Central High School - Aglaia Yearbook (Manchester, NH)

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10 Disappointedly, she realized that she had missed the hike. Maybe Anne was right, after all, it wasn't any duty of hers to call on Granny everyday. The next day Beth went to school, and as she reached the hall she saw a notice on the school bulletin board which said that all En- glish classes should prepare themes on pion- eer days in Iowa and submit them. The first prize was a trip to Washington. Alice, one of her friends, said to Beth, I have the best idea! My family is going to Des Moines this week-end, and I'm just going to ask them to take you and Anne and me along! Think of all the contest material we can find in the Des Moines library that nobody else in this town will have. It sounds marvelous! Beth agreed. Wonderfull But let's go down town and get some material in our library first. As the three turned into the street Beth suddenly said, Oh, goodness, if I'm going out of town tomorrow, I ought to see wheth- er Granr.y needs anything now. The others giggled. Beth blushed. I don't suppose she wants anything anyway! Let's go! At the library she could not keep her mind on her work, on every page she seemed to see the picture of Granny sitting home all alone. She could not stand it any longer. Rising, she gave an excuse to the girls and went out of the library. There was still time to see Granny before supper. There was no light at Granny's house, the rooms were very still. Granny, Beth called. As no one answered, she cried louder, Granny. When she had found the old lady, help- less and sick, Beth got her to the couch and ran for the doctor. By Saturday Granny was out of danger. Beth remained with her con- stantly. The doctor told Beth that if help had not reached Granny when it had, it would have been too late. Beth remembered how near she had come to omitting her call because of the girls' teasing. M. H. S. ORACLE One of the girls phoned Beth telling her that they were sorry that she couldn't go with them to Des Moines. You should see the themes we wrote. said the girls, from material we found at the library there. Themes! Beth said, Gracious! I will have to make up one, I guessf' The next morning in class after she had handed in her paper, she forgot it imme- diately, so much was she thinking of Granny. One evening Granny told Beth that she was like a real daughter to her. I wish I could do something for you, Bethli' she said, live always paid my debts. This reminded Beth of her wish. The next day in class the teacher had an announcement to make. The winner of the contest had been decided, and had come from that class. Before I announce her name, she said, I want to read the winning theme. From the desk she picked the sheet of paper and began to read. Listening, Beth was astonished. Sitting back in her seat with an amazed expression she listened to the familiar words, many, many times recited by Granny. Her theme had won the prize. When Granny had said, I wish I could do something for you. Beth told her that her debt was paid and that she would always be indebted to Granny. The Beggars Life By IEAN BRAKELEY I-low does he live? How can he exist? Probably he experiences more and sees more places and people than most of us do. Perhaps he becomes used to his wanderings and really enjoys it. But what does he do all the time- just walk from door to door asking for meals or clothes to replace old, worn-out garments? We have an occasional visitor who comes to our door about once every year. Each time mother says, You,ve been here before, he never tries to conceal the fact but acts

