Higgins Classical Institute - Scroll Yearbook (Charleston, ME)

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34 H.C.I.SCROLL 'T ::' 'l - to Reversia the trip was rather rough. We kept having trouble with the engines. The gas tanks kept getting full instead of empty and this made the ship exceedingly hard to maneuver because of the excess weight. We also had a little trouble with the propellers but we got out and put them on backwards so as to go ahead. I had a little difficulty with the threads on the bolts too. I had to take them to the machine shop and re-thread them so they would go on and hold. My oldest son found it very confusing to steer the ship as what had once been a left hand turn was now a right hand turn, and the hundreds of birds flying backwards dldn't help the situation much. Finally we landed. It was home sweet home at last. Yes, Sirf We were back in the good old days when a D was worth ten times an A and a rich man was always broke. Where a poor man had to work his head off to get rid of his excess money, and a fat woman gave away half of her diet books and ate constantly to lose weight. While I was there I went into a restau- rant and had a meal, when I came out the cashier paid me two dollars and I had to work all the next day to get rid of it. When I finally got done I found I still had two cents, which I swallowed. I went to the doc- tor and he made me cough up five dollars which he forced me to put into my wallet. One day I decided to take a train. It went so slowly that a moron next to me got off and started to walk ahead of the engine. He told me that he was going to commit suicide. He went half a mile ahead cf the train and laid down on the track tpoor fellow he starved to death before the train got there.j Last week I decided to go for a bicycle ride but found the bike had round wheels instead. of square ones and I couldn't go be- cause it was hot and I did not have my sheepskin coat with me. We finally said our hulloas and left on r. hot, winter morning. We did not have much difficulty in getting back to Mars be- cause we were bucking a stiff tailwlnd all the way. Ken Masse '45 HUNTING FOR. THE LOST TREASURE Oswald and Anthony had started a new profession. They were going to be detectives. They rented an office in their home town of Sunnyville and here they waited for their customers. They waited for hours and hours but they had no business. They began to get discouraged. About ten minutes before the office was to close, a humped over little man came in. Ho looked as though he were discouraged too, and tired of living. Oswald, who con- sidered himself president of the firm, stepped up and asked the man if there were anything he could do for him. The man re- plied, I had a sickness a long time ago and I have forgotten where I hid my treasure. I will pay you a large reward if you will go to my estate and see if you can find it. Oswald was delighted at this. He and An- thony took their belongings and started for his estate. They rode for miles and miles through woods and plains, wondering where the lit- tle old man's estate was. In the distance they saw a palace but the windows were boarded up. Ho did this so the people would- n't think he was rich. The three of them went in and began their search. They had searched everywhere and had begun to give up when the old man thought of the cellar. They began searching the cellar and suddenly the old man said, I have thought where my treasure is. Move that rock over there in the corner. They moved the rock and there was the old man's treasure ..... A pound of butter ..... A. L. Brown '48 WHO AM I? When I was new I was pretty. Now I am not so young. I have been through a lot in my short lifetime. It is the same old routine in and out, about and about, around and around. l'1rst, I will describe myself. I am tall and sylph-like. I have a streamlined figure that all girls admire. My feet are long and slim. My shoes are soft-soft as yarn. I am very popular in the dormitory as I visit all the rooms on the third floor every morning. Sometimes I play tricks on the girls, for I go around the rugs and hide under the bed. I have a great many dates though often I am stood up. Who am I? Why can't you guess? Girls, especially occupants of rooms on third floor, haven't you any idea as futurehousewives of the world? I am just an ordinary, little ole dustmop. . S. Green '48 TWENTY YEARS HENCE It was a day early in the spring that a little old man came to my house and asked if I would like to ride in his helicopter and see what would be going on, twenty years from now. Of course, I accepted the chance and it wasn't long before we were rising high into the blue sky. Higgins was our first stopping place. When we reached the campus, I was sur- prised to see another girls' dormitory where we used to play softball. This dorm was a lot larger than the other and had many large windows. We entered the Institute only to find things running pretty much the same with Punk Keith, Junior as Principal and Miss Hillman as head dean of the girls. Paul Bishop was teaching music apprecia-

