Guilford High School - Rostrum Yearbook (Guilford, ME)

Page 13 text:

THE ROSTRUM 9 of the night. Negroes are very su- perstitious and get frightened very easily, but Hiram Alexander made up his mind not to get frightened under any condition. But he couldn't help getting a little frightened as it grew darker and the storm still raged. He knew he was better offtoremain there than to try to walk home through the woods. Between ten and twelve' Hi- ram Alexander had company.He was sitting in the dark, trying to go to sleep, when he first heard a noise. Pooh, says Hiram Alexander to himself, 'Tse won't gits 'fraid-it's jests mys magnationsf' Again Hiram Alexander heard a noise, this time nearer. He wasn't so brave now, but still he laid it to his imagination and once more tried to go to sleep. A third time he heard a noise, this time very near. This was about all Hiram Alexander could stand, so he jumped up, saying, Friend, Ise goin'. This here house aint big 'nough for yous and mes, sos Ise vacant. - But Hiram Alexander stopped when he heard a voice say: Hiram Alexander Jones, yous lazy good-for-nothin' nigger, gits youself a job and keep it, or Ise will haunt yous the rest of yous life. On hearing this, Hiram Alexander Jones rushed from the house and ran through the woods. His adventures in the woods that night have never been revealed. When he arrived at Blackford next day, he went to his home, changed his clothes and went out looking for a. position. In a few days he was at work and happy. Hiram Alexander never told anybody about his visit from a ghost as it was too horrible to think about. Anyway the ghost may have been just his conscience. Afterwards? Well, Sarah Jane and Hiram Alexander were married in less than a year. He has never returned to his early ways. They now have eleven little negroes, five girls and six boys. None of Hiram Alexander's children have any of his early traits. He won't allow them to be lazy or tell exaggerated stories. Hiram Alexander was cured of his faults and he doesn't want any of his children to have to go through a sim- ilar experience to be awakened. Madeline Colson '31 THE CLASS OF 1930 If in the Senior Rostrum You should chance to gaze, Slowly read this over And do not feel amazed. For this grade of 1930 It sure is a jolly class, We all shall leave together, That is, if we all pass. I'll tell you of the Seniors, I'll tell of one and all, They were a very jolly bunch Returning to school this fall. First comes Wilda Adams, Who went out for basketball, She made la dandy center Because she is so very tall. Then there is Arthur Ames In classes not too slow, But he'd race around the town, And how he'd make his old Fordgol Next comes Evelyn Boutot, A pretty, tall brunette, If English and History she's done She then feels that she's all set . Now it's Kenneth Bradfo-rd- Quite funny I must say, But hear him start a poem, And you will wish to stay. Well, here is Winton Cobb- In English he is bright., The only fault with Winton He stays out late at night. Now comes Viola Conner, Short, dark, quite fat,

Page 12 text:

8 THE ROSTRUM That, my friends, is my story. My wife and I must again vanish. In a few days I received a letter from his brother, telling me that he would have revenge. He would fol- low me for the rest of my days. I was informed that this brother be- longed to a German Club which has representatives in all parts of the world. They all wear large, flashy rings. The stranger who was here this afternoon was a member of that club. He will return at midnight and my buildings will be burned. There is no help. If you capture him it will only add to my hardships. If the build- ings are not burned tonight, they will be soon. Good-night, friends. With this, Peter stepped out into the darkness and was never seen again. For a week men guarded the build- ings each night and then decided that Peter had been mistaken. The next night the buidings were burned. A new house was built on this site and within six months it was burned. Nothing was- left but the chimney. Since then, no one has attempted to build on that lot. M. Kimball '30 ALMOST, BUT NOT QUITE All the people up my way Get excited every day When those brave hunters return home, Tell of deer seen as they roam, Feeding in the sun so bright, Almost get one, but not quite. When my brother's at his play, Hopes to get in mother's way And 'neath her feet those tops roll, Then his ma begins to scoldg Cross her checkered skirt so bright, Almost spanked him, but n-ot quite. Chewing gum at school one day, Up my aisle she chanced to strayg Then those brave jaws ceased to chew Quickly thought of something new, Prayed she might be short of sightg Almost caught me, but not quite. I am lucky, some s-ay, nay! Don't see how they have it that way. When those brave books at me stare, I haven't studied. but I don't care, Like this poem, I get them right Almost-but not quite. P. Welts '32 HOW H. A. JONES WAS CURED Blackford had a large negro popu- lation considering the size of the town. Hiram 'Alexander Jones was considered the laziest negro in the village and he liked to tell about some of his adventures, which were, of course, highly exaggerated. Hiram Alexander's favorite occupation was fishing, but he never had very good luck. Hiram Alexander had some- thing else to take up his mind n-ow. He was very much in love. Although Sarah Jane Smith returned his love, she would not marry him. Yous gits yous a job and keeps it and saves yous money, than I will marries you, was Sarah Jane's an- swer to him. Hiram Alexander tried two differ- ent kinds of work but he soon was back to his old ways. It wasn't be- cause he was not bright, because Hi- ram Alexander was very smart fwhen he wanted to bel, but because he was just lazy. Sarah Jane had just about given up hope, but she de- cided to give him a little longer time to make good. One day Hiram Alexander Went fishing in a strange place. A storm came up and he was obliged to take shelter in an old building. The storm kept raging and Hiram knew he would have to stay there for the rest

Page 14 text:

10 THE ROSTRUM But in every single subject She's rather good at that. Then there's Thelma Dore, A very good, young girl, She thought her hair too straight, So bought a permanent curl. Next comes Mildred Ferris- She's pretty, cute, petite, Sometimes she has a temper, But to Clayton--always sweet. Then its Maurice Kimball, The smartest in our class, He never needs to worry But what helll safely pass. ' We come across Pearl Littlefield In everything quite smart, To be the greatest in our class Is the wish that's in her heart. Well, there is Leslie Moody, Studious, good and bright, -Then there is Phyllis Sharpe, With such goodlooking clothes, Before leaving for a class She puts powder on her nose. Next comes Clayton Tucker, A very good young lady For all his jokes and laughter . He's really not so bad. Then there is Helen Williams- She always looks just soy What Junior fellow does she like? Well, I guess that we all know. Now I am last as you can see, I wrote this just for fun, But 1'm kind of glad to say My task is nearly none. Fellow classmates, don't be peeved- Take this, for you're all game, So you will know who wrote it, I now will sign my name. He sometimes plagues the teachers- In one Cteacherh he takes delight. Kay Ames '30