Fryeburg Academy - Academy Bell Yearbook (Fryeburg, ME)

Page 30 text:

28 THE ACADEMY BELL DUTCH CHARACTERS AS PORTRAYED IN THE LEG- END OF SLEEPY HOLLOW AND RIP VAN WINKLE Of every nationality one may find people who are charac- teristic of their country. Just as John Bull was pictured in the essay named for him, one might be written showing the character of the Dutch. On a warm Spring day, a housewife may be heard sing- ing as she goes about her daily work. In the midst of the second verse, she pauses to urge her lazy husband to work. The garden needs hoeing, but, if she even succeeds in driv- ing him out of doors, it is only to give him a better advan- tage to stroll away and join the others at the Tavern. Thus the work of tending the garden, which supplies nearly all the food, is added to the list of other things the woman must do. In the meantime Rip-if you choose to call him that-has taken his accustomed seat in the gossiping, argu- ing, boasting group which habitually occupies the one spot of shade made by the old elm tree before the tavern. Al- though the talk of this group may begin with politics the attention is sooner or later turned to the person who has recently seen some mysterious apparition such as the Head- less Horseman. Hearing this individual boast of what he has seen recalls to the minds of others their own thrilling encounters of the same nature. Thus the rest of the lazy, warm morning is spent by the men who dare risk the anger of their wives when they return to dinner. Then perhaps on his Way home Rip has to cross some little bridge sus- pended over a quiet stream. The shady banks look cool and inviting after the walk along the dusty road in the noonday heat, so he stops to rest just a moment. It is long after dinner time when he puts aside his castles in the air and continues on his way. The scene which follows his entrance of the door may better be imagined than de- scribed if his wife has the true Dutch character. ELIZABETH RUNDLETT, '30. THE BLACK CAT As Told by Lucinda Jane Peabody l The other day as I was going to visit my neighbor, Mrs. Berglund, a black cat came out of the bushes and went right across the road in front of me. I said to myself right then, says I If that black cat d0n't bring me bad luck I'll eat my hat. Well, I didn't

Page 29 text:

THE ACADEMY BELL 27 Father-Well, I must be going to bed. Hughla, you be sure that you come to bed early. Remember now. Hughla-Yes, Dad, I will. fEXit father. Hughla, and Wayne sit down close together, and Wayne puts his arm around herb Wayne-Hughla, I have something to ask you. I've been thinking about it for a long time, but somehow it's a hard thing to say. fTakes her handj Dear, I love you. fSqueezes her tight. They risej Have I any hope? I want you, sweetheart. Will you be mine, darling? fHughla raises her head, looks into his eyes and shakes her head yes. He kisses herb Come, honey, let's sit down and talk it over. fThey sit downb I've been thinking for a long time and Wishing I could have you with me always. Sweetheart, I'm so happy. When shall we be married? Hughla-We must think of dad you know. I still have him to care for. We will be married as soon as it will be possible. fAt this time father comes in, dressed as he was when he went out. Hughla and Wayne quickly rise, astounded at his appearance so suddenly on the scenel Father-I did not mean to listen, children, but when I went out of the room to retire I intended to go straight to bed. On arriving in my room I found I had left my slippers in the kitchen and as I passed by this door I heard in very low tones I want you, sweetheart, and I could not help from listening to the rest. I am so glad. I wish you much happiness, children. CHughla goes over to himJ Hughla-Dad, it's pretty late for you to still be up. CFather kisses her and says in a low voiceb Daughter, please forgive me. I fear I was a bit hasty tonight, but I'm very glad now. It reminds me of the time I asked your mother to be mine. Now, dear, you know what I've missed ever since I lost her. But tonight I'm happy again. Goodnight, dear. fAs he leaves he pulls his handkerchief from his pocket and raises it to his eyesj Wayne goes to Hughla and gives her a Long kiss s' 1 Wayne-Your dad is such a dear man. Now just once again. CThey embrace as the curtain is loweredb THELMA Rows, '29,

Page 31 text:

THE ACADEMY BELL p 29 have to eat my hat, by any means, because bad luck came right along and disposed of it so I couldn't. Even before I'd reached Mrs. Berglund's a gust of wind came along and blew my hat clean off, right into the middle of a mudpuddle! Of course it was ruined, and my second best hat, too! But the worst of it was that I had to go the rest of the way to Mrs. Berglund's looking like those summer boarders that haven't the decency to wear a hat once in a while. Nothing else happened that day, but the next day bad luck began coming thick and fast. The first thing, I burnt the toast that I was fixing for breakfast, and as my husband won't eat burnt toast I had to toast some more. I dropped and broke three dishes while I was wash- ing them after breakfast. When I started getting dinner I thought I'd get some of my blueberry preserves from the cellar for dessert. My husband likes blueberry preserves and I thought it would pacify him after his late breakfast. When I was coming up stairs with the blueberries I slipped and fell the Whole length of the stairs with those blueberries on top of me. I wasn't hurt much, but it's a wonder I wasn't killed with that hoodoo hanging over me. But you had ought to seen me with those blueberries all over me. Such a time as I had getting those blueberries off of me. Of course that made dinner late and my husband was crosser than before. And to make matters Worse I forgot the cake I had in the oven and it burned to a crisp. When I'd finally got the dishes washed it was two o'clock. Then I thought I'd Work on a dress I was making as I was behind in my spring sewing. Before I knew it I'd cut two sleeves for the same arm and I had to send for some more cloth before I could finish my dress. If ever I see a black cat within a mile of me again I'm going to turn right around and walk the other way so that awful cat can't walk in front of me. KATHERINE HARNDEN, '32. MEMORIES OF A SEA VOYAGE The sea was a deep blue as we left the pilot boat astern and headed for Panama. The yellow sand of the Delaware Capes certainly looked homey to me, realizing I would not be back for three months. ,I had just passed my fifteenth birthday and was rather young to be a deck hand on a huge freight steamer. I had gone to sea on a bet and was rather sorry at the moment that I had.