Compton High School - El Companile Yearbook (Compton, CA)

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Sold-Une Carpet-Sweeper Miss Hephia Cruge was dusting in the upstairs bedroom when the knock came. She went silently to the window at the end of the hall, raised the sash noiselessly, and peered down upon a carpet-sweeper agent. He, unmindful of the reconnaisance above on the part of the mistress of the house, was remov- ing a little pendant medal from the lapel of his coat. VVhen he had freed the medal he dropped it into an outside coat pocket. Miss Hephia Cruge, her curiosity slightly aroused, stumped down the front stairs to answer the knockg she was also actuated by visions of a clean rug or two. Good morning, madamf' the salesman said respectfully. 'KI have here a type B. model of the Pioneer Carpet Sweeper. This style is cheap, conven- ient, compact, and durable. I believe that I can convince you in ten minutes by a practical demonstration that you need this machine. VVould you oblige me by giving me the chance to show you how easily the machine is oper- ated ? ' I won't get a carpet-sweeper, but I suppose I can spare you about ten minutesf' Miss Cruge answered coldly. If there is any particular rug or carpet that you wish cleaned, the man stated, it will do just as well for the demonstration as anything else. That one over Napoleonls picture will do, or better clean this rug near the stand,'l suggested Miss Cruge. ' She watched the demonstration with a cold, uninterested eye. While the salesman ran the machine back and forth across the rug he made an estimate of the woman who sat in the rocker near the window. She was cold-hearted and selfish and quite old, he told himself. The hard lines of her month and the uncompromising glare of her eyes acquainted him with the fact that Miss Hephia Cruge was determined not to purchase a carpet-svveeper. He would leave as soon as possible. V Miss Cruge was indeed cold hearted and selfish. A long life alone had made her disagreeable and uncompanionable. Her curiosity also caused oth- ers to dislike her. The salesman finished the rug, drew out the dust chamber, and showed Miss Cruge the accumulation of dust that he had drawn from the rug. Plenty of dust there, eh Pl' he asked. XVcll, was the reply, 'fthe last fellow I allowed to make a carpet- sweeper demonstration filled the dust chamber half full of lint, I'd swear, before he began, because I had just cleaned the rugs the week before. How do I know that you didn't do the same thing? 'Of course, madamfl said the man, embarrassed by the accusation, I know that there are fraudulent persons in every business, but I have used no deception in my demonstration. If you think for an instant that I have attempted to, deceive you, I will clean another rug for you. You see the chamber is emptyf' As he stooped to replace the dust chamber, the little pendant medal fell out of his coat pocket. Ilut before he could replace it Miss Cruge had asked him a question. 'WVhat is that?H she asked. The aspect of the whole man changed. Ile could bear the woman's bitter 28

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He made that journey in two days and two nights, and by the end of that second day the party organized to follow Joe's dog. Meanwhile Joe, thinking to lessen the distance for his helpers, started to travel toward home, but had crawled very painfully less than a mile when he had to give up. Here he drank his last drop of water and lay still. VVhen the other men found him he was dead. Been dead for a day at least, was Bill's curt statement. The men found no diggings in sight and searching Joe, found no gold. Jake, an old regular, drawled, joe's old luck, while Mexican Hombre answered, Quien Sabe? ' W. HOPCRAFT, '21, My Mother As I sit here alone tonight, I think of you, O Mother mine, I think of your great love for meg I see your smiling, lovelit eyes, And seem to feel their soft embrace, Enfolding me in love so true That even now is thrills me thru To know that once you were my own, My Mother! My mother! how I miss you now! I sometimes wonder if you know How much I want you,-tho you're gone- How much I need your tender care, But most of all I want your love, The love that you alone can give, To guide me thru all doubt and fear, I want to say once more to you 3- My Mother! I long for just one more caress ,- To hear once more your voice so dear, The voice that now is ever still, I sometimes think my heart will break VVith longing for you, Mother mine. But God is good-with Him you are, And He will give me strength to live, To love, to serve, and then to find, My Mother! '21. 27

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remarks but he resented her idle curiosity. He straightened. His eyes flashed. His cheeks hushed. His lists clenched. VVith a touch of pride in his voice he replied: Since you ask me I will tell you. I am an ex-soldier. I fought at Ar- gonne, where I was wounded. Three of us were sent to scout about and only one came back. But we won the fight and repulsed the enemy. VVhat mat- tered the price if We had safely upheld our great principles? I am the soldier that came back. I was given this medal for my bravery, they said. I do not use thermedal to further my own interests as some do. I removed the medal from my coat lapel before you came to the door. Some persons are influenced by the sight of military awards and rewards and will purchase an article iust because the salesman is or was a soldier. I don't sell things that way. Let my military achievements be a proud heritage for my family. Finishing, the soldier quickly packed away the carpet-Sweeper in the case and prepared to leave. Throughout the salcsmanls speech Miss Cruge had been rocking hard to keep up with her thoughts. She saw herself as she was-cold, curious, heart- less, selfish. She followed the salesman to the door and at the threshold stammered out, How much did you say those carpet-sweepers are? I didn't know I needed one until now, and I want it delivered as soon as possible. Six dollars and thirty-live cents, and I can get it to you by Thursday, replied the soldier. HAROLD SVVAN, '2O. The Ocean NVhen winds are hushed and all is calm, And no clouds are in view, And stifling heat is o'er the land, The sea's an em'rald hue. I'Vhen clouds roll in and thunders roar, And lightning flashes clear, And gray the sky and gray the sea, My heart is filled with fear. p . But when the sun is shining bright, And winds are blowing free, The ocean is a sapphire blue,-- Ah, then 'tis calling me! 21. 29 K V 1