Holbrook High School - Echo Yearbook (Holbrook, MA)

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THE ECHO 9 Kai within range of the bent tree, he put all his weight upon its top, until it would bend no farther. Just as the panther, with a yell of triumph, leaped towards the boy again, Maiketa let go of the stout green pole. It snapped back as swiftly as an ar- row flies from its bow, giving the panther a terrific blow between the eyes, as if he had been struck by a giant war god. “When in five suns Maiketa returned to the wigwam of his grandmother, Nobo, he was a warrior returned from the camp of the enemy. Everybody soon knew that Maiketa alone had slain Kai, the dreaded panther. He had brought back the pan- ther’s tawny pelt with which old Nobo would line his new smock to keep him warm when Peboan the God of winter returned.” Thus finished the old chief as the two came in sight of the lodge smoke. Robert White, ’28. THE POND The old pond by the village green Is fringed with willows grey, And round it bending ruches sigh, And merry children play. The white swan leads her stately brood Across its waters cool, And thirsty cattle pause to drink Beside the sunlit pool. The village lads set little boats Asail upon its breast, Its colors change from blue to gold As sunset paints the west. And little winds, that come and go, Sigh through the rushes green, That round its farthest borders weave A close and pretty screen. Reta Walls, ’28. “WHAT YOU WILL” One day as I was walking in an unknown land, I saw a magnificent castle with its highest tower hidden in the clouds. From the windows pretty colored banners were flapping gently in the breeze. As I ap- proached it, the drawbridge with a groan slowly came down to let me pass over the moat. I found myself in a great courtyard with nothing but big red roses. I went into the main entrance and saw I was in a great hall that was colored a very bright red. This hall was one hundred feet high and three hundred feet by one hundred feet in length and width. I began to search for inhabitants but found none after I had looked the castle all over except in one place. It was the highest tower. I was very curious so I started up the stairs. I climbed steadily for two hours and then a surprising thing happened. The stairs shut up like shutters on a blind which made a steep chute of stone. Of course gravity pulled me down very swiftly, for inside of two minutes I was at the bottom. I was so out of breath from the ride that I leaned against the wall. I fell through into a marvelous elevator like those in big stores. I looked to see where I had fallen through, but all around me was solid wall. I turned the lever of the elevator and at a high rate of speed it started for the top. After thirty minutes we came to an open- ing so I shut off the power and stepped into the same hall I had left thirty minutes ago. I was somewhat surprised but I was de- termined to get to the top so I went out in the courtyard, made a kite, and to the string I hitched a rope. The kite went up to the top, went around one of the braces, and fell back into my hands. One brace acted as a pulley and I pulled the string until the rope reached the top. I twirled the string three times and the rope tied itself to the brace. I started up the rope hand over hand. After doing this for three or four hours it grew monotonous, but just then I reached the top. My greatest surprise was yet to come. Sitting on a sofa was a ghost. He was a skeleton covered with a black robe. He had before him on the floor a big bowl. I jumped from the tower and started to run, but I began to fall. I grabbed hold of my suspenders and immediately, I was floating slowly downward hanging onto a parachute. At the last minute I looked at the tower only to see the ghost eating a doughnut. Frederick Crosby, ’29. SPRING Let me in. Good news I bring. Let me in, for I am spring. Softly sings the little stream. Life is an unending dream. All the flowers of earth are springing, All the birds of heaven are singing, All is washed in morning dew, All the old world is new. All is dancing, all delight, Never shone a sun so bright. Let me in. Good news I bring. Let me in, for I am spring. Ruth Houser, ’27.

