Grimsley High School - Whirligig Yearbook (Greensboro, NC)

Page 11 text:

THE SAGE 7 BROTHERS. Irma Sadler, ’20 It was in the early spring of 1902 that Herman Kauf¬ man came to America from Germany bringing with him his wife, two flaxen-haired little daughters, and a baby boy named Karl. In a blaze of enthusiasm Kaufman had sold his little patch of land and his household goods and pre¬ pared to come to America. However, when the money was counted there was only enough for five fares and no amount of skimping and saving would produce the rest. Very sor¬ rowfully the two parents decided that one of the little flock must be left behind. Herman was the oldest and as an uncle agreed to keep him in return for his help on the farm, it was decided that he should stay. The great day arrived and after separating Karl from his “big brother” by force the little group went on board ship and sailed out of sight, leaving Herman standing on the dock, while the tears we lled up in his big blue eyes. Herr Kaufman and his wife and children reached America safely and settled on a tiny farm. Here they were successful on a small scale and became true Americans. Herr Kaufmann became Mr. Kaufmann and the K in Karl’s name changed to 0. Every day they loved their home more and longed for the time to come when they could send for Herman and include him in their poy. His mother especial¬ ly missed him and her love for him grew stronger day by day. He was her eldest son and held a place in her heart that no other could fill. At last after six years, when the home had been paid for and money enough saved for a passage to America they sent for Herman. A month later he arrived, a big, stalwart

Page 10 text:

THE SAGE VOL. XII DECEMBER 1920 No. I CHRISTMAS IS HERE. With Christmas ordors on the breeze And spicy smell of cedar trees , Sprigs of mistletoe, holly for cheer, Holly and mistletoe,—Christmas is here! A sense of holiday in the air, With joy of hurrying everywhere, The mistletoe—to lovers dear, Holly for cheerfulness,—Christmas is here! What matters the weather, snow or rain, We welcome it back to our hearts again, We twine the old-time wreaths for cheer, Holly and mistletoe,—Christmas is here!

Page 12 text:

8 THE SAGE lad of fourteen, not at all like the one who had trotted Baby Carl on his back. In vain they sent him to school and tried to impart to him some of their love of America’s freedom, for loyalty to “Der Fatherland” seemed to have been burn¬ ed into his soul and always he talked of the greatness of Germany. Three years passed and although he spoke English Her¬ man still worshipped at the shrine of German accomplish¬ ment. “Germany,” he would say, “is the greatest of all na¬ tions. Her people are God’s chosen people and some day the world will be forced to realize this.” Then would fol¬ low a long tirade on her progress in science and all other branches. The rest of the family were grieved at the stand he had taken and Carl was especially worried. Carl was convinced concerning American superiority and many and long were his arguments with Herman on this subject. Each member of the family except his mother, acknowledged to himself that he was disappointed in Herman. They had thought that he, too, would honor and love America. Herman’s desire to return to his native country was fed continually by the letters he received from his friends there and finally on his seventeenth birthday he asked his father’s permission to return to Germany and enter a Mili¬ tary School. As Mr. Kaufmann knew that the boy’s heart and interests were in Germany, he consented and once more the family was divided. This time, Carl did not cling to his older brother; they had grown apart. The family went with him to the ship and after he had sailed they turned and went home to dream not of the Herman to whom they had just said good bye, but of the bright-faced boy they had left behind in 1902. Time went on and every two weeks letters c ame tell¬ ing of Herman’s success. For two years he led his classes and in the third year, 1914, Germany declared war, and started her bloody invasion of Belgium. Herman was swept away by the great dream of power for Germany and see¬ ing, in true German fashion, only the one side of it and