Commerce High School - Commerce Yearbook (Cleveland, OH)

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“I want two capable and reliable men to play on the boat that runs between Norfolk and the Exposition grounds. We make four trips a day, commencing at ten in the morning and returning from the last trip at seven In the evening. Do you think you can fill the bill?” “Yes, Sir,” spoke up Fred, “We are willing to accept the position and will do the best we can.” “Very well,” said the manager, “I will pay you fifty cents an hour for a start and if satisfactory will raise your wages.” “When would you want us to start?” inquired Gilbert. “Why,” said the man, “at ten this morning, it is now nine and you will have ample time to get your instruments.” “All right,” answered Fred, “we will be back on time.” Greatly elated they left the office and went back to their room for their violins, to start to work. One night, near the end of the summer, on the return trip, the boat was crowded with men. women, and children. The boys were playing and people were dancing. “Oh, my child,” cried a women’s voice. “She fell-------.” A young man had dived. All eyes were upon him. “Will he get the child!” “No; oh, yes, he has it and is swimming toward the boat.” A line is thrown to him and, with the child in his arms, he reaches the boat and is helped up by willing hands. He gives the child to its thankful mother and avoiding the compliments and praises of the crowd, our friend, Gilbert soon resumes his place in the orchestra saying to Fred: “I am so glad that I saw the accident in time to be able to save the child.” The summer is over and the boys, after a short rest at home, returned to college, satisfied that their vacation had been a profitable as well as a pleasant one. MARY W. CALL, 1911. Cfje (Dlb ©afeen IBucfeet (For Seniors.) How dear to my heart arc memories of my school days, Of teachers and pupils and studies not few. Oh Economics and Civics, the deep-tangled Shorthand, And ev’ry loved book of our English work too; The beautiful pond, that we crossed o’er to get there, The bridge that was doomed to go down with us all, The card of reports satisfying to no one; And the dear thoughts of returning to that same class in fall. 100

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21 Vacation ©Bell £s pent THE sounds of a violin rose sharp and shrill on the air, now telling a story of sorrow, now of hope. The playing suddenly stopped. “Its the best we can do,” said the musician, as he put the violin in the case. “Yes,” answered Gilbert, Mother will be glad if I can help her a little with the expense of my senior year.” As they were good musicians, they had decided to visit the Tercentennial Exposition at Jamestown, Virginia, and try, by playing, to earn the money required. “I wish wc knew how our plan will succeed,” said Fred, the elder. “Oh, don’t worry about it now but just let us enjoy our trip,” Gilbert said, as the train pulled into the station of Chester, Pennsylvania. The boys bade their mothers farewell, and in hopeful spirits boarded the train. The coaches were fairly filled, but the boys were lucky enough to get a seat together. Opposite them sat a lady with a canary bird in a cage. Soon the conductor passed through. “Madam, I will have to take this bird to the baggage car.” “Indeed, you shall not take my little Tom away from me,” said the lady. “No birds, cats, dogs, or monkeys allowed in these coaches,” said the conductor. “Well,” snapped the woman, “They make a great mistake when they have you here.” Everyone in the car had a smile as the conductor picked up the cage and, to the indignation of the lady, walked out. The train sped on and on. “Cape Charles,” called the conductor, “All off for Cape Charles.” Well, here wc are,” said Gilbert and the two boys left the train and followed the crowd to the boat and after a ride of three hours arrived in Norfolk, Virginia. “Its no use, we’ve tried everywhere and my funds are low but I won’t ask mother for money,” Fred said sadly, on the third day after their arrival. “What do you intend to do, go home?” asked Gilbert. “Yes, I think we will have to, but we will try once again,” answered Fred. The next morning while at breakfast in a nearby restaurant, Fred, who was reading the paper, almost upset his coffee as he brought his hand down on the table. “Here is the very thing for us,” he cried as he handed the paper to Gilbert, showing him the following advertisement: Wanted—two violinists to play daily, except Sundays, on excursion steamer. In a short time the boys started out to apply for the position. The manager of the excursion steamer was a typical southerner. He said to them: 99

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Cobe TOBE was a little negro slave who lived during the time of the Civil War. One night he ran away from his master to the place where the Union Army was encamped. He went up to the Captain and asked. “Massa Cap’n, kin I stay wif yer? I kin shine up de boots right good.” The Captain looked him over with an amused smile. He hesitated. Should he burden himself with this child? The wistful, eager expression of the boy’s eyes decided the matter. “Well, you little rascal, come along, we’ll see what you can do.” “ 'Way down upon de Suwannee Ribber,” shrilly whistled Tobe, a few days later as he was cleaning the Captain’s boots. “Tobe, how would you like to go North?” asked the Captain as he dismounted and handed the bridle to the little black hands. Tobe was proving a faithful servant and whatever belonged to “Massa Cap’n” was sacred to the poor boy. “Eh, Massa Cap’n, ef yer gwine North, I will go wif yer, but yer don’t mean to send me away from yer, do yer?” “You made those boots look fine, Tobe. Take good care of them, for it is not often I can get a pair that feel so comfortable on my feet as these do.” “Yer needn’t be feared, I’se take care of ’em, Cap’n.” The army left camp to march North. The wagon in which Tobe rode broke down. The men who were left behind to fix it up suddenly saw a troop of Confederates coming at full speed toward them. The Union men were horrified as there was no way of escape; but as the enemy did not want prisoners they were left unharmed. The raiders, however, began a search for anything of value. An officer looking under the wagon saw a blanket which seemed to be making unusual undulatory movements. Reaching down he pushed aside the blanket and saw Tobe trying to hide the precious boots. The officer, admiring the make of the boots, said, “Come, boy, hand over those boots.” “Deed, Massa, I can’t gib ’em to yer.” The rebel officer grew angry and said, Hurry, hand them over, or I will shoot you.” “ ’Deed, Massa,” began Tobe, but the click of the revolver cut him off. The rebels then dashed away as they saw the Union force reappear. The relief party, attracted by the revolver shot, hurried to the spot where the wagon broke down and found Tobe dead, but clasping his master’s boots. The Captain felt very sorrowful at what a sacrifice the faithful boy had saved his master’s property. 101