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8 THE ECHO BRAVE MAIKETA As Little Beaver and the old chief started for their lodge, the Indian boy ran on ahead, that he might swing from the tall, slim birch trees along the trail. Climbing to its top as the tree bent downward with his weight, he landed upon the earth, and the tree sprang back, standing upright once more. It was a game which all the Indian boys enjoyed by the hour — the game of the leaping birch. “Kayo, Kayo !” called the old chief warn- ingly. “The sun is now going to his wig- wam in the west; we must hasten. Ugh,” laughed the old man; “as we take the home- ward trail, I will tell you a story which you have never heard, about a boy named Mai- keta, which means ‘Little Warrioi.,’ and what happened to him because of a leaping tree. “Nobo, the old squaw, grandmother of Maiketa, was the most skillful weaver of basketry in all the village. Early and late she searched the forest, finding strange plants for making dyes, coloring the baskets she made. Later she wove them into pat- terns and animals, working them with dyed porcupine quills and beads. “When Peboan, the God of Winter, reigned and the winds shook the poles of her tepee, close to her fire huddled old Nobo; splint-making was Maiketa. Then when the robin piped outside in the forest and spring had come, it was time for Mai- keta to start on his yearly journey to trade the baskets of Nobo. His grandmother was far too old to take such a long journey. “So stringing the baskets on a large pole, he carried them over his shoulder. When Maiketa was leaving the village, a boy named Gomseti, or ‘the rattling gourd’ be- cause of his bad habit of talking too much when his elders would speak, met him just outgide the lodge hoping to frighten him. ‘You are over brave to start forth on a journey of two suns all alone. Do you not know that Kai, the great panther, is about? Only last night my brother and I heard his fearful cry in the darkness. We trembled with fear just to hear him al- though we were safe in the wigwam. I would never go so far off if I were you. Look out to-night when you make your lonely camp, for Kai,’ called the cowardly boy, loudly. “Maiketa, being strong of heart, was not frightened by the beasts of the forest, and often stopped to talk with them. Camping the first night near a pond, he watched old Ahmik, the beaver, and his army at work felling trees and building a new dam. At last lulled by the gentle songs of the Mukawis, the whippoorwiil, he fell asleep. “In the night he awoke feeling cold, so he threw some sticks on his dying fire. As he heard the ‘whu-hu-hu’ of a big owl calling down to him from a tree over his head, and seeing its great, golden eyes star- ing down in the darkness, he laughed. “Just then, peering into the brushes be- yond his camp fire, Maiketa saw another pair of gleaming eyes watching him. They were not those of a friend, for they were fierce and wicked. All at once Maiketa “Maiketa’s courage returned, for the boy was no coward, and gathering up his bas- kets again, he went on. Suddenly, about twilight, he heard a twig crack, and his ears, being sharp, caught the sound of pad- ded feet. Looking about he caught sight of Kai slipping in and out between the tree trunks, following. “Maiketa knew that he must think quick- ly if he would save himself from his enemy. Seeing a great fallen log nearby, he placed his baskets on the ground not far off. Seiz- ing a stout young tree of green wood, he took his knife and trimmed off all its small twigs and branches, leaving it a bare pole, as supple and as springy as his new ash bow. Putting all his weight upon it, he drew it down close to the fallen log, and hiding himself near the log, waited for Kai. Soon he heard the snarls. Kai was coming ! Maiketa raised his head to peep, and the panther leaped, landing on the very spot where the boy’s head had been the minute before. He gave Kai a loud thump upon his hood with the hickory stick. “Kai drew off for a minute, surprised and stunned by the blow. Soon he came creeping back towards the log and the bent tree, which had been held close behind the boy all this time. As soon as Maiketa saw knew that they were none other than those of Kai, the panther. Not losing courage, and hoping to frighten him, he threw on more sticks, making a high blaze. With a scream of anger, the panther leaped away; and Maiketa went to sleep again. “Kai, the panther, did not mean to let Maiketa get away, for his sides were thin from fasting. All the next day, not very far behind him, the panther followed. At noon, becoming more angry and impatient, and unwilling to wait for darkness, the pan- ther sprang out, wagging his tail angrily, and growling crossly. “ ‘Yeo, yeo,’ wailed the boy, thinking his time had surely come; ‘the panther will surely kill me. What shall I do?’ Then quickly he whirled his long stick about and hurled all his baskets into the face of Kai. The big yellow cat was so surprised and frightened at this, that he leaped away in- to the forest.

