Chinook High School - Breeze Yearbook (Chinook, MT)

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THE CHINOOK BREEZE 9 talking and Billy, urged on by the eager questions of the two men, told the whole story of their misfortune. When he had finished, one of the men inquired innocently what the names of the two missing men were. Billy told him and the man exclaimed, “Oh, I know them well.,, “Can you tell me where they are?” asked Billy eagerly. “Right on this wagon,” answered the man. Billy was over-joyed when he discovered that the men were his two long lost brothers, but was not any more elated than the rest of the family, who almost smothered them when they came into the house. Soon the family were again seated around the fire, listening to John and Abner’s story. They had been taken to the ca bin by the two trappers and had been taken care of for almost two months until they were able to travel. Then they had made their way through the Confederate lines by disguising themselves as Confederate soldiers, and had rejoined their own regiment. When their commander heard their story, he gave them six months furlough and they had returned home just in time for Christmas. “Well,” remarked Billy, when they had finished their story, “I guess we’ll have a happy Christmas after all.” —Leo Gesell, ’18. UJterry? Cljrfatmaa When Yule-tide comes around again, It costs me stacks of fives and tens To pay off all my bills. The wife must have a brand new hat, The children long for this and that— My heart with anguish fills. My niece’s cousin’s husband’s unks,

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8 THE CHINOOK BREEZE farm as a security, from his well-to-do neighbor Mr. Billings, a stingy, grasping man, who for years had coveted the Reed farm. He now had a good chance of getting the place and would not be put off any longer. “If we only had the boys at home,” sighed the mother. “We haven’t heard from them for months and the reports say they are missing, so we don’t have any idea what has become of them.” “Don’t worry, father,” spoke up Billy. We’ll find some way to pay it. I can haul hay and maybe we can sell some of the calves and horses.” “I am afraid not, my boy,” answered the old man. “You can’t earn more than ten dollars a month, hauling hay, and no one wants to buy stock at this time of the year. I am afraid we’ll have to give up the place unless something turns up.” Although thirteen-year-old Billy had spoken so cheerfully, he did not feel that way. Ever since his father had been injured, all of the work had fallen to him, and he was barely able to earn a living for the family, let alone save enough money to pay the debt. Their clothes were becoming threadbare, and patched and their faces plainly showed hunger. “I am afraid we won’t have much of a Christmas this year,” continued the father. “We can’t spare any money for presents and there i£ no one to send us any. The boys are both gone and we can’t even have a good Christmas din- At last Christmas eve came around. Billy had hauled a load of hay to town that day and was rather late in coming home. He had stopped at the corner store and had spent a quarter for some candy for the younger children. As he was driving slowly along the road, he overtook two men, wrapped in heavy overcoats and carrying numerous bundles and packages. “Want a ride?” he inquired. “You bet” answered one of the men. As they went along, they began

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THE CHINOOK BREEZE Must have a bunch of bucks and plunks, My helpmeet lets me know; My nephew needs some new silk socks— It gives poor me an awful shock To see the nickels go. Then I should send some gifts and things To my own relatives, by jinks, But simply do not dare. My brothers dear amount to naught And other presents must be bought, My darling wife declares. When Christmas morn at last is here, For others there is lots of cheer And every kind of stuff; But as I look up at the tree There’s just a loud bow tie for me— They wonder why I’m gruff. That’s just the way it always goes, As any men with families know— And it is rank abuse. They never send a thing to you, When gifts and things for them are due; It peeves me like the deuce. SHRIMP, C’18. (With apologies to Walt Mason.) Mabel Blackwood rushed into the geometry room breathless. “Oh, Mr. Provow, don't scold me for being late to school, because I’ve just had such a disappointment,” she said. “A horse fell down and they said they were going to send for a horse doctor, so I waited. And what do you think? It wasn’t a horse doctor at all: it was only a man!’’