Fredericksburg High School - Rapahanoc Yearbook (Fredericksburg, VA)

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Rapahanoc T wenty-two v And when we reached our Sophomore Year, With all its smoke, and snow ' and ice; They drove us to the training school, Which we considered far from nice. It worked us all so very hard. We wondered if we were alive; The hours were awful late and long, Making us go from eight ' till five. VI The next year , when we were Juniors, They gave us a brand new school, To pay them back, we did our best, To keep each little golden rule. W e were little George Washingtons, Who said, I cannot tell a lie”; That’s why we got such reputations, Down in dear old Fredericksburg High. VII And then we came to be Seniors, That awfully dignified class — We made the very grandest record, And every test and exam did pass. In athletics we did our share, To give old F. II. S. great fame, We labored, sacrificed and fought, To make ‘‘SENIORS” a worthy name. Till But now our Dear Old Alma Mater, The time comes when we must leave you, And go out in the world alone , But never fear, we will be true. The tears start in our eyes when we Think of the lonely years ahead — When each will go his separate way, Fighting manfully, this sorrow and dread. IX Then next in thought, and next in love Comes the Faculty, ‘‘Our friends in deed”; They taught us and fought for us each day, And helped us through each trouble and need. Their kind faces we’ll see no more, Except in our peaceful dreams; But if they ' d look in our hearts They ' d find, love, like radiant sunbeams. X And then comes our Sister Classes, The Juniors, Sophomores and Freshmen; Who we leave to finish our tasks, They’ll do it if any one can. And now little brothers and sisters, And big brothers and sisters too, You realize the responsibility , And the things, we expect you to do. XII XI But now its time the play must end, Father Time is pulling the curtain; We hope its been a true success — It’s been to us, of that we’re certain. But first we request of you men and women, And others that we are leaving behind — Deal tenderly and fairly, with the F. H. S. And to our Dear Alma Mater be kind. So Farewell, to our Dear Alma Mater, Farewell, to our teachers so true; Farewell, to our Sister Classes — Farewell, for ever and ever, to you. This is the message we leave to night, As the Senior Class of ’22; Farewell to every Faithful one , And to all our Loved ones, ADIEU. 42 —Ruby Dillard.

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Class Poem i The tide of fortune has swept us, From the first grade to the last; It is like a play that’s ending, And the Seniors are the cast. The end is like a tragedy, Because we all do have to part. But our love, it is far greater, Than it was at the very start. II The scene is laid in the High School, At the dear old F. II. S. Of all the schools in this wide world, She is far dearer than the rest. Around the school is woven, The Memories of four short years, Of all our work and labor, Of all our trials and fears. Ill If only some kind Fairy, IVould just wave her magic wand, And give us hack our Senior Year, Of which we are so very fond. Life is real and we must take. Just what is lotted out to us, If its a great or humble task, Without a single word nr fuss. IF The first act was on Main Street, In that old historic hotel, In which our fondest memories, To us do of time seem to dwell. As Freshmen then we alt did say. Although we are the “Baby” class, We’ll right up to victory, And win our spurs at last. 41

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Rapahanoc ’Twenty-two Valedictory P ERHAPS experience has taught you far better than words can express it, the mingled feelings of joy and sorrow which animate us tonight. Joy because we are about to commence our first voyage on the sea of life. Sorrow because we have come to the cross roads, the parting of the ways. Our feelings of sorrow would be intensified if we allowed these thoughts to exist, that after tonight the associations of the past four happy years must cease, that after tonight we shall never again be united as a class, but henceforth, “Each must paddle his own canoe”. But we do not allow these thoughts to engulf us, so joy, not sorrow, predominates. And as we look into the future, with the optimism of youth, and see the vast seas of success rolling on before us, we are eager to begin this voyage. Tonight many of us, assume for the first time the responsibility of steering our own ships, steering them on towards the various stars of success, shining for us far out upon the horizon of life’s great sea. The majority of us have some purpose in life, some far off star which gives us the incentive to press onward and upward. We have realized to make a success of our lives, we must have a purpose to be kept always in view, for should we fail to have some port towards which to steer our vessels, what can prevent us from drifting with the tide? Drifting on in an idle, worthless, thoughtless way, till we’ve drifted too far and can never return. Till we’ve left forever the seas of success and sailed on beyond the line of hope, into the relentless seas of a useless life. Of course I do not intend to convey the impression that those of our little crew who have set sail with a purpose in view will find the seas all plain sailing, for such is not possible, but they will find strength in their purposes to withstand the storms, and after each 43