Humboldt High School - Nokomis Yearbook (Humboldt, IA)

Page 10 text:

sis The Indian Trail A SQUIRREL RETREATS If memories of loved retreats could be clutched, they might be carried off by busy squirrels as jewels to adorn the heads of emperorsg but, being secure, they are dis- regarded. That is, they are disregarded until we become poor in material things and feel the need of Nature's tonic. 'Tis then that we ramble westward toward the Indian Trail, eastward to forgotten roads, or northward where the waves of Lake Nokomis wash various shades of sand. Each retreat imparts a fragrance and cheerfully invites us to make of our lives a pastimeg teaches us to weather merry stormsg shows us that gentle rains make things greenerg and proves to us that the setting sun is reflected from the eyes of the 'poor as well as the rich. An old legend tells us that when Satan wishes to bring failure to a student, he sends his little demon messenger to perch on the student's shoulder and to whisper in his ear, You are discouraged. The student's shoulders droopg his whole demeanor bespeaks defeat. He loses his courage. Then a little squirrel, who is listening at the top of a tree, alights on the other shoulder and keeps up the queerest chuckling and chirruping

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Foreword This, the year of 1933, known to all mankind as one of uncertain behavior, has given us cause to pause and reflect. Could anything better fit our needs, yet depict our aims, than the spirit and habits of the most widely recognized economist, Mr. Squirrel? Wise Mr. Squirrel, could We but imitate you in your cheer, yet emulate you in your foresight and preparedness.

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and vocal pirouetting and gurgling that ever was heard! It is saying, You are not discouraged. Then the student squares his shoulders, and replies, You are right. I am not discouraged. Whereupon the demon limps back to his Satanic Majesty, and, with tears in his eyes, confesses that he is defeated. But the squirrel runs fwe never saw one walkj in a trigonometrical way back to the top of the tree where he winds his clock and soliloquizes as he returns to work. The squirrel has some helpers in these arguments-the robins chanting their vespersg the frogs croaking their serenadesg the wind whistling its tunesg and the Wagons rumbling over the bridge. A Indoors we may be tempted to listen to demons, but outdoors we listen to squirrels. They teach us that Nature wants us to be humble and happy and busyg that Life is like the water of Lake Nokomis. It may rise higher than man has known and flood the parched land, but afterwards we'll be like awakened flowers-joyous and fresh. Tell me, were you ever nearer To the land of Heart's Desire, Than when you sat in a squirrel's retreat With your feet before a wood fire? Wl1ere Nature Smiles A Favori te Haunt