Gloucester High School - Flicker Yearbook (Gloucester, MA)

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“ Right,” said Socrates cheerfully. “ Its the nearest thing we can get to what she was used to once. Stand by the door. She’s beginning.” And somewhere from the thick vapor a shrill voice began, contin- uing without a pause, while Socrates’ pencil scratched vigorously. “ Beside the broad Pacific Sea, upon the tropic sands, Reclines the Rev. ‘ Butter ’ Brooks, a Bible in his hands ; And twenty little blackamoors, the converts he has made, Are toiling for him in the sun, while he sits in the shade. “ Xow see the far-off western ranch, where, on her catt le’s track, Miss Agnes Alexander rides upon a broncho’s back; Her trusty band of cowboys brave are rounding up the herd, And when she speaks — each man must jump ! obedient to her word. “ Within his lordly castle hall, with coronet on brow, Sits Leonard Herne, an English earl ; you well may wonder how ; But all his noble ancestors have shuffled off so fast, That he was called across the sea to take his place at last. “ With sample case and bag of books, Miss Burnham comes to view; The smartest female drummer that the country ever knew. With ever restless energy, she speeds from town to town. While ‘ men,’ consumed with envy, must ‘ go way back and sit down.’ “ Who treads the deck of yonder bark upon the bounding sea? ’Tis Skipper Bill Maclnnis of the schooner 6 Sarah B.’ Though small of frame, he still must work, and o’er the water roam, To feed his seven hungry boys who wait for him at home. “ With bonnet of enormous size, in modest Shaker dress, Behold your schoolmate, Susie Rowe ! a change you must confess. She dwells within the Shaker town, no thought has she of man, What blighted hopes have sent her here, imagine, if you can ! SAWYER FREE LTRRART ai.OUCESTEit. MASS. G1930

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“ She’s always in,” mumbled the taller, rising to his feet and tipping over the board ; “ we’ll take her out now, if you’re in a hurry. Ivlear- chus! ” this to his companion, “ get a seat and lift up the trap while I fetch the old lady. Klearchus, stretching himself, strolled to the middle of the hall and lifted the trap-door, which 1 had not observed. Then he brought a low stool and sat down on the floor beside me. “You look shocked,” he said, kindly. “I am, a little,” I admitted, “You boys don ' t seem very respect- ful.” “ Wait till you see her,” lie replied, rather crossly. “ All she does is to lie in her box, day after day, never speaking a word, unless she has a customer. All she will eat is pickled peanuts. Poor Socrates and I spend all our time in shelling peanuts and putting them up in jars. My nails are worn to the quick.” Before I could reply, Socrates returned, carrying in his arms what appeared to be a bundle of white cloth. Klearchus hurriedly placed a metal tripod over the trap-door and together they set upon the low perch, a little wizened figure from whose mummy-like wrappings a little pinched face peeped forth, with sharp, beady e} r es. “ She knows what you want and all about it,” remarked Klearchus, proudly. “ I’ll go and turn on the gas.” “ Would you please not prophesy in blank verse,” I ventured humbly. “ It always bewilders people so and moreover it’s monot- onous.” “ Rhymes cost extra,” interrupted Socrates eagerly, “ but I can take them dow n in shorthand and add it all in with your bill.” At this moment fumes of gas began to rise rapidly through the trap, as if a gigantic electric fan was at work below. A horribly familiar odor smote my nose. “CL! ” I gasped.

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“ Charles Wetterer, policeman stout, comes pacing up the street, The terror of the little boys who live upon his beat ; His uniform is not so bright as in the clays of yore, And now he wears a badge and club, and wields his sword no more. “ Arrayed in robes of spotless white, I see a smiling bride, A fat and yellow Chinaman is standing by her side. It is your old friend, Sally G.; she soon will be his wife, And in the far-off land of rice will lead a happy life. “ 0 Zeus Preserver ! What is this ! Ah, can this thing be so ! Alphonso Tarr, an anarchist? Ye gods, avert the blow ! With blazing eyes and howls of rage, he heads the motley throng, That drags King Edward from the throne, where he has reigned so long ! “ From far and wide the people come to visit Edith Crowe ; Oh never shall this world of ours a weirder maiden know. In wondrous trances, long drawn out, she meets a spirit band, And carries messages to earth from out the spirit land. “ In Father Holloran I see a member of your class, His youthful follies gave no hint of what would come to pass ; But when for gold, a fickle maid, his trusting heart forsook, He swore to never love again, and holy orders took. “ Amid the plaudits of the crowd, behind the footlights’ glare, Belle Kerr is stalking up and down with highly tragic air ; She makes the Lady of Macbeth a portrait full of truth, And shows the ' •eat advantages of Shakespeare learned in youth. “Kow here is Bessie Woodbury in uniform of gray, With leather bag slung on her back in quite a mannish way ; Among progressive womankind, she surely takes a place, And her duties as a postman are performed with speed and grace. “ Here is a man whom you must own has made the most of time, For Edward Rowe has reached a height where few may hope to climb ;