Conneaut High School - Tattler Yearbook (Conneaut, OH)

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C. I'RKW, The Florist, State St. Phone 1281 !l Life was very dreary to little Juan who sometimes assisted his father in the mines. One night after the evening meal Juan brought forward a bag of stones which he proceeded to form into the semblance of a wall. When a glitter caught the eye of Pedro, he examined the stones and found some were nuggets of almost pure gold and by questioning Juan he soon found where plenty of these golden nuggets might be found. Realizing their value in a measure and also that they would never be of any use to him in this country, he suddenly recalled what a man had told him of the United States where a common man might own vast acres. After thinking over all this the next day, that night their few belongings were packed and with the gold nuggets were carefully strapped to the back cf Pedro and leading little Juan, they started northward for the far distant United States, traveling by night to escape the boiling rays of the sun. Many days and nights passed with only a few tropical fruits for food. Weary and worn the travelers finally reached Chihuahua where a small nugget procured food. Never having seen a railroad train and ignorant of the world the rail road was not looked u] on as a direct means of travel, and as a help only t mark the road in the direction in which he desired to travel. T o weeks passed be ore the wandering travelers reached El Paso where they had heard the promised land began. This city had no attractions for Pedro and wandering to the northward he came upon the owner of a sheep ranch, who had but recently murdered an Indian helper and who was mighty glad to exchange his ranch for nuggets and leave the country. The summer of 1S92 was marked by a drought in the southwest par of the United States. Everything w’as scorched by the sun’s rays and but little pasturage was to be found at this time. The Brown Stock Company, a large concern composed mostly of eastern millionaires who numbered their cattle hv the million, had a number of herds grazing through the valley of the Rio Grande in central New Mexico. As the drought increased the sheep and goats of Pedro crowded farther into the valley away from the foo: hills. This soon led to conflict with the Brown Stock Company and, as any one knows, enmity always exists between cattle and sheep men in the west for the cattle will not graze where sheep have been. As the Stock Company’s cattle came down the valley they were seen by Juan, who was now sole guardian of the sheep as his father lay on his bed of straw’ nearly con sumed by fever. Hate arose in the boy’s heart as he realized the danger to his flock and thought o' what his father had already suffered at the hands of the Mexican government. This seemed merely a repetition. Being helpless he could do nothin T, but soon a lone horseman could be seen riding in his direction whose identity was no other than the young son of J. P. Morgan, w'hose father had sent him on a western trip for his health and to look into his vast financial interests. Although a typical cowboy in appearnce, vet he was kind at heart, and w’hen he saw poor little Juan so neglected looking and so faithfully guarding his father’s flocks he was touched and kindly approached him. Juan soon told him of his great trouble concerning his father and together they