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IANUARY AGLAIA go through all this just to take a trip to Haiti. If I had known I would have gone to Flori- da. The passport photographer's studio was an old tumble down shack, covered in dust. The photographer, with long black hair and an inflated nose placed us before a Brownie, climbed under a horse blanket, and squeezed a string on the end of the hose. When our photographs arrived, I thought I couldn't tell whether I was Captain Bligh or the father of Frankenstein's monster. As for Fred, he looked like a cross between Bar- ney Google and something that lives in a tree. We then returned to the passport office to have the valentine pasted on the question- naire. The man took one look at our portraits and promptly made us hold up our right hands while he recited Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. I guess that he took us for aliens. After that, he charged us ten dollars each, and the passports were sent to Washington to be pass- ed by Congress. Four days later we were presented with the passports, signed by the President, the Secretary of the Navy, I. Edgar Hoover, and Ioe Humphreys. They contained enough red and gold seals to incorporate a Nevada gold mine. Proudly llshamed By ELAINE HOFFMAN I have always been interested in athlet- ics. I had hopes that when in high school I would be able, in some way, to excel on one of its athletic teams. But soon I found out that Central High School was not interested in the athletic abilities of the feminine sex. As I come from an athletically-inclined family, I naturally wanted to participate in something. But along came Squint. Who's Squint? Why, he's my little brother who has always teased me about my athletic lean- 9 ings. He entered high school and went out for football, which was no novelty in our family, and made the freshman team. But soon he was transferred to the big team! Before he had entered high school, I had always argued with him about my athletic ability and finally ended by telling him that he wouldn't make out so well athletically himself. Now he doesn't say anything, but he gives me those I told-you-so glances once in a while that make me furious. It bothers me a little to have a youngster out-class me, so to speak. But he is a brother and I suppose I am really proud of him-a fact I would never let him suspect, for he has put me to shame. I'm still grateful and I'm joyful and hoping for him to do greater things-Yes! I'm proudly ashamed! Granny Pays Her lleht By IRENE PARENTEAU Don't stop in there now, Beth, the girls cried. You'll miss the hike! Beth hesitated. If only Ild known a- head of time that you were going, I'd have run in at Granny's this noon, she told them. But surely you needn't see Granny every day, Ann complained. After all, she isn't your real grandmotherf' No, but she counts on my coming, Beth said slowly. You go ahead, and I'll try to get out early and catch up with you. She ran up and entered Granny's house Without knocking as Granny couldn't hear a knock anyway. Hello, Granny! she shout- ed to a little lady who was rocking as she pieced together a quilt. Ganny looked up. It's Beth! she said. Come sit down, dear, I'll get you a bite to eat. After she had eaten, Beth sat in a low chair beside the old lady, listening to the tales of Granny's youth. It was almost dark when Beth left the house and went home.

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IANUARY AGLAIA quite self-possessed as he remarks, any place looks good when you're hungry. I remember one Saturday night when he came to the door and told us he was hungry. Mother gave him a tray with exactly the same food we were having for dinner-baked beans, bread and butter, a large glass of milk, and apple pie. This ,he devoured quite quickly, and when asked if he cared for any more, he hastily replied that he was still a little hungry. Again the tray was filled and again everything disappeared with unusual speed. At last he appeared to be filled. Then he showed us his shoes-how thin they were! Mother hurried us to the attic in search of another pair. I-low happy he was when he left us! We wonder where he is now. Perhaps far away asking for his meals in another part of the country. Nobody likes to give tramps a ride, so probably he rides in freight trains or in big noisy trucks. Maybe he has a job now and is working hard. Has he relatives or a family I wonder? What does he do at times like Christmas or Thanksgiving? What made him a beggar in the first place? I would like to ask him these questions but I think he would probably be embar- rassed, or maybe his pride would be hurt. Nevertheless this man has never stopped in- teresting us, and we are always glad to greet him when he comes to our door saying, Ma'm, could I please have something to eat? lllll kinllint By VIRGINIA McLAUGHLIN Hey, Ioe, lookit them apples! Oh boy! Could I go a couple of them! Wonder Where old man Brown is? Probably hiding behind the barn with a pop-gun! I bet he'd just as soon shoot us if he saw us taking his apples. 11 Gee, they sure look good! S'pose we could shake some of 'em down? No, held see the tree moving and maybe send a blood-hound after us! The boys say hels as mean as they comef' I'll tell ya what! You stay down here and watch, and I'll climb up and throw some downf' Okey, but make it fast! Anybody comin? Naw, hurry up and start throwin' down them apples, will ya?'l Oh wait a minute, can't ya? Boy, are these swell! I wonder if he'd-I' Hey, Ioe. Here he comes! Hurry up, ya wanna get killed! Hurry! 'Tm comin', I-Oh! My pants are caught! l'Wow, was that close! Did he see us? I don't know, but we'd better not try it againf' Did ya bring down any apples? Ye Gods! I get my pants caught on a branch, and almost kill myself, and you ask me if I got any apples! Let's get goin. Hello there, boys!-What's the matter, did I startle you? N-oo-oo-o, Mr. Brown, we-we-we were just takin'- we were just takin' a walk. Well, now, I've been looking for you boys today. I wanted you to take a few bags of those apples home to your folks before I pick 'em and put 'em away for the winter. You mean-- Yes, yes, I know you like apples, I did when I was a boy, but I'm getting old now and apples are just about like everything else to me. Have another apple, Ioe, there's still a bag and a half left. I'm sick of apples. And what'll ma say when she sees my pants!