Camden High School - Megunticook Yearbook (Camden, ME)

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14 THE MEGUNTICOOK A SAGA IN THE MELODRAMATIC His tail flying straight out from his back into the breeze, Catch-Me-If-You- Can carried his rider down into the rocky gulch. The rain the night before had honey-combed the rocks, leaving the path somewhat hazardous, but Catch-Me-If-You-Can did not falter as he picked his way steadily onward to finish the last few miles of his journey homeward. The rider, Percival Baxter by name, a short, fat, bald man with bushy eye- brows, about forty years of age, seated arrogantly on his horse, thought. His thoughts were of his father's home, the home to which he was now hastening. He hated the place and had called his father crazy to have ever bought a house so far from civilization that one had to ride horseback for miles over rough terrain in order to get there. The lacy shadows of the summer af- ternoon were growing into blankets of heaviness as dusk fell upon the valley. Leaving Catch Me-If-You-Can with the stable boy, Percival waddled into the dark gloomy mansion. A servant said his father was up stairs in the library. As he climbed the heavy oaken stairs, he was filled with the dread of meeting once again this man, his father, to whom his mother had given her youth and strength only to have died of a broken heart when he decided he loved her no more. Percival wondered if he could stand to live in the same house with this man whom he had grown to despise in spite of blood relationship. Entering the library, Percival saw through blurred eyes stirred up with emotion and gin the figure of his father seated at his desk apparently quite un- aware of the presence of his son. Percival cleared his throat to make room for words. No response. Papa, uttered Percival. Still no response. But what was this? Suddenly Percival real- ized the truth-his old man could not re- spond because his old man was quite dead. Dead from the result of an over dose of self pity taken constantly since the departure of his beloved wife. She had been his financier for forty faithful years, but now his beloved wife was gone and he could no longer pay his in- come tax! Philip Wentworth, '44 -CHS- DIARY OF A MARINE Sunday: Landed on a small island near Ba- taan this morning at 3:15. Started set- ting up our equipment as soon as pos- sible. All of us are exhausted tonight but don't dare to go to sleep for fear we won't wake up again. Monday: A Japanese scouting plane went over this afternoon, flying low. We kept down and within ten minutes he was out of sight. Tuesday: Some of the men haven't slept since we landed-eaten very little. Haven't seen any Japanese on the island as yet. Wednesday: A Jap plane, identical to the one seen a few days ago, was spotted a few miles south of the island. Thursday: Sent out a few men to make contact with the scouting party that left a while ago. Found two men dead-one with his head smashed in, and the other riddled with shot. This proves that we have ene- mies within a few miles of us. Can't find the rest of the men but intend to keep searching. Some of the men are getting jittery. Friday: One of the boys was shot in the back while going from the barracks to a clearing. The rest of the scouting party came back this afternoon with the re- ports that there are Jap snipers on the north side of the island. Saturday: Have had all buildings and equipment set up quite some time. Seems good to get out of this hot sun for a few hours' rest. For two weeks there was no entry made so it is presumed that nothing of importance occurred during this period. Saturday: A Jap plane came over this morning. It swooped down so quickly that we

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TI-IE MEGUNTICOOK - 13 growling and spitting on the threshhold. Just then Jim drove around the corner of the barn with a load of hay, Toby and Brick with him on the load. Brick took in the situation at a glance, shot from the load like an arrow, and rushed to the rescue. The white dog was so intent on teasing the cat he never sensed dan- ger until Brick set his teeth in his throat. The big dog leaped backward dragging his antagonist with him. Over and over they went snarling and slashing. Toby stood by his father's side with quivering chin. The pedler grabbed his whip, but Jim warned him back. It was to be a fair fight. At last red foam began to drip from the white dog's mouth and with one last plunge he fell limp over the victor. Only then did Brick let go his grip and dragged himself, bloody, torn, and trembling to the side of his master, eyes still green with the glint of battle. Jim picked Brick up and carried him to Tamie to dress his wounds. The pedler fussed and fumed but at last threw the body of the white dog into his cart and drove off up the River Road. Later one day that same fall when the oak leaves were dark and shiny, just like Tamie's hair Jim used to say, Jim, Tamie and Toby Went to Hempstead 15 miles down the river to get supplies, leaving Brick on guard. Returning they found no dog. Jim, T-oby, and the neighbors searched for him, but all the clues seem- ed to have no ending. It was reported that the pedler with the red cart had been seen in a nearby town on the day of Brick's disappearance but no trace of him could be found. That winter Toby caught cold and didn't seem to get over it. Kind old Doc- tor Wheelock came over from Pem- broke, but the little boy grew weaker and weaker. One windy March night Toby was ly- ing on the couch in the kitchen when there came a scratch at the door. It's Brick, he's come home, he cried. Jim sprang to the door and opened it. A gaunt red dog limped across the room, put his paws up on the couch and licked Toby's check, laid his head beside that of his little master. The boy's arms went around the thin neck of the dog. Jim drew Tamie down beside him on the wide old chimney-seat, and peace and quiet settled over the room, broken only by an occasional low, reassuring thump, thump of the ropy tail on the floor. Here the old lady looked away across the fields. Then turning to me again she murmured half to herself, That was a happy spring. I think, our happiest. Were you there? I asked. Yes, child, she answered softly, I was Tamie. Flora Pease, '44 SNOW DREAMS As Mom and I one evening, Were strolling down the street, The snow began falling gently, Covering us from our head to our feet. It was one of those silent snowstorms Which seem so still and serene, And we gazed about us in wonder, As it all seemed so like a dream. The trees soon wore coats of ermine, And the ground a blanket of white, As the evening shadows lengthened, Changing twilight into night. As we wandered silently hand in hand, We paused 'neath a bright street light, To watch each drifting crystal swirl Like stardust out of the night. And my thot's in comparison wander, To a warmer sunnier clime, Where someone we love is fighting, And I miss you, brother of mine. I think of you constantly, brother, And when snows begin to fall, I remember the walks we used to have, Happy memories I recall. And, dear, when this war is over And we've won our victory, Life for us will be even better, And for all boys across the sea. Maxine Duffell '46 -lCH'S-

