Gardiner Area High School - Quill Yearbook (Gardiner, ME)

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12 THE jorky, a shaggy overgrown German Shep- herd pup, rushes at me as soon as I come into sight. He never barks but tries to pounce out in such a way as to scare me. He wants me to stay to play for a while but doesn't know quite how to keep me. Patsy, a black fuzzy dog of no particular breed, does her best to frighten me with her loud bark and toothless nips. I know she doesn't hate me but only tries to make me think so. Rocky is one of my most loyal pals, since I seem to be the only one who likes him. All the neighbors hope to have him move away. When he is in the best of spirits, I can- count on his company for the rest of the routeg but only because he wants to chase his favorite cats and squirrels. At one house Grandpaw, a big fluffy grey and white cat, comes out to be put in my paper bag for a short ride. He loves to be petted. My squirrel friends are always ready for games of hide and seek. One in particular calls me names nearly every morning for disturbing her plans. Even Mr. Woodman's house has a friend for me. Chippie, the chipmunk, who lives under the porch has many squeaks and chatters for me if I sneak up on him. Last but not least is my own cat, which waits on the porch rail. He always has a loud Meow - as much as to say, Isn,t it about time to let me in?', I have many other animal friends of different kinds and dispositions, but these are my favorites. Some fine morning I'm sure they'll all be glad to meet you if you care to come along with me. - M. Carlton Storms, '53 A DIME TELLS ITS STORY I am just a plain little old dime. I can't remember right where I came from, but here I am anyway -in an old lady's money box. I'm in here, tucked down with all the rest of her money. I don't have any fun any- more, just lying here day by day. I can remember how I used to enjoy life so much. QUILL There was the time that I fell out of jimmy's daddy's pocket and was given to jimmy for his piggy bank, then he sneaked me out and I went to the store to buy him an ice cream. Then once I was given to the Salvation Army where I helped buy some coal for a poor family down in the poor part of the town. I was very proud that time to think I could help out. I remember little Janie and Tommy Brown so well. They were the ones that took me to the fair that terribly hot day. Poor little Tommy couldn't ride on the merry-go-round because he lost me. I tried my best to cry out to him when he dropped me, but I couldn't make a sound so I just had to lie there in the dirt and dust and be walked on and kicked around. After the fair was over, two little boys found me and had a fist fight over who was going to keep me. It never occurred to them, I suppose, that they could share me. After a time a little old lady came along and ex- plained to the boys how they could share meg and taking me, she gave each of the boys a nickel. How happy they were! Well, I am still with that little old lady. I've been here for a long time now, but I hope that soon I shall be off to new adven- tures and that I shall be happy again. - Barbara Hamilton, '51 A POND MEMORY The moon was shining through the trees That brisk and silent night, And looking up and down the road Not a person was in sight. Suddenly a sound came to my ears, A sound of tinkling bells, And looking up the road I saw Two horses galloping pell-mell. Behind them was a sleigh Filled with many girls and boys Whose laughing, giggling, and talking Surely made a lot of noise.

