Commerce High School - Commerce Yearbook (Cleveland, OH)

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“All right Shorty, show him up,” shouted one of the boys, for Shorty was the first man up. The game went very fast, and was interesting, until in the eighth inning the score was one to one “Eat ’em up now, fellers, said one of the boys from the opposing team. While remarks such as, “Hit him in the head Tom.” “Put one around his neck.” “Give him a drop, etc., came from our line. The last inning was opened by Tom’s striking out the first man up. The second fellow popped a fly to Bill Sly. The third man hit the ball for a double, which gave his team confidence. The next man hit for a double, and the next fellow got a single. Tom was fatigued now, and his arm gave out from too much pitching, and the opposing team seemed to be able to hit the ball all over the field. The captain of the opposing team was now up, and as he was known to be a heavy hitter, the fielders moved out. Tom realized the Captain’s strong point, and therefore he determined to pitch the ball with all the strength he still possessed, as the game depended upon whether the Captain could get a hit or would fail to make good. Tom pitched the ball over twice, one immediately after the other, while the Captain was posing. “Two Strikes,” shouted the Umpire. The Captain was surprised, and watched carefully for a good one. Then Tom sent the ball in with terrific speed, the Captain hit it squarely, and it went through the air like a shot. Look at Bill Sly, he’s too far out for that ball,” said Brown, quite excited. “Hope he gets it.” “Watch him muff it, said another. “Look out ” The sun is in your eyes,” shouted a couple of the opposing team. Bill ran away up for the ball, stuck out his glove, and the ball fell safely into it. “Robber, Robber!” shouted the Captain together with a couple of his tollowers, who were feeling very much put out over the defeat. Scrambling and running about followed. Cheering words were passed to Tom, but something seemed to be troubling him. The first thing he did, was to go over to Bill Sly, and thank him for the fine playing he performed, and asked Bill to forget the past. “From now on we are friends,” said Tom, and to prove the sincerity of his statement he led the fellows in three cheers for Bill Sly the “Hero of the Day.” The boys then wound up the cheering in their favorite fashion: “Three Cheers for Bill Sly.” “Three Cheers for Tom White.” “Three Cheers for the Team.” Let us all give the School Yell. 114

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Tom realized now that he should have chosen Bill Sly, even though Bill had not chosen him for basket ball, and after thinking the matter over, his conscience bothered him mere, so he went to Bill Sly the next morning and said, “Bill, I didn’t like you, because you did not put me on the basket ball team, and that is why I did not put you on the baseball team, but I realize now that ycu are a valuable player, and by leaving you out, I have done you a wrong, and have wronged the school also. But at the present time, Bill, the school is in need of a player of your caliber, and for the sake of the school, not for my sake, I want you on my team.” Well, Tom, I always felt sore about this affair, and firmly believed that I deserved a place on the team, but if I can help the school by playing with the team, I will endeavor to do my best.” “Thanks Bill, seeing its that way we’ll call it square. Shake hands. So long Bill ” “So long. Bill felt dissatisfied yet, but he was out for practice every night, and played in two games which the team easily won. The boys were getting prepared for the final game for the Championship and as the two teams were tied for first place, everybody expected to witness some exciting plays. “There is going to be things doing Saturday,” said Jimmy Smith to John Brown. “Yes, indeed, I hope we win,” replied John. Well, may be we won’t,” said Jimmy. “You never can tell, said John, “for the two teams are pretty evenly matched.” “Yes, but we have more experienced fellows. And did you hear that Tom White put Bill Sly on the team?” “No, I didn’t.” “Yes, he put Bill on the team last week.” Bill is a good player, I hear, said John, But I never saw him play. “Well you come to the game Satuday, and you will see him play, along with the rest of the boys,” said Jimmy. “Oh! I’ll be there with bells on,” said John. The day for the game was now at hand. It was Saturday; the grounds were fine, and the weather splendid, and the two teams were there, each confident of winning the game. Remarks from the side lines were rapidly coming forth, just to show the spectators that the School Spirit was there. “Watch us eat ’em up,” said Smith. We’ll make ’em look like a Chinese two cent piece, with a hole punched in it,” said Greene. “Play Ball.” shouted the Umpire. 113

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“Hi, Hi, shack a da ru, Shack, Shack, Shack, Shack, Shack a da ru, She bi, She by, She by Gal Bu, High School of Commerce, Rah, Rah, Ru” JOHN McTIGUE, 1911. 3n 3nk Bottle’s j oliloqup U H how glad I am that it’s Saturday. Maybe I can rest a while today and I think if anything on earth needs it, I certainly do. I wonder how I happened to be put in this big study room, anyway- It is always so quiet in here, and yet even when I yell as loud as I can no one seems to hear me, but maybe they are studying so hard that they can’t. Sometimes I see some of them looking up at a queer looking object upon the wall which makes a little noise every second. Something in it moves back and forth and so many of the children look at it, and so often, that I think it must be some fine decoration or basket-ball trophy. Every little while I hear a big noise that sounds like an ambulance or fire-engine gong, and a few minutes later I hear three or four of these noises and all the children in here jump up and hurry away, and others come in. They all look to be nice and pleasant but most of them that I have had anything to do with, are very rude and unkind to me, for they jab their sharp daggers, or whatever they call them, right into my sides. They hurt me so that I yell as hard and as loud as I can, but they go on jabbing me just the same and I feel awful. I wish I could jab them once and show them how nice it is, but I guess they don’t know any better, poor children. I pity them so because they have to carry so many books, and seem to study so hard; but I would rather be one of them any day than what I am,— a tired, old, black ink bottle. Sometimes the children take my nice cream colored hat and play with it. They always get it dirty, and sometimes they forget to put it on me again and then I catch a cold in my head. Sometimes they get our hats mixed and yesterday some one gave me a hat that belonged to a red ink bottle. Sometimes they tear up some of the white stuff that they write on, and shove it down my neck. It makes me feel awful choky and hoarse. Oh! I’m so tired and hungry that I can’t rest at all. I’m always so busy during the day and at night my sides ache so that I can’t sleep. I’m sure I’ll get appendicitis if vacation doesn’t come soon. Oh I wish that man would come and give me something to eat. I’ve been hungry ever since Wednesday and I only get one meal a week, but I get so much then that I am full up to my neck. If I could only yell louder I’d tell them when I’m hungry, but I can’t. Oh, here he comes with my dinner, so I guess I’ll quit talking and get busy the way the kids do in the study room ” emma APPLEBY 1912 115