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THE MEGUNTICOOK I5 didn't have time to get under cover. Twelve men were killed and two wound- ed. Sunday: Had brief services for the men killed yesterday. Some of the boys are coming down with a fever. One is quite ill. Monday: Five Jap bombens went over today. Dropped several bombs. One landed so close that the shrapnel injured quite a few men. A boy of about eighteen years brought in our first Jap. A sniper that had gone asleep and fallen out of a tree. The Jap doesn't look very old, either. He doesn't talk much, but watches everything we do. Tuesday: I'm beginning to feel a little sick, my- self. Could be fatigue, and it could be the fever that a lot more are ill with. Our provisions are running low. Hope we get some more within two weeks. Three men died today of the everlasting fever. Wednesday: Expect another raid. Not very many men left here. Reports were made that quite a few Japanese landed on the oth- er side of the island last night. We're going to investigate. Thursday: Ran into a large nest of Japs. They killed quite a few of our men. There aren't enough of our men to stop the Japs, but we're going to try. Friday: Tried to storm the Jap nest by sur- prise, but they wiped out all but 58 of us. They're closing in on us, slowly, but we're not giving up hope. A little ammu- nition and supplies would help us a lot now. If we do get some, things will be O. K. for a while, but if we don't, you know the rest. Helen Eaton, '44 -CHS- SAY IT WITH MUSIC It was In the Good Old Summer Time when Sunbonnet Sue met Ben Bolt down by The Old Mill Stream. She was wear- ing her Sweet Little Alice Blue Gown, and he asked her if she would care to take a ride on his Bicycle Built for Two. They rode By the Banks of the Wabash until The Wise Old Owl came out for the evening. Returning home By the Light of the Silvery Moon, they turned sharply to avoid hitting Old Black Joe and ran into a tree. Sunbonnet Sue screamed Scatterbrain as Ben Bolt got up rubbing himself and saying I Won- der if You Feel the Way I Do. Ben Bolt borrowed an Old Gray Mare from the Farmer in the Dell. If the Old Gray Mare has been as speedy as Ferdinand, The Bull they might have reached home be- fore Three O'clock in the Morning. Sun- bonnet Sue now wishes that she had put on her Old Gray Bonnet and gone with her mother to Aunt Dinal1's Quilting Party. Evelyn Small, '44 -CHS- HIGH SCHOOL BOOK LIST FOUR YEARS IN PARADISE .... C. I-I. S. Life IF I HAD FOUR APPLES ........ Mr. Shibles OLD WIVE'S TALES Jokes told during lunch period in Room 8 GREEN HELL ............... Freshman Year GREAT EXPECTATIONS ........ Class of '44 SO BIG ....................... Eddie Burke THE FAMILY ............... C. H. S. Faculty NEIGHBORS TO THE SOUTH Rockport H. S. students OUT OF THE TEST TUBE ......... Bill True LIVELY LADY .............. Frances Dailey THE YEARLING ................. Freshmen VANITY FAIR ..... . . .Walter Wadsworth ONE WORLD ................... Senior Year THE DEERSLAYER .............. C. Stearns PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. . .Arthur and Helen NONSUCH ................. THE BIG BOYS DRUMS ....................... Edna Rankin TWO YEARS BEFORE THE MAST Joe Sawyer NIGHT FLIGHT ..... Leonard, Marriner, Spear MORTAL STORM ........ Second study period THE CRISIS .................. Makeup Week A THOUSAND SHALL FALL .......... Exams THE RETURN OF THE NATIVE. .Jay Bracey SMOKY ..................... Elmer Leonard THE STORY OF MY LIFE ........ Sid Mclieen THOROFARE ................. Main Corridor WE TOOK TO THE WOODS .... Hope students THE LAST FULL MEASURE ..... Music room UP FROM SLAVERY ...... Incoming Freshmen