Emmerich Manual High School - Ivian Yearbook (Indianapolis, IN)

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Then came the thought of Miss Celia. What would she think ? He dug his brown toes farther into the mud and pulled his hat down over his eyes, to think better. He re- membered her kind words as he left. Good-bye, Jerry, be a good boy, and he remem- bered, also, laughing to himself and thinking : Can ' t have much chance to be bad just going over to the creek to fish and back. He thought of all her kindness to him, for she had been his only friend since his mother ' s death. After a little while, he picked up his rod and basket and started slowly across the field to the barn, where the boys had gathered. He stopped near the door, as he heard Tom ' s voice. I ' m sure I had it in my pocket when I started, but it ' s gone for good now. And father don ' t believe in circuses, anyhow, so I won ' t dare ask for another. I ought to have put it in my left pocket, it ' s the good one, and I believe now I did. Why, Tom, said one of his companions, they ' ve both got holes in them. Let ' s go look again over by the swing, and then we ' ll give it up. Jerry stole softly past the barn door and dropped the quarter directly in under the swing. Then he turned and ran swiftly across the field to Miss Celia ' s. He stopped for a moment to rest under a big tree in the middle of the field. He waited till he got his breath, and then walked slowly on. Somehow, he didn ' t feel as happy as they do in stories, when they do a brave deed. He was half tempted to go back and get the money again, but as he turned ' round he heard the boys shouting and knew they had found it. He entered by the back gate and saw Miss Celia in the garden. She came swiftly toward him. Why, Jerry, what kept you so late ? Some folks met father in the village this evening and asked him to buy tickets for the circus tomorrow. He took them, but he can ' t go, and you must take me. For one long minute Jerry stood breathless and silent. Well, don ' t you want to go with me ? she asked in an injured tone. Why, yes. Miss Celia, I guess I can take you, he said meekly. Rebecca Foster, 1900.

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He was not an attractive child, far from it. His face was covered with freckles and his light blue eyes were half hidden by a mass of touseled yellow hair. His pants, ragged and brown with age, were fastened to his one suspender by a nail, skillfully inserted into the button-hole. His shirt was open at the top, showing his neck, tanned by exposure to the sun and wind. He was sitting on the bank of a small stream, his rod in his hand, but his thoughts were far away from fishing. Soon he took off his battered straw hat and drew from beneath the lining a piece of paper soiled by much handling. This was the cause of Jerry ' s thoughtful mood. Un- folding it, he read, not for the first time, the description of the magnificent production to be seen on the next day. And just to think, 1 haven ' t a cent, he said to himself. And it says here that there ' ll be clowns and trick ponies and elephants and everything. And the worst of it is, all the boys will go and I won ' t hear anything but circus for a month after. And they will have shows in all the barns, and I ' ll just have to be out of it all. Jerry, come on quick, we ' re going over to Harry ' s to talk about the show. Jerry hid the paper quickly and said, I ' m not going to the circus. Everybody says the ' re just the same thing every year. Tom gave a long whistle. Well, you bet I ' m going. I got my quarter with me now, and all us fellers are going down tonight to get our tickets. Well, good-bye, if you won ' t come along. Left to himself, Jerry almost gave up to his sorrow, but soon his sense of humor prevailed. Say, that was a whopper I told him about not wanting to go. Suddenly, his eye lighted on a shining piece of something about a yard from him. As he reached over his face brightened for an instant, and then grew serious. It was Tom ' s quarter. He look round fearfully. Nothing to be seen or heard except the noise of the water splash- ing over the stones. He picked up the money and brushed it clean with his ragged coat sleeve. Now, we ' ll see if Tom will crow so much, he muttered to himself, when he finds out his money ' s missing. And I ' ll be at the circus tomorrow, even if it is the same old thing every year, he added merrily.

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A DREAM 4%- - Reclining by the fireside, I watciied the evening shadows fail ; My books forgot lay near me, The fire-light danced upon the wall. Outside the wind howled wildly, The world was clothed in ice and snow ; It covered fence and highway. And branch of maple tree hung low. ' I wish for flowers and sunshine. In place of this snow and cold, Said 1, as 1 stirred the woodfire. And flames high up the chimney rolled. Before I knew what happened, I stood beneath a warmer sky : A summer sun shone brightly, A cooling breeze went gently by. A thousand birds seemed warbling, And to the meadow where I stood. Came sounds of rippling water. Like voices from the deep, dark wood. The dew drops still were sparkling. And as I wandered aimless through, 1 saw great fields of flowers. Which all to me were rare and new. 1 bent to pluck my hands full. When sharply, ' gainst my strong desire. The stairway clock struck seven ; 1 still was by the dying fire. Anna Tacoma, 1901