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THE QUILL 11 Comic strips and sports events rated only one brief paragraph. At my birth, Maine was a land of livery stables, hitching posts, and muddy roads. Motor vehicles have brought vast changes to our way of life. School days of my childhood were very different. Old school districts have been abolished. Education no longer sticks to the three R's, but extra-curricular subjects add to the efficiency and happiness of the pupils. Among my acquaintances are famous writers such as Edward Arlington Robinson and Edna St. Vincent Millay. Kenneth Roberts is probably the out-standing Maine author of fiction whom I knew. Maine poets and playwrights have been numerous, and Maine literature has become best selling material. I have observed that fire and flood, the worst in generations, visited Maine, but she has recovered and built anew. Many saw- mills on river-banks have disappeared, but the water is being used to generate electricity for even small communities and provide power for industrial plants. Gasoline has played a big part in revolutionizing industry, agriculture, and transportation. Marked changes have been made in the political set-up of Maine. Direct primary law came into being. Women voters now out-number men and occupy key positions. In my youth, the mother's place was in the home. The shipbuilding I knew as a youth reached a grand climax in World War II. Bath Iron Works and the South Portland yard turned out destroyers and merchant ships. As I look back, it is with pride I recall the events of my life. Who am I? Could you guess if I told you that the fifty years of my life are at an end? Yes, I am Father Time of the last half-century. I wish to bequeath all of my experience to my heir, 1950. May he have a prosperous and peaceful life! - Lois Lackey, '52 IT'S COKE TIME The bell rings. School is out and all the gang is headed toward the drugstore. The door opens, then bangs shut. This goes on almost continually until they all arrive. The six stools covered with red leather are taken. Boys and girls are waiting almost three deep for a seat in order to get their after-school lunch of cokes and crackers. Troubles are hashed over and some are getting help on the next day's lessons. Plans are being made between some for a movie. The boys have a date with the cue and eightball. The basketball team is praised and criticized. Bets of ice cream sodas are being placed on the Cony- Gardiner game, and so it goes. The clock has swung its arms around until it's four o'clock and time to be getting home. Good-byes are said and off they go by twos and threes. So ends another day at the Manson and Church Drugstore. - Patricia Roberts, '50 A MEMGRABLE GAME It was a day in early November, And the sky was dark as night, When our team would clash with Brunswick, And our boys with them should iight. We left Gardiner quite early And cheered most all the wayg Our very hearts were with our boys On that important day. The game began - with cheers and songs - Our men went out to play, And play they did throughout the game, A long and bitter fray. We lost - but everyone declared Our men were not to blame, And after all it's not who wins, But how we play the game. - Pamelia Dick, '52 ANIMAL FRIENDS Life at five in the morning would be ex- tremely dull for me if it were not for my animal friends along my paper route. No other friends would be able to show so much enthusiasm at the sight of me at any hour of the day. . Y

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THE QUILL 13 The horses stopped And I climbed in Met by some cheery Helloes And many a friendly grin. The driver hallooed, The team started, And from that spot We soon departed. Over hill and over dale We covered the country ground, Over bridges and under the stars And everywhere - all around. As we grew tired of riding And our thoughts homeward turned, We thought of the hotdogs and marsh- mallows We'd roast over the fire that burned. When the sleigh had returned me to my home, I got out and called a cheery good-bye, And I knew the memory of that sleigh ride Would remain long after the sweet by and by. - Lois Danforth, '51 THE RICH MOUNTAIN The mountain loomed up in the horizon, barren and rugged, daring anyone to even try to conquer him. But there were always some who wanted to conquer him. Some were selfish and greedy for the fame and riches that they thought awaited them. They never made it. The mountain was unemotional to the shrieks and terror-filled voices of these people when they plunged to destruction. One day a stranger came and stood at the base of the mountain. He looked up, and as far as the eye could reach, saw a mass of rock, covered with living things, uncon- quered. The young man admired its beauty. Here animals and plants flourished, here loveliness was at its best. He wanted to climb that mountain - out of sheer joy! This was what the mountain couldn't seem to figure out. Whyjjustzfor the pleasure? Why? He had riches in his grounds, enough to make men die and fight for. So he watched this man and liked him, but he stubbornly clung to the promise he had made to himself. No one was to reach the top! The mountain played all kinds of tricks on the man. But he failed to stop this one. The mountain trembled in rage and sud' denly rocks came tumbling down upon the young man. Lying so still was the young man, the mountain thought he ought to feel triumph, but instead he felt sorry and ashamed. The man had done nothing! The wind became like the sound of whimpering. A light rain came down and then the sun came out, drying out nature's children, including the young man. He awoke soon, not feeling the worst of his fall, his head was not paining as much as before. He trudged on towards the top. This time the mountain was with him, watching him like a proud father. I The young man reached the top and looked down at the world bathed in all its splendor and bewitching beauty. He stood there and let the whistling winds cool him. As he stood there, he thought he heard a whisper, but no one was around! A slight trembling of ground -then a sign! He stood there amazed as he recalled the words he had seemed to hear. You are my conqueror. Take good care of me and I will serve you well. The ways of the good will triumph. - Sally-Ann Forsythe, '52 IN MY DREAMS Where can I wander Free from care? Where can I hide From other's stares? IN MY DREAMS. Where can I wander By babbling brooks? Where can I hide I From books, books, books? IN MY DREAMS. - Patricia Buker, '50