Central High School - Aglaia Yearbook (Manchester, NH)

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THE ORACLE A PERFECT DAY fWitI9 Apologies to Miltonj A mighty wave of red sweeps up the sky And routs the inky blackness from its path, Announcing Sol's approach again to earth. In through the red are wedged thin streaks of gold Which seem to hold the sky itself in place, As slowly rears the sun its shaggy head, To wake me with its great display of light. Far off a crow rasps out its throaty caw, A pig squeals loud, a mule brays in the barn, A cow moos deep, a dog barks loud and long, While nearer sings a bird on budded treeg And mingled with the noise come smells of spring - Of rich, deep mud, the scent of early flowers. I break my fast with victuals plainly cooked, Then hitch I to the plow the tractor gray And turn the furrows over two at once, In half the time it took old Bess and Paw. So thus by noon the daily tasks are done, And I can turn my thoughts to lighter things: Go hunting, Hshing, hiking, or just read, Or drive to town our brand new V8, To see a picture show or call on friends. When I return at five or six o'clock, We gather round the table to say grace, Which done, we eat most heartily indeed, Until, quite full, we seat us round the room To hear the news or music soft and sweet, Till eight or even nine o'clock at night, Then stumble off to bed to sleep in peace. JOHN PILLSBURY

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T H E SPICY NUT-BROWN ALE fWord magic often evokes pictures for- eign to the experiences of the reader or hearer, - witness the following, touched OE by the phrase in Milton's L'Allegro.j This phrase brings to my imagination a picture of ale perfectly brewed, con- taining all the qualities that the best ale should have. I have in mind a beverage rich in odor and in color, a liquid that incites even the most timid, tied-down tongue to break loose and waggle in a magnetic manner. This mead of the mor- tal, as I see it now, is reposing in a pewter or earthen mugg the mug is not a work of art, for there is no beauty requirement made of it. Its sole service is to convey from the tap of a keg to a welcome pal- ate the fluid so amply described in the first three words. This particular mug is being manipulated by a stubby, knurled hand attached to a brown, thick, hairy arm encased in a smudgy frock, all be- longing to a typical English farmer, tak- ing his turn at telling a tale on a Holyday Eve. A fire roars and crackles in ever- lasting attempts to make more certain its own place in the circle of villagers. Its flames, encouraged by the whispering winds at the chimney's top, light up the oaken rafters supporting the thatched roof over the village tavern. And, after the stories are concluded, before the occupants of this tap-room creep off to bed, there is an all-round request for one more mug of spicy nut- brofwn ale. HENRY L. WILDER, IR. ORACLE 23 ON FAREWELLS Why sadness on a farewell day When good friends stray apart? Wfhy tears from women, sighs from men, And each a broken heart? The French, in parting, say Adieu g The Spanish, Adios,'g The Yankee damply says Good-bye, In act and tone morose. But these are sayings much too strong, They fill the heart with woeg They mean, We may neier meet again Till home to God we go, So give me a more cheerful Word: Au rev0ir, French parting song, The German,s famed Auf Wiederschenf, Or, best of all-- So long. VVENTWORTH BROWN EXCERPT REMINISCENT As I recall it now, smoke drifted up from the blazing wood, pieces of pine snapped and crackled as the little tongues of flames licked them. The colorful spot around the fire was emphasized by the inky blackness of the night which sur- rounded us. KATHERINIE GULA, 193613 AN OLD PINE TREE In spite of its deplorable condition, still retaining some of its former prestige, it stands like a king in the wilderness. KI4ZNNE1'1I LODGE, 193713

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W S' ZW' THE ORACLE AS WE SEE IT Of course, school is a necessary evil like cod liver oil before every meal, yet five hours of it must be tolerated every day, like straight hair or freckles. Now, no one objects to the before- school period, when groups can gather to discuss Ann's new dress or Janeis way of wearing her hair. And the home- room period is, in fact, an ingenious in- vention. Here we perform daily mir- acles in cramming four hours of studying into fifteen minutes. Much of the day. however, is a trying ordeal to everv girl. For who can remain dignified. dem-ire, or aloof while elbowing along crowded corridors? Who can keeo calm when the bell loudly iangles, either interrupting you in an interesting discussion or re- leasing you from a place of terror? Do you know any girl who can sit through a math test and not have a shiny nose? And what can a poor girl do when she discovers a run in her stocking second period? Or worse yet, as she strolls down the corridor for rather mentally pictures this impossible featj endeavoring to im- press some member of the masterly sex, her poise is shattered by the sight of her new dress coming boldly towards her on the form of her most dangerous rival! Such is life! Although four minutes between bells is not time enough to gather pencils, note- books and compasses, it is long enough to stop to chatter a minute or two on our way to a class or study period. Here in study our mental activity is released. These periods, by the way, are most in- correctly named, for they are spent in whispering behind books or idly drawing caricatures of classmates or teachers. 'si After five hours of toil, the last Noses, poise, boys are all forgotten, unladylike pushes and glaring looks brought into use with surprising ez. School is out, and girls wtih inked fing' tips, utterly exhausted, and unable think of a single more excuse, sigh uno their burdens of a few books. Little do one realize what a trying existence th high school girl leads. MARION B1-txxi-1'r'i' A SENIOR'S ADVICE So when the Freshman asked the Sen- ior how good marks were attained, the Senior replied, 'KIt's a cinch, all you've got to do is to study hard for the first quarter only. Then, besides getting a good mark, you make a good impres- sion on the teacher. For the rest of the year there is no need to study because you have the reputation of being a good student, and consequently you get your other good marks on your reputation. To this the Freshman asked, Well, if the teacher averages the marks in her book and gets a low mark, what then?' Here is the secret of getting a good mark, replied the Senior. Always talk a lot in class. If you don't know what the correct answer is, beat around the bush, evade the question, side-track the teacher. If there is a general discussion, that is the best time to show off your bril- liancy. Talk as long as you can think of anything to say. It's highly possible that you can tell a story that may have some connection with the subject in dis- cussion. Tell it, but be sure to stretch it out, make it as long-winded as possible: don't even stop to come up for air. At this the Freshman rose and said, W'ell, as youire a perfect example, why aren't you on the honor roll?', FRED HEILMAN