seeker.

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THE SENIOR MAGNET 19 street. They had no car because Mirandy didn’t favor them new-fangled notions.” Arriving at the station ten minutes before the train was due, the couple sat down on a bench. Mirandy insisted on fixing Silas’ tie, while Silas squirmed uncomfortably, to the amusement of the other people around, at whom Mirandy glared complacently. Silas,” exclaimed Mirandy as a girl passed them wearing a boyish bob, is there a masquerade here, anywhere, or why is that boy dressed like a girl?” When Silas explained, Mirandy fell back. Good gracious, Silas, what’s this world coming to when the girls have their hair cut like boys and the boys wear trousers that look like skirts!” And Mirandy shook her head despairingly. Silas looked around to see if anyone had heard Mirandy, as she had not bothered to lower her voice; but just then the train pulled in. Rushing up, they surveyed all the passengers, but there was not a child among them, except a little negro girl. Mirandy looked at Silas dumfounded. Is that she?” she inquired hoarsely. My stars, Mirandy, I don’t know,” said Silas, scratching his head. Silas walked timidly up to the child. Is—is your name Patsy?” The little negress opened her mouth showing two rows of even white teeth and replied, No, ah ain’t Patsy; Ah’m Becky, and ah ain’t allowed to talk to strange men.” With these words, she moved off toward a fat, old negro woman. Silas returned to Mirandy saying, No, it's not Patsy, thank goodness; it’s Becky, and she must have thought I wanted to kidnap her because she informed me that she wasn’t allowed to talk to strange men.” Well, let’s go home. Apparantly, Patsy missed the train.” So they went home. When they arrived home, the door was opened by Jane, but a different Jane from the usual demure lady who opened the door. This Jane’s cap was disarranged, and her hair was hanging wildly about her face. Why, Jane,” said Mirandy, was the house broke into?” No, mam,” answered Jane. It’s Patsy. She’s arrived.” Arrived! But how did she arrive; she wasn’t on the train?” Yes’m, the expressman brought her up.” The expressman! Jane, look at me. You didn’t by any chance see anything of that old bottle of wine Johns had given to him?” Well, mam, when it comes to the point that your employers think you are drunk, I think it’s time to quit, though it’s enough to drive anyone to drink, such carrying on.” Well,” said Mirandy, where is Patsy?” I couldn’t hold her, mam, but she’s up on the bed.” On the bed!” said Mirandy. Why the poor child must be tired. Come up, Silas, let’s look at her.”