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8 THE TATTLER This gave the three a chance of escape and they made the best of it. Running through the snow without snow shoes is hard work but they reached a tall tree and began scaling it. The last man 'had just reached the bottom limb when the wolf, diverted from his meal, made a spring for him. It was a close call for the wolf missed his mark only by a hair’s breadth. “Jumping geese quills, but that was a close one,” yelled Shorty, but where’s that dog?’’ “I’ll bet he’s gone to camp,” cried the lumberman. “Hell git a bunch o’ the byes out here but’ll take quite a spell,—say, did you see that?” This last exclamation was caused by a form coming toward them at top speed. “Hey, Shorty, where are you?” the form cried. “Right here Bill,” answered Shorty, “but for the love of Mike climb a tree. There is wolves here by the barrel. Where did you beat it? we’ve needed you.” “Well,” answered his breathless comrade, “that Indian got away from me and I chased him until he finally shook me. I was a fool leaving you all alone with that ruffian,” pointing towards the big lumberman in the branches with Shorty. “Well, I guess I’m high enough to be out of reach now. I heard those wolves and 'was desperate and started back at full speed, and here I am.” “By gum. I b'lieve we owe our lives to that dorg—” “What dog?” asked Will. “Why,” exclaimed Shorty, “a big dorg blew in from somewhere an’ fit all of them wolves while we strolled to this tree.” “That dog,” exclaimed the lumberman, “came with that bloomin’ Injun an’ me—by gar,” he exploded. “A bunch of those wolves must o’ followed him away from here because there is only about half of them here now. It will sure be some race to camp fer that dog, but I gues6 he can outrun ’em.” Darkness had set'in and the tree occupants were fast asleep when suddenly a loud bark broke the stillness and a powerful dog leaped into view. Then a half dozen lumbermen came running behind. The lumberman’s guilt was not exposed, at Shorty’s request, and so it is that, when enemies meet in a death grapple, new danger will make them friends. HARRISON ANDREWS, ’17. A MEXICAN TALE. For many years Pedro Lopes had farmed a few rugged acres on the slopes of the Sierre Madre. His claim had been undisturbed until a rich mining prospector came along and discovered gold along the foot hills. Soon Pedro was ousted from his farm and rather than leave the straw thatched hut which he called home, he consented to work in the mines as an ordinary peon for two pesos a week. On this he hardly lived, as besides his wife there was a son, Juan, and food was scarce and hard to get. The years passed until Juan was ten years old. Then the wife sickened and died and Pedro, heart broken, buried her at the foot of the mountain with a stately palm standing sentinel over her grave.

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10 THE TATTLER visited the poor dwelling only to find Pedro deliriously talking of his sheep and no water. Knowing the end was near, young Morgan remained with Juan and after the few sad rites which they were able to perform were over, he suggested to Juan that he go with him to New York and, as kindness had already won his confidence, this Juan willingly agreed to do. The flocks were disposed of and Juan took the remaining treasured nuggets and went to a new life. His friend soon placed him in a good school where he had every advantage which together with his faithfulness soon accomplished wonders. He was twelve years of age when found by Mr. Morgan and by the time he was twenty he had graduated from Yale with honors and was recommendei by President Wilson to be sent as an envoy of peace to the Mexican government. PHTLO ANDREWS, ’15. KINDNESS PAYS LARGE DIVIDENDS. “Well, Frank, let’3 not sit here and study all evening and ruin ou -health. What do you say to going up town to the show?” “I was just thinking about that myself, Tom, for I have had a bad headache all day.” Such was the conversation of two boys in Oberlin college. The former, who was addressed as Frank, was Frank Miller, the son of a prominent business man of Philadelphia. The first speaker was Tom Harris, the son of a wealthy financier of Pittsburg. Both were in their Junior year and were already figuring what they would do after their graduation, the following year. As they were both studying law, each anticipated being a great lawyer some day or even being elected to the supreme bench. Now, as it was in the spring of the year, and this being a nice evening, it was hard for the boys to sit quietly in their rooms and busy themselves in books, so. upon this pleasant suggestion each quickly grabbed his hat and started for the opera. As they neared the opera which they had decided to attend that evening, Tom reached in his pocket to get his money ready to purchase their tickets but, to his dismay, found that all his money was in his trousers he had worn the evening before. “Say, Frank, you wouldn’t mind buying the tickets tonight, would you? My money is at home in my other suit.” “That is what I intended to do anyway, Tom, you always want to pay and now you will have to stand one on me.” Tom, seeing no other course open, decided to let Frank buy the tickets and when they reached the place, Tom entered and picked out a couple of good seats, while Frank was outside buying the tickets. In a. couple of minutes, Tcm began to feel uneasy, as Frank did not appear, and. thinking that Frank might not have seen him enter, started for the entrance to tell him where he had decided to sit. As he reached the door, he saw Frank going through all kinds of frantic motions toward the ticket agent, and wondered what could be the trouble. “Why don’t you come in and get a good seat before they are all gone, Frank? I have been waiing in there for you for nearly a half hour.” “Well, why don’t you run away when I need some one around?” “What is the matter, now, you haven’t decided to lick the ticket agent and get us both in free have you?”