Hiram College - Spider Web Yearbook (Hiram, OH)

Page 31 text:

A FRESHMAN IDYL ’Twas on a night in winter cold, There sallied forth a Freshman bold, For he would go to church ; And great of heart and swift of feet, Now seeks he for a damsel sweet, For he would also perch. He seeks for him a Freshman lass, And forth from out the door they pass, And her companion true; Though Freshman lads for Freshman maid Are numbered five to one, ’tis said, This brave young man takes two. At perchers’ gate the road is passed, And now the church’s walls at last Receive the Freshmen three; One, short and silent, at his side; One, famed for stature, tall and wide, With laugh of childish glee. 25

Page 30 text:

Then upon the coming Freshmen, rushed the triple guard like brave- men, Met the mighty host advancing, but they floundered to the floor, For the chairs of Crum and Coy, did the Freshies, not annoy, And the raiders laughed for joy, when Webster rolled upon the floor, For his disgust he muttered, biting the dust upon the floor, “Guardsman, I’ll be, nevermore.” Now despite the fallen’s pleading, onward marching, little heeding, Go the Freshmen, Ira leading, somewhat bolder than before. Not the least obeisance made they, not an instant stopp’d or stay’d they, But with humor bright and racy, pulled the colors to the floor,— Pulled the white and golden colors from the ceiling to the floor. Deed remembered evermore. And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling, of their spotless curtain Thrilled them, filled them with a mighty anger never felt before. And the stillness now was broken, by a warning loudly spoken, “Let alone our lonely curtain,” chimed the guardsmen with a roar, ■“Though we’re lying on the floor, as sure as there’s a Sophomore, You will rue it evermore.” Bo the spoilers spared the curtain,—a deed of chivalry ’tis certain; And their visit soon was ended, but the colors off they bore, And their homeward way, they wended. Now their triumph has descended,— How the brilliant hopes of ’98, were dashed upon the floor, How their hopes and hopefuls, with a crash, were dashed upon the floor, To arise thence nevermore. But the morrow brought more sorrow, as they vainly tried to borrow, Colors for their plundered stage, so badly sacked the night before. But at last the church was ready, and performers all grew steady For the trip with tuneful Orpheus, to the dark Plutonian shore. Such a class as the Sophomore, must reach the dark Plutonian shore, To return thence nevermore. 24

Page 32 text:

The meeting o’er, for home they start, But he, ’micl flutter of the heart, Forgets his overshoes; He back returns, at last they’re found, Soon at the door he ’gain looks round; The maids he nowhere views. A wicked Prep these tidings gives, “Thy maid has gone to where she lives; ' The Freshman stood aghast. With maledictions ’gainst his shoes, With breathless haste, face changing hues, Swift in the night he passed. In wild despair he plucks his hair; Two fleeting maids before him there He ever seems to see; One slight of figure; at her side One great of stature, tall and wide, With laugh of childish glee. The damsel’s house at last he gains, Nor finds the damsel for his pains; His way he backward turns; The sorrowing maids he met alone, “Good evening, Mr. P.,’’ says one, Toward whom his spirit yearns. Ask me not what that Freshman feels, Perchance his reason stoops or reels, Yet one deep vow he swears; Now when he maidens takes to church, Yes, every time he’s on the perch, No overshoes he wears. 26