Farmington High School - Laurel Yearbook (Farmington, ME)

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THE LAUREL 15 continued to throw stones. Suddenly I heard 'him scream and a moment later saw him emerge from the corn. To my horror I saw the blood rushing down his face. It was the only time in my life that I felt like fainting. I think then that it Was more because of shame than for any other reason. It Was about the first time in my six years of existence that I felt truly ashamed of my temper. The stone had struck the boy just a bit above the eye and I have often thought since that my lucky star 'Was surely shining on me that day for if the stone had gone a bit below its mark it would surely have hit him squarely in the eye. It Was necessary for him to have a few stitches taken in the cut and in a few days We were playing together as usual. Nevertheless the shame of allowing my temper to govern my mind and actions so completely, stayed 'With me for some time. As far as I can remember that was the first really important lesson I ever had in learning to control my temper. It cer- tainly was a lesson for I shall never forget it and it has helped me immeasurably to curb my Worst Weakness. Ella Hujf. YY My Sister I WAS about seven years old when I first realized one of my great desires. I had always been the only child and much Was my chagrin When my greatest friend had a little sister. Returning from play at her house I -would always lie on the bed and cry for hours at a time, simply because I had no playmate. If anyone has ever felt this Way they Will know how unhappy I Was. Nearly every day in school, some teacher would ask, How many have little brothers or sisters? I looked at my desk each time to keep back the Hood of tears that was always pushing With increasing force. Each day, the desire grew greater until one day I found it fulfilled. I-Iow happy I Was. I think I experienced one of my greatest joys on that day and it has been more or less influenced on my life since tlhen. How sweet she looked to me all Wrapped up in a Wooly White blanket. I 'Wanted to take her and play With her but shewas too small. I Watched her grow and it seemed to me that 'she did something new each day. I loved her from the Hrst time I saw her and delighted myself by doing things that Would please her. I remember When she first tried to talk. How happy it made me to have people ask me if she Were my sister. f Now, as I recall these delightful days I am reminded of what I might have been had I not been granted this favor, a lonely child, always pensive and unhappy, think- ing only of myself and misjudging the World in general. How unhappy I would have made my mother and father 'Who have always done tlheir best to make me happy. fNor has this influence lessened, but it has grown as she has grown until it is one of the most vital in my life. Arlyne Clark. My Laddy I WAS, undoubtedly, the most content or satisfied with myself at the age of eleven, when mounted on Laddy , my pony, We stood aloof and gazed with utmost superi- ority upon my friends. Tlhere was pride not only in my own eyes but also in Lad- dy's for We could challenge any pony for miles around to race and With perfect security We would infallibly come in first. Not only this but on meeting a school- mate,- Whom I did not particularly care for, a Wicked little thought 'Would Hash to my mind and on rushing up Would kindly ask her if she Wanted a ride. Delighted with t-he opportunity and thinking how kind I Was she Would spring to the saddle but fate did not favor her for in less than two minutes I was triumphantly, galloping away While she lay on the ground Where

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t 14 THE LAUREL Time slipped by rather swiftly. Our food was of the best and there was suffi- cient, thusly one's desires were satisfied. There were also many boxes from home containing articles from mirrors to jack- knives, from candy to mince pie made from mother's new recipe. Orange com- bats also aided greatly in driving away the depressing air. Christmas arrived on time and found me still sojourning at the 'hospital I was asked by a lady whose face was embel- lished by a few thousand convolutions what I would like for Christmas. Think- ing it a joke I answered, UA fountain pen. Imagine my surprise at being the recipient of the same on Christmas day. How little we make of our opportunities! Well, eventually the injured member re- cuperated sufficiently to allow my return home and return home I did. Hospital life is a novelty for a wthile but it soon gets lonesome and I was very happy to return to my secluded, quiet home in Walton's Mills. Ever since this incident took place the Ford has served me well and faithfully but it can never make amends for the pain and loss of time it cost me. I always shall look upon it as a deceptive creature, with grim tragedy lurking for a successful op- portunity in order that it may again hor- ribly multilate me. Even after a pleasant trip with the motor functioning properly and all going well I cannot completely dis- miss t'hese suspicions from my mind. George Hobbs. TT A Stone's Throw I IT is sometimes interesting after we have outgrown our baby days to look back over many incidents- that happened in our childhood. Nevertheless it sometimes brings a twinge of shame. The cause of this particular event was my ungovernable temper. As far back as I can remember I always wanted 1ny own way and when as a child usually got it, for my brothers and sister would often rather give in to me than to see my temper started. Nevertheless it was many times a source of much amusement for them, espe- cially my older brother -who sometimes considered it a great joke to arouse my anger. I freely confess that it was a very easy thing to do and moreover, being a girl and younger than he, my folks usually considered fhim at fault. I always thought I had gained the upper hand if I could get him in wrong. To tell the truth I felt proud of my temper and I certainly made use of it to gain my own desires. It was a source of much worry on my mother's part, who tried in every way imaginable to teach me to control it. But being of a stubborn nature I thought myself very smart to be the possessor of suclh a temper and instead of trying to remedy it, I often encouraged it. One day, however, I came to find out what a really beastly temper I did have and in what it might result if I did not control it. I remember very distinctly that it was a wonderful summer day. One of my girl friends and I had been playing house and had made mud pies. A short distance from my home there lived a boy about my size but younger, wit'h whom I often played. This day I happened to be feeling like lighting, After my friend had gone home, this boy came down to play and unintentionally kicked our carefully made mud pies. If I had been reasonable I would have overlooked it but I immedi- ately grew angry instead. After a few words we began to throw mud at each other as fast as possible. Of course, never having tried to curb my temper, a thought to that effect never entered my mind. My only thought was to pay him back for de- stroying those pies. Our scrap soon devel- oped into a stone fight. The boy, mean- time, was called to supper and as he passed through their garden toward Ehis home he was lost from my sight in the corn which reached far above his head. Foolishly we

