Joliet Junior College - Shield Yearbook (Joliet, IL)

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Through the Briers First Prize Story, by Eu.a Stewart THE air, laden with the sickening scent of crushed and deceased tti berries, almost suffocated the tired berry pickers. Bees hum- med drowsily overhead. No breeze brought forth a joyous twitter from the birds. The sullen sun, obstinate to pity, forced many to retire from the field. The dogged persistance on the sun scorched faces of those who remained, was oppressive to overseer and fellowworker alike. Barbara, the youngest picker in the field, therefore under less restraint, wandered from the silent scene. She directed her steps to a thorny acre or two of shrubs and brier bushes— a not very enchant- ing scene to a casual observer, but to Barbara it was at least a change. She pried her way through the first group of bushes in search of an addition to her rather large collection of birds eggs. That she found none was a great disappointment, but not to be baffled she proceeded to a much denser thicket. The breaking of twigs, and the occasional rent in her dress gave forth the only sounds which broke the stillness. The plucky little girl became very tired tusseling with those fiends, the thorns, and she sat down on a small hillock, partly screened from the sun by the over- hanging folliage, to rest. She wished that the bushes would part and make an easy way for her to go on. As she sat there watching, a wiggling worm not far away, the bushes slowly parted. = The strange phenomenon attracted her attention and she sprang joyously into the opening. But what a scene. She blinked her eyes. Then rubbed them, but the scene still stayed. She tiptoed across the green sward then stopped to admire. It was light, but sh e could see no sun. It was cool, but she could feel no breeze. Water trinkled and the brook murmured on at her feet. She heard singing far away, faint at first, then growing stronger. From the flowers across the stream fairies peeped. Then growing bolder shook themselves free from the protecting petals and danced and sang together. The dazzling sight made her head reel. The queen of the fairies seeing her, stepped on an aspen leaf and floated across the stream. She took Barbara ' s hand and said : Come and be a fairy, Light and airy, Light and airy, Come and dance with The great gay throng For a birthday is tonight. Seventeen

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Faculty vs. Seniors Listen my children and you shall hear Of a Basket Ball game that was played this year, On the nineteenth of February in nineteen seven ; Hardly a teacher this side of heaven Can think of this game without shedding a tear. The Faculty on a winter ' s day, Played the Seniors in a desperate way. A team more fair, with looks more sweet, Ne ' er hath it been my lot to meet. Captain Sylvester good and wise And stately Miss Barnes with dark blue eyes, Trying to be dignified, Not to take too long a stride. Miss Pollock so coquettish and sly, Always caught the ball when it was nigh. She surely was a shining star. Also Miss Kaplan from the land of the Czar. And Miss Shipman so calm (?) and fair, With modest mien and flying hair, To witness this much talked of game, From far and near the people came. No boys allowed to see us play, The Faculty vowed, they must keep away. But one boy would not be surpressed, He entered the room so cunningly dressed That no one noticed his disguise And he escaped the penetrating eyes Of Miss Woodruff at the door, Who never knew it was Hinman Moore Until a chattering So phmore bold Went to Miss Marquardt and on him told. To convince the teachers, he did his best ; But they would not listen — you know the rest. The teachers know lots, but they don ' t know it all When it comes to playing basket ball. They did some very brilliant stunts, But they never made a basket once, For when the Seniors once had the ball, The other side had no chance at all. The gentlemen gave them a big bouquet To cheer them on their troubled way. Sympathy is sweet you know, But the winners did not need it, though — The 27 on the board Showed how much the Seniors scored. The game was ended, but the fun wasn ' t o ' er, For Everett and Ray came forth from the door Of the tower, and with a shout that reached to heaven, Gave three cheers for 1907. Mary Seymour Stryker, ' 07. Sixteen

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With one cautious glance at her stained hands and soiled pina- fore, she stepped into the skiff, to be ferried across. She put her hands into the water to wash them but it had no cleansing element. The fairy only smiled and Barbara flushed at showing her ignorance. The whole court came laughing toward them and the queen -said, ' Tis but a playmate my fairies, Come kiss her welcome my dears. The vaporous dress of the fairies contrasted strangely with Barbara ' s limp, torn gown. But soon she forgot her apparel and froliced with the rest. It was the blue bells which interrupted the scene by tinkling the supper hour. Barbara ' s earthly appetite was much afraid it could not be appeased in this dainty world, but even it was subdued when the feast appeared. Downy dandelions were used for stools, the green cool grass for tables. Barbara reverently tasted the savorous bit placed on curling violets. The tiny morsels seemed to increase her thirst and she timidly asked for a drink. The fairies, delighted at the sound of her voice, ran to fulfill her wish. They brought her in cups of the climbing honey- suckle drops of the sweetest dew. Cup after cup was drained of its life-blood and Barbara ' s head grew heavy. The fairies sang soothing murmuring music to the tired little girl and soon she slept. Barbara! Oh, Barby, where are you? The jerky voice, showing fatigue and anxiety, brought back the sleeping child from her world of dreams. — E. G. S. Eighteen