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THE ECHO 10 JUDGE NOT A Drama in One Act CHARACTERS Mr. John Roberts, a wealthy business man. Mrs . John Roberts, a plump, motherly woman. Miss Betty Roberts, a wilful young girl, aged 18. Mr. Roger Roberts, an adopted son, ag,ed 24. Place: Boston, Mass. Time: August 28, 1927. SCENE (The living room of the Roberts’. It is a spacious room furnished in a comforta- ble, modern way with large open windows, through which nod fragrant flowers. Mr. Roberts is standing in the center of the room holding a check in his hand. Mrs. Roberts is sitting near the window, mending. ) Mr. Roberts: (pacing up and down the room) Don’t try to argue with me, Norma. Who else could have taken my name and forged it for twenty-five thousand dollars? Not one of my friends could have done so dishonorable an act. Why — Mrs. Roberts: John, stop! How can you condemn that boy like that? You have known him almost all his life and still you can call him a thief! Why, you might just as well accuse Betty of stealing it. Mr. Roberts: (placidly) There, there, Norma. Of course, you might be right and I may be mistaken but I ask you who else could have taken it? We know he had a motive. We know he wanted a motor boat. And when I told him 1 Wouldn’t give him the money for it because I didn’t believe in such foolish things for a boy who has his way to make in the world, he said he would give up the idea. But he probably was planning even then to take it. Mrs. Roberts: (heatedly) John Roberts ' I’m ashamed of you. The least you could do is to give the boy the benefit of the doubt. You even condemn him unheard. I suggest that you call him and let him defend himself. Mr. Roberts: “You’re right, Norma. I will do so. (he rings a bell and a servant appears.) Tell Roger to step into the liv- ing room. (The servant goes out.) Mrs. Roberts: I am sure he can clear him- self. Roger: Did you want me, father? Mr. Roberts: Yes. But I have no doubt you know the meaning of it. Stop, please do not interrupt until I am finished. Roger, will you please tell me why you forged my name to a check for twenty-five thousand? Roger: (passionately) Father! Surely you do not think that I did it? You have always been so good to me. Why, I — I couldn’t do anything like that to you! Mr. Roberts: (sadly) I would like to be- lieve you, Roger, but I am afraid I can’t. I will not hand you over to the authorities but I must request you to leave my house. You will please leave — at once. (Roger leaves the room to pack, and Mrs. Roberts is sobbing in the chair when Betty enters. ) Betty: (breezily) Well, for the love of Lula! Why, the sob scene? Mr. Roberts: (sternly) Betty! You will please speak in a more respectful manner to your mother. As to the meaning of the “sob scene,’’ Roger is leaving us. Betty: Leaving us! Why? Mr. Roberts: Why — er — you see, he — he — well, in plain English he forged a check in my name for twenty-five thousand. Of course, after that I could not keep him so I — Why, Betty! What’s the matter? Betty: (laughing hysterically) Roger! Forge a check? Oh! That’s rich! Well, before I’ll see him turned out because of something he didn’t do, I’ll confess. Your charming daughter forged that check! Mr. Roberts: (harshly) Betty, this is no time for dramatics. Of course, you didn’t forge that check. Why should you? Haven’t you all the money you need? Betty: Yes, but have you forgotten that a few months back Jimmy Clainborne asked if he could marry me? You laughed and told him he needed more money first. Well, I decided to take that measly twenty-five; you wouldn’t miss it and I needed it. Jim- my and I were to elope this afternoon. Now, of course, its all off. But I just wanted to prove that Roger didn’t take it. Mrs. Roberts: Betty, come with me. (Together they leave the room. Mr. Rob- erts sinks into a chair and covers his face. Roger enters) Roger: I’ve come to say good-by. Why, Dad, what’s the matter? Mr. Roberts: Roger, will you ever for- give me for doubting your word? I — I have just found the real culprit and now I ask you to stay for Norma’s sake. Roger: Of course, I will. Reta Walls, ’28. FRIENDS Make new friends, but keep the old. These are silver, those are gold. Cherished friendship in your breast, New is good, but old is best. Make new friends, but keep the old. These are silver, those are gold. Irene McCarty, ’30.