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16 THE LAUREL carefully trained Laddy had put her. I-Iad we not reason to be proud? It was one beautiful September morning at daybreak as Laddy and I stood on the slope of a lhill watching the sunrise, for in those days we were 'up before the sun. As the mist from the valley crept up, a purple haze enveloped the hills and the dusky-red streaks in the sky perfected the appearance of a vast eternal fire consuming the earth. Then suddenly tlhe sun burst forth in all its glory. The beauty and picturesqueness of this scene thrilled me and all I could do was to stroke my pet and say, H This is our great day for it means victory or defeat. How well he understood those words was doubtful. We were entered for a race that after- noon at the Fair. The time passed swiftly that morning and the next eventful hap- pening was tlhat the ponies were under the wire ready to race. The crowd was clamoring and 'betting as usual, but as I looked around I saw that a new, strange pony had entered. But Laddy, with his head erect, neck arched, ears pointed, and his wavy mane flying in the wind, pranced, feeling himself monarch of all. The signal was given and the ponies were off, Laddy and Uhe new one head to head. I encouraged, spoke sternly, and even whipped my pony and yet we were even. Was this to cause the downfall, the ruin of my hopes? No, never! I cried, and yet we were even. Shame, terror, and sorrow entered my mind. I began to think that I was not so big, important, or mighty and that there were others besides myself. At last tlhe end came when all my pride, superiority, and self-importance fell to humble insecurity for-I lost first place. Sylvia MCLd'ltg11fl'f7Z. YT My Eighth Grade Graduation Miss O'BR1EN was one of that rare type of women, who could speak without shout- ing and at all times keep her voice under control. She was a slim, tall, brown-haired per- son of an' extremely fine idea of how classes should be conducted and children treated. For days beforehand, slhe minutely coached us as to how we should walk for- ward, how, and say H Thank you, when they gave us our diploma. On the eventful morning we assembled, dressed all in white and with shining faces -due either to the newly born desire for cleanliness or lack of powder, 'hair won- derfully and fearfully frizzed-and more or less conspicuous as a whole. However as long as I'll live, never shall I forget one dress. It was a white organdy with ruffles, and all the necessary trim- ming to produce the effect of a doll, and being worn hy a plump girl, increased the idea. Another girl had a crepe dress, with real flowers on the shoulder, a girl of extraor- dinary good looks and who since has failed to see the need of education and discon- tinued the practice of going to school. Special mention must be made of the present President of our class, who on trhat day, was exhibiting his now famous grin and taking in everything whiclh was going on around. After graduation, everyone shook hands with us, wishing us well and offering many hints as to what our future life would amount to, now that we had progressed so far along the sea of educa- tion. When we finally went down to Luce's to have our pictures taken, it was a self- important group. I wondered, feeling that my mind was so far superior toimy associates, what un- told heights might I not reach. My castles were complete. I possessed the self-confidence of youth, whiclh is a wonderful thing. , Since then, my would-be assuredness, has been sadly routed by stern authority. Thelma Meisner.