Central Wisconsin College - Valkyrie Yearbook (Scandanavia, WI)

Page 61 text:

I , . I 60 ZLQ HIVIOTL-IER'S SURPRISE Mother sat at her window, and stared out at the lane which led past the cornheld to the public road. ln her lap lay six letters, which she had just finished reading, and which her thin wrinkled hands still fingered gently. Six letters in one mail was an unusual occurrence. At first when slie had seen Eleanor coming down the lane from the mail box, with, her hands full of white envelopes, she was alarmed. There must be something the matter with the children! Then with the letters before her she remembered, it was the twenty-eight-4-of September. She stepped upon the eightieth threshold of her life that day. It was because an eightieth birthday so-unded so much older than those in the seventies, mother supposed, that the children had taken note of it and written. She began to pore -over their enclosures. Alice and Laura had both sent silk handlcerchiefs. These would be added to the already large and unused supply which lay in her bureau. The boys had all sent checks, she had not even noticed the denominations for they would all go into the tin box on the mantel piece. But they were good children, they wanted to be kind to her. She thought of each one as she scanned the letters again. The contents of the letters were all very similar, they all wished her a happy birthday, they were well and very busy. The word. busy, seemed to permeate the pages. Alice's was the tenderest of all, but not in one of them did the old mother Find that, for which her eager old eyes sought page after page -a hint that one of them was soon coming home to see her. It was that, which she longed for, most of all. Oh, if she could have them all with her now, just once, while she could see themg talk to themg listen to themg if she could go to sleep one night, knowing that they all were lying in their old childhood rooms. Today as she turned the letters over, this thought seemed less possible of realization than ever before, They were too busy. Shesat by the window, looking upon the landscape, and within her heart there was a feeling of sadness and longing. She wished for nothing more than, that she might see her children once more, gathered arottnd her in their childhood home. They were now at different places, all having chosen different vocations.

Page 60 text:

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Page 62 text:

as U 1 re ll : H 61 I Her eyes were beginning to grow dim. It was nearing twilight and she had been sitting iby the window, eagerly watching the landscape, and with her thoughts centered about her children. There seemed to be an exceptional rustle and bustle about the house as Eleanor was beginning to prepare supper, but her mother never paid any attention to this, only pondering over the letters which yet lay in her lap. Soon two carriages appeared only to be lost again in the dusk. P W'ithin only a few minutes footsteps were heard on the porch. Xlfho was there? Eleanor went to open the door. The children had all come home to celebrate mother's eightieth birthday anniversary. Mother became so glad that she was unable to speak, and tears were rolling down her cheeks for the unspeakable happi- ness was too great to express in words. Had her wish come true? Yes, and as a complete surprise to her, who had so long waited for this one occasion. Vivian Peterson Collegiate ODE TO LATIN The summer brings its joys and pleasures, And l take all beyond full measureg But when the fall comes round this way, I hardly know just what to sag! . Then school begins and Julius Caesar, He is an awful Sophomore teaser, 'Tis then I'd love to be the shark, And get the highest Latin mark. But such is 11Ot my happy song, Instead its Latin Three Hours long- But, ii T work real hard each night, T, too, may win this Latin ight. ' ---Y Cora Anderson ,25