Chenoa High School - Chenowan Yearbook (Chenoa, IL)

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Ulibt Qllhennlnan The long banquet ending, as all good things must, the victorious insects were finally polite enough to withdraw and allow their conquered victims to arise and discover just how much of the original remained, after the many bites taken. VVe discovered that not only were we all in evidence, but we had actually grown during the night, due to the many small projections on our bodies, mixed with not a few of larger variety. This seemed to be directly opposite to the scientific theory that one must have at least eight hours of sleep in order to develop one's physical being. And who were we to dispute scientific authorities? Following a hasty breakfast, in which the bacon was burned and the coffee, besides being considerably well filled with grounds, tasted as if made with water from the creek instead of from the spring, we embarked on our long looked-forward-to excursion into the woods in search of game. Had we then known to what bitter disappointment we were destined, we should have quietly reposed by our luxuriously-furnished cabin. Dividing nine of us into three groups, each group set out in a different direction. The group I accompanied, after walking perhaps twenty minutes in what was intended to be a straight line, suddenly sighted a squirrel, so we started following it, and, instead of immediately darting up into the leafy haven of the nearest tree, as any self-respecting squirrel would have- done, he scampered serenely onward, closely pursued by three courageous boys. Suddenly, however, our intended quarry vanished, and we discovered that he had ascended a hollow tree and had disappeared into the dreary depths of a deep, dark, opening. There now remained nothing for us to do but to return to the cabin, report our failure, and alibi our way back into prestige as great hunters. 1 Starting back in the direction we thought we had come, we proceeded for a distance of perhaps two miles, when we discovered ourselves to be in a part of the timber we had no recollection of ever having viewed before. So we started off in a different direction, and found the same discouraging fact to be true. Debating the situation, we were rewarded by the irrevocable knowledge that we were lost, lost in a big woods, a woods which we had never before visited, in a section of the country which we knew less than nothing about, and the day rapidly approaching its close. What were we to do? The natural thing for ignorant boys to do was to shout 'til they were hoarse. We did, but to no avail. Not even the birds paid any attention to us. However, after the first dismal feeling at finding ourselves lost-if one does find himself when lost-we decided to walk in a different direction Page twenty-three 1 v l l l 1 4 i 1 A , li ,i 1

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T if TT The Gibenutnan figfgaarffeT41e A CAMPING TRIP WHEN the sweet, silvery-smooth breath of summer lends its languorous odor to the atmosphere, nearly every boy, whether six or sixteen, or even older, dreams constantly of camping out. It is a very simple matter for a boy with an active imagination to sleep in a tent in his back yard, and visualize himself in Canada, and some can even realistically dream of arising with the dawn, fas all real campers are supposed to doj cooking a breakfast unobtainable and incomparable with those to be had at home, and then hunting animals, that, had they really existed in his camping area, would have driven him to sleep inside. So, being boys, and just the same in thought and actions as other boys, we naturally greeted with unbounded delight a proposal made by our scout- master to take a camping trip to a site about twenty miles distant, where we could live in a real log cabin, deep in a real timber, and fish and hunt all day. VVhen the vote was taken, it was unanimous, we went! It is very sad to relate but the saying, Boys will be boys, is only too true. Starting early one Monday morning, fourteen strong, we shouldered our packs and started for our Eden We had chosen to hike, so that if any one wished to return, he would have to walk. This turned out to be a very good idea, as ideas go. We hiked in a group for a few miles, but then some began to lag, and soon there were only four of us in the van, the distance gradually increasing between the groups until, when the last straggler arrived, we had the cabin all cleaned up. After cooking an excuse for a supper, we went, supposedly, to bed, dead-tired. But each had to relate his experiences of the long, arduous trip, and although a scout is truthfulf' I am very frank in admitting that the recording angel must have had a busy night. Eventually, however, one by one we drifted to the land of sweet dreams, some peacefully, others noisily, until finally everyone was asleep. Then, the fire having died down, the mosquitoes started working overtime, and they had never worked so ambi- tiously before. Blankets were utilized to fight them off, but to no availg we were outnumbered, it seemed, a million to one, and were destined to the same fate as Daniel so narrowly escaped. Necessity being the mother of invention, we finally conceived the wonderful idea of rolling in our blankets, and permitting them to do their worst, which they did, obligingly enough. The inevitable result was that we slept not a moment during the entire night. Page twen ty-two .. wif,-View V, -V --V- 1 9 3 0 N:-'--e?5E1ff,f.'

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' I iii. mil! UZIJBIIUUJHII :'f:iT until we came to a road, then follow the road until we arrived somewhere- sometime-somehow. Thereupon we walked until our feet started yelling for mercy, and we were just about ready to stop in order to gain a little much-needed rest, when to our despairing ears came the musical twinkle of running water. Of course, it was the creek. Realizing that the creek had run past the cabin, we miraculously did the correct thing, and following the creek, we journeyed upstream, arriving at our destination just as the last rosy red hues of the setting sun disappeared beyond the western horizon. We were footsore and weary, but were we glad to be back! Never did a meal taste so good, even despite the fact that our cook was slightly inferior to a chef, and the amount consumed seriously threatened our not inexhaustible supply, and brought to our minds thoughts of a new and greater famine that would eclipse even that famous famine of the time of joseph. Our larder, however, could be supplemented by stores from a neighboring farmhouse, and, who knows? there might be fish in that creek. although it was only about a foot deep, and almost perfectly clear. Dreaming of the events of the day, we retired to our beds CPD and to another banquet, at which we were again not the guests of honor, but the feast itself, and a sumptuous feast it proved to be. But why prolong your agony, and mine as I recall the events of that remarkable trip? Merely let it suffice to say that after six days of no fun and hard work, coupled with six nights of misery and mosquitoes, we decided to call it a draw, and departed, leaving the insects in complete and undisputed possession of the fort, but without supplies or visible means of existence. I think that every one was very glad to be returning home once again, to food fit to eat, a comfortable bed to sleep in, and no mosquitoes to contend with the sandman. I am positively certain that I was. ' Did we have a good time? No. Emphatically no! But we'll go again when opportunity offers, tapping at our portals with iron hand, cun- ningly concealed in thick gloves. Of course we'll go again. Boys are made that way! - ERVIN M. SANDHAM Page twe'nty-four 19 3 0 551 ?li eelfif