Central High School - Cog N Pen Yearbook (Newark, NJ)

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EXIT 14 “It wasn't absent-mindedness, | responded, for he doesn't know yet that we aren't going to have one. Doesn't he? asked Jennie, wonderingly. And when will he discover this mere detail? Go ahead and laugh, said І to myself. You'll all laugh to a different tune to-morrow if my scheme works. For, you see, | had a scheme, upon the success of which depended our marks in physics for that month. But | needed masculine advice, so | went to Billy Wilbur and put the case plainly before him. Не agreed to Бер. Billy Wilbur is our friend, а perfect gentleman. What useless cramming went on that night—what fearful attempts at eleventh-hour wisdom! The next day came, as next days have an unfortunate habit of doing, and with it came the third period. Mr. Elson gave out the paper, took off his glasses, wiped them, put them on again, and began writing the questions on the board. Nothing happened. He completed the first ques- tion, which, when we saw it, made us feel dizzy, and then he commenced on the second. Still nothing happened. Curses on that boy, thought I, —had he forgotten his part of the contract? But just then a low moan, as of an animal in pain, was heard, followed by a delightfully natural groan. Then Billy Wilbur quite outdid himself in a series of ear-splitting cries, which he emitted with great rapidity and expedition, as though he wished to get them out of his system as soon as possible. Poor Mr. Elson, who was just writing telegraph, stopped short at tele, dropped the chalk and book out of his hands, but left his arms in the same position as before. He pivoted his face around without turning his body, and said Eh? with such an expression of hurt surprise, disgust, and doubt, that І just leaned back and roared. I simply couldn't help it. “It hurts here! howled Billy, spreading his hands widely over the region of his chest and center of gastronomical activi- ties. And with blood-curdling yells he continued to elucidate on his sudden attack. The whole class flocked about him, except Johnny Linden, who never lost his wits, even in time of excite- ment, and who was copying answers out of his book with great rapidity and haste. Meanwhile Billy was getting hoarse. | couldn't let the faithful creature howl himself to death, so | sug- gested having him carried out of the room. Then sing, O Muses, of bustle and excitement, of ink-wells upset, and of tongues let loose, when poor Sonny and the boys were dragging Billy's by 8

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ER ALL'S FAIR IN PHYSICS. By Doris Katzin. OR next recitation we will have a comprehensive test which shall cover all the work this month. Turn now to the work for to-morrow.” Thus calmly did Mr. Elson, physics teacher, pronounce our doom. A cold sweat broke out upon my forehead. What! Was | to flunk my physics on the last day of the month, just because of this? What was worrying Mr. Elson lately, anyway? | could remember the time when he had been a good, gentle teacher, with whom a pupil could cut periods with impunity, coming in after class with a long face and a light heart, to tell him that he had been detained in the office!” As Mr. Elson always used to be satisfied with these delightfully indefinite ques- tions, and never asked embarrassing questions, we all loved him, even though we held him a little in contempt, and called him Sonny. Butnow! lthought with disgust of the coming test. Say, exclaimed Jennie, out in the corridor, what's both- ering Sonny? One day to prepare for a test! And, by the way, his hairs combed. | can see it's to be quite a little test, by the looks of things. Do you really think we are going to have a test to-mor- row?” І asked, with a superior smile. Why, answered Jennie, slowly turning to me, for one mad moment | really did think so. Of course, if you say we aren't, we won't; but just at first | truly thought that Mr. Elson would keep his word, and give us the test. Well you needn't be so sarcastic, | answered calmly, because we're not going to have any. Oh, arent we? How very peculiar! Funny how absent- minded Mr. Elson is getting, isn't it? Whatever made him make such a droll mistake, do you suppose? 7

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EXIT no means withered frame from the room. But here rose a new difficulty. Billy refused to depart! They finally got him down on the couch in the teacher's room, while all the time he was protesting, and, О master stroke of policy!—the subject of his protests was that he wanted to go back and take the test! In vain Mr. Elson promised and pleaded— Billy would go back, but as he tried to get up he fell back with another groan, clutching his sides frantically. Poor fellow, sighed Mr. Elson; poor, poor fellow—the pain's in his side now. Then Billy began to moan for a pencil, to take the test where he was; but such agonizing pains seized him when he tried to write, that the poor boy curled all up, giving vent all the while to perfectly terrific noise, until the distracted Mr. Elson was ready to yell in concert It was here | offered a self-denying, but helpful suggestion. Why not put off the test to some other day when the poor fellow is able to take it? І said, and Mr. Elson all but kissed me in his eager thanks for my kind idea! Well, of course, everyone in the school heard about Billy Wilbur's attack which was brought on by overstudy, and the sore throat, which lasted for two weeks, is better now. Mr. Elson put off the test until further notice, and as all this happened last month, and we have heard nothing further, we are calm and peaceful. Perhaps Mr. Elson is afraid of another attack! WHILE FATHER WAITED. By Elmer F. Powell. ITTLE girl, | want you to marry me. I've wanted you as long as | can remember. Will you?” “Бог the forty-fifth time, І will not!” “All right, dear. I'll be over to-night with tickets for the Globe. Will you go? “I will if you promise not to propose to me again. You're getting to be a nuisance, and I'm afraid A Afraid of what? “Well, I'm afraid I'll forget one of these days, and give the wrong answer. Fine! That's the way | like to hear you talk. ГІІ be over at seven-thirty, and | am not making any promises. Good-bye, little girl! Good-bye, you big goose 14 3 I kj T