Houtzdale High School - Jack O Lantern Yearbook (Houtzdale, PA)

Page 38 text:

MZ! n M THE JACK U' LANTERN Y A PARODY ON LINCOLN'S GETTYSBURG ADDRESS I sat in the house last night alone, And wished that I could go out and buy an ice cream cone But by father's advice I sat there so nice, and passed the night alone, I couldn't read nor I couldn't smokeg So I sat at the table and this is what I wrote :- Fourscore and seven days ago our teachers brought forth into this school a new system, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposi- tion that all pupils are ruled equally. Now we are engaged in a great civil strife, testing whether that system, or any system so conceived and so dedicated can long endure. We have come to argue a portion of that law, so that it will be fair and square for those who are making the sacrifice that it might live. It is altogether iitting and proper that we should do this. But in a larger sense we cannot rebel, we cannot revise. we cannot dismiss this system. The intelligent teachers here have con structed it far above our poor power to add or detract. The pupils wil' little note or respect it, but they will never forget the result of it. It is for us, the present seniors, rather to be engaged in the unfinished work which the teachers have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us, that from these honored teachers, we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave their last full measure of devotiong that we here highly resolve that these teachers shall not have tried in vain: that this school under.Silliman shall have a new birth of freedomg and that the government of the pupils, by the pupils, and for the pupils shall not perish from this school. . F. J. R. '25 H. H. S. AN INCIDENT It was a cold, dreary, cheerless night. The wind whistled in thc trees with eerie mutterings and died away in the distance with fearful groans. Not a star could be seen and the moon shed but a faint light. Only one man trudging along on the path through the woods gave evidence of life. The small animals of the woods gave no sign of their prese-nce and he felt unexpressibly lonely. Suddenly an owl hooted in a tree near him and he felt an icy shiver run down his spine. He could see the eyes of the owl gleaming in the black darkness. The farther he walked the more lonely he become. Presently he came to an open space and with the aid of the moon, which had become a little brighter, could discern the outlines of a high wall. VVhen he came nearer he saw that it was a huge stone wall with great iron gates. He almost turned to stone. This was the famous cemetery in which departed spirits were supposed to walk about midnight. He looked at his watch and was dismayed to find that it was five minutes of twelve. ,,,g43,,,

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THE JACK Ol LANTERN F UTILITY For the spark of inspiration, I have searched my weary brain. But the spirit still evades me And my efforts are in vain. On the altar of the Muses, Sacrifices I have laid. But the Gods are deaf to prayers And in vain I seek their aid. All the themes of ancient poets, Love of ladies, deeds of knights. Have been many years exhausted And my pen just nonsense Writes. High school poets write of lessons, Write of Latin and of trots, Of the cruelty of teachers, And their constant you must nots. Words, ideas, both evade me And the things just Won't get said. So I think I'll just quit trying, Give it up and go to bed. Dorothy Pidgeon '26 --H.-H.-S.-- i EQUUS BONUS Ruthie had a little trot, She kept it out of sight. She always made good marks because She used her pony every night. She took her trot to schol one day Which Wasn't very wise, She really might have lost it, 'cause Prof. Silliman has such good eyes. But such was not to be her fate. The pony's still intact But now it always stays at home And acts as good trots act. Dorothy Pidgeon '26

Page 39 text:

THE JACK O' LANTERN When he came to the large iron gate he could not resist looking in and as he looked an icy fear congealed his blood. A white shape was moving ai ound the Lombstones and seemed to be coming nearer. The perspiration stood out on his forehead in large drops and he shook from head to foot, but presently he recovered himself. A large stone was at his feet and he picked this up and hurled it at the white object. An unearthly noise came to his ears and he immediately took to his heels. When he iound that the thing was not following him he slowed down a little. His courage suddenly revived when the faint breeze carried to him the biay ofa idonkey. As he resumed his journey he wondered which was the biggest donkey. A. E. V. '25 H. H. S. I'LL SAY YOU DID!! Did you ever see a pony sweet? I'll say you did! Did you ever hide it 'neath the seat? I'll say you did! . Did it ever meet the Prof's keen stare? And did you get a zero fair? t .. - 1'll say it did! Did you ever visit the reading room? I'll say you did! Did you find there your fated doom? I'll say you did! And when the digit sheet appeared, liad you your parents ever feared? I'll say you did! Did you o'er a poem try to make? I'll say you did! And did it e'er turn out a fake? V I'll say you did! And did you ever in despair Your wonderful production tear? I'Il say you did! Did you ever cram for tests? I'll say you did! And did you never stop for rest? I'll say you did! And when the time for test draws near Did all your knowledge disappear? I'll say it did! -37.-