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H. G. LSCROLL 33 l 7 him want to see the world. He started for the unknown, one day thinking he would go just a short distance. He wandered through the ground peering questioningly at all the other bugs and worms. At a crossroad he was nearly run down by a huge angle worm with an angry expression on his face. Ex- perience is the best teacher sc- after that he slowed down at the intersections. All too soon it was time to return home so Henry turned and started to retrace his steps. After coming to several corners he didn't recognize, he realized he was lost- lost on the first day of his traveling. Used to making the best of situations, he sat down to think. He finally decided there was noth- ing for him to do but try to find someone to direct him. He set out again on his joumey but when he didn't find anyone at all, he just kept wandering. Finally he came to an- other village. There, he met many strange people who were mostly of a. rough, hard type. He lingered a few days with these ex- perienced men. They influenced his life a great deal in those few days. But, as law- lessness doesn't pay, they suffered for their wrongdoings. One day, a shovel was heaved at their little village and up went all the worms. Fingers picked them up and put them into a tobacco can half full of dirt. With many other worms, Henry went in a can to a fish- ing brook. He saw many of his friends taken away and put on a ugly hook, but when his cap- tors were not looking, he slipped over the top of the can and crawled away. Even though he had escaped, he was in a strange country and didn't know what to do. He finally dug a hole, made himself com- fortable, and thought over his problems. All of a sudden he heard the soft thud of rain on the earth above him. Remembering the tragedy of his youth, he hurried through the ground. By the time he reached the top, he was thoroughly exhausted and lay there to rest. The rain continued and he lay half cov- ered with water, waiting for his death to dome, but he recovered when the rain ceased. He was almost strong enough to try to flnd his way back home, when a small child saw him, picked him up by the tall, and threw him into a large trout. Henry drifted d-own about a foc-19 into the water, then ................ Snatch ! ................ Oblivion! . Phyllis Osgood '47 MY FIRST DOLLAR Oh, Bob, come here , called my mother, Mr, Macy has a job for you. I dropped my toy stilts and ran as fast as I could to where Mother was. I had never had a job before and, to me, a job would be something great. Mr. Macy just phoned and said he want- ed you to be his assistant clerk today, Mother continued. I rushed up the stairs, washed my hands and face and, in two minutes flat, I was ready for work. Mr. Macy was sweeping the floor when I arrived. He saw me and promptly handed me the broom. When I had finished sweep- ing, I went to Mr. Macy looking for more work. I have some groceries for you to deliver, said. Mr. Macy, Take them to Mrs. Swan, who lives on Park Street. I started out and had gone nearly four lzlocks before I realized that I didn't know where Park Street was! I stopped an old man and asked him for information. Could you tell me where Park Street is, Mister? I asked in a very timid voice. No, little man, I can't, he replied, but there is a man who lives five houses down Pine Street where Exchange and State Streets come together. He lives on the sec- ond floor in that big apartment house on ihe left. I'm sure he would know. . After two hours of continuous walking I finally came to the apartment house where The Man lived. Could you tell me where Park Street is? I asked for the second time. Why yes, little fellow, he replied, all you have to do is go back up this street five houses and go back to where Exchange and State Streets come together, then go to your lef- about three houses and there's Park Street staring you right in the face. I thanked him and set out down the street. I had walked nearly four more miles when J. finally found Park Street. When I reached my destination, I delivered the goods to Mrs. Swan and then asked: Could you tell me where Macy's Grocery Store ls, Madam? Why, yes, she answered, 1t's right over to vour left, you can see it from here. These words were an awful blow to'me, for I thought that I was at least ten miles from Mr. Macy's grocery store. And that's how I earned my first dollar. N. Cummings '46 HOME IN REVERSIA The land which I am about to describe is known to me and a few other poor, unfor- tunates as home, but to, you fellows I shall call it Reversia . To be sure this is a very queer name but I can think of no other that lite the land more perfectly. This land was. discovered by me and my three children four years before I was married. It lies about four hundred thousand miles north of the planet Mars and can be seen on a clear night through a mirror but not with the naked eye. This was the chief fact that led me to the odd planet. After studying the planet for many years, I designed a special rocket ship that was propelled backwards instead of forward. Had,it gone ahead my entire search would have been useless. It was a nice trip to Mars but from there

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H. C. LSC 1 : tion and art and sc- he took me around and showed me the many improvements and changes. There had been much talk about making Higgins into a boys' schcol but at last it had been decided to make it co-educational lor the children of Higgins graduates ctnly. Paul told me about the dances that were hcld weekly with three formals annually. At last the bottom of the gym had been fixed lor bowling and other games. The garage had been built into a stable for riding h:-rses which the students may use in their leisure time. A much larger kitchen and a dining room have been established which must be a great help. Paul told me about where our old school- mates were. One thing that particularly in- terested me was that Eva Stinson and Vance Foss were married and living in Pros- pect Harbor packing sardines. J-:-Ann Peirce was admitted to the bar and has her own law office in Boston. Calvin Stinson became a doctor and spec- ializes in mental cases. He always said he wanted to know what made some people act the way they do. Trug has a large hospital and some of his nurses are Colleen Snlorw, Mary Shirley, Sylvia Green and Shirley Powers. By this time it was getting late but Paul insisted that I go uptown. 'I'here had been many changes, but some- thing seemed to be wrong with me. Bells seemed to be ringing and my eyes opened to find things exactly as I had left them a few hours ago. It was now 6:30 and the rising bell was ringing. I was in my own bed on the third floor in the girls' dormitory. Rebecca Merrill '48 TROOP SHIP EDITOR'S note: Bob came to see us when he was home last time, and he was asked to write a poem for this year book of which he was an editor last year. Not long ago he sent uf: this one, written while he was still on board the troop ship which carried him to Italy. The members of the Scroll board wish to express their appreciation and thanks to him for remembering us. The sea was pretty rough last night: It tossed the ship from side to side And dropped it in its seething depths And whipped it with its roaring tide. Last night before they cleared the decks, The white capped waves were running high: The Heavens changed from blue to gray And rain clouds filled the troubled sky. Inside and far below the decks, The soldiers sweated out the gale And cussed the rocking of the boat Or lay on sick beds, still and pale. .5- ROLL , 35 .a P- r -- Somc, as they lay there through the night, Were turned to thoughts of far away: Their homes, their families and friends,- The things for which they've learned to pray. Yes, even haughty soldiers pray When faced by death or seized by fright: And out from that strong stricken ship I know went many prayers last night. Day after day they've spent their time Upon the rolling, tossing foam, Aboard a ship which carries them To foreign lands far from their own. Yet on and on they ride alone Americans they are--and free, Seasick and lonely, far from home Aboard a troop ship, out at sea. Pvt. Robert W. Camercn Ex'-15 SOMEWHERE - A Fantasy In Blank Verse Snow falling, lightly and gently, Covering the country side-a film of white. From 'neath a hilltop rises a wisp of smokeg There must be people-somewhere. Trees, lace-like limbs gathering a breeze, Whisper of a summer that is past. And up there trembles a last leaf- Hope of a rcfbinfsomewhere. Rolling hills, a mosaic of misty whites and SYBIYS, And a shadowy sky, wintry dull, Where the fluffy clouds roll by. Beyond is the sun-somewhere. Ah, there 'tis, shining through the clouds, Setting amid glorious myriad cols-rs, Lighting the innumerable brilliants of the snow. God touches all things-somewhere. P. L. B. '45 FREEDOM Have you ever been down on a sea swept beach And watched the water as it rises and falls, Crashing unhurt on the coral reefs, Then crawling to the deep blue sea? There is peace, such as only the sea can find: The kind of peace not known to mankind. Man, fighting for the common good of all, Freedom from want, free speech, worship, and press--that's a beautiful aim. And there are men who would conquer these four freedoms, But they don't get as far as they did before Because Americans believe in freedom for all, With no country held as a dictator's thrall. Yes, sea, you have such beautiful freedom, If only mankind were not sc- dumb. B. Fish '46