Kalona High School - Centerika Yearbook (Kalona, IA)

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During the next few weeks the following scene was common at the home of the White's: Yippee! This is fun! Why didn't I think of it? 'Tm going to make one like it. Amid this chatter there was a constant patter of feet going upstairs, a swish, and a plop, as Tom and one of his friends slid down the sliding board and landed on the pile of cushions at the end. Tom seemed very happy, but one evening as he was milking he confided in Bossie, This still doesn't settle the matter of going to school. I can't sell this inven- tion of mine: all the boys are going to make them for themselves. I'l1 have to think of something else. Days passed, then weeks, finally turning into months With each week. Tom's desire for an education deepened. He' invented a number of small, but useful articles, none of which, however, brought money enough for the desired schooling. Thfn one day late in April .... Say, Mother, I have another idea. Is it the idea Tommy? ' No, I don't think so. Nobody will have any use for it except me. YVe'll, what is your idea? You know, Mother, that I like to lean back in my chair, and sometimes the zhair tips over. Yes. Mrs. White knew only too well that this was one of Tom's favorite habits when he was supposed to be working. Well, I'm going to make something so I can't lean back. 4'That will be fine, Son. Maybe it will cure you of some of your laziness. Two days later Tom emerged from his workship carrying an old chair with a few additions. Just then Joe Brown, one of Tom's friends, entered the gate. I-Ii, Tom. What are you doing? Hello, Joe. I just finished my latest invention. That thing? Joe was all eyes and ears. Sure. It's a chair that won't tip over backward. I fastened two boards to the bottom of the legs so I can't lean back in my chair. What will you think of next! Joe ejaculated. I don't know, but I'm going to think of something and get some money to go to school, replied Tom, carefully setting his chair down. Maybe, Joe was doubtful, If you invent anything great it'll probably be by accident. Oh, come on, you, said Tom wishing to change the subject, 'I'll race you to the creek. A And so they were off, leaving the chair right in the front yard. . That night it rained. The next morning as Tom climbed from his bed he thought, April showers bring May flowers. He didn't know that this April shower had brought him some- thing else. It wasn't until mid-afternoon, with the sun shining brightly, that Tom thought of his chair. He hastened out to where he had left it and was disappointed to see that the boards he had put on it had become quite badly warped. He took it into his workshop and sat cautiously upon it. .He wasn't surprised to find it wasn't stable, but he was surprised at the gentle rocking motion of the chair. ' Say, this is comfortable, he suddenly exclaimed. And then a bigger idea struck him. Why, this is just the thing for Uncle Ed. Tom's Uncle Ed was a fairly wealthy invalid living in a nearby city. He had always admired Tom for his ingenuity, and had promised that if Tom would make something that would be of benefit to him he would give him a year or two of schooling. Within a few weeks Tom's Uncle Ed had come, inspecting the chair, and promised to write within a few days of his decision. The next few days found Tom very impatient and eager for the promised letter. Finally, one day, Tom rushed into the house with a letter in his hand. It's from Uncle Ed, was all he could say in his excitement. With nervous fingers he tore open the letter and read: At first I thought your idea was very clever, -ha shadow passed over his face, then he finished the sen- tence, And I still think so. Here his reading was punctuated with a broad smile. Since you are such a clever boy you may stay at my home and go to school this com- ing term. If you prove yourself worthy I will see that you have as much education as any boy could want. Tom read no further, he couldn't because of the tears of joy that filled his eyes. Tom's mother smiled to herself as she said, Where there's a will there's a IK u H way. p -I. B. '44 ..26..

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She took a fast train with the hope that she would arrive the same day the letter did. Perhaps they don't live there any more, she thought. Why, it's been three years since I was at home or heard from them. Oh, well, almost anyone in that small town will know. I hope no one in town will recognize me. She got off at the station, took the street car and stared to walk the two blocks to her 1nother's home. She thought, rather scomfully, I don't believe things have changed a bit. They're no more civilized than ever. I wonder if m-mon got my letter. By this time she had arrived at the houseg the next instant she was shocked as a white-clad nurse opened the door. She stepped inside, too surprised to utter a word. Come right this way if you wish to see Mrs. Pebble. She is in the east bed- room. Please don't stay long for she is seriously ill. Ill! Pracilla was horrified. Did you say Mrs. Pebble is ill? Oh, I beg your pardon, replied the nurse. I thought you had come to see Mrs. Pebble. But you seem to know her. Yes, she is suffering from a severe heart attack. I presume you know her husband was killed in an auto accident yesterday and today she got a letter from someone in Florida, which seemed to excite her. She was found lying on the porch with the letter in her hand. The doctor said it's a serious case. Her husband killed! a heart attack! A letter from someone in Florida! The nurse was surprised and hastily set a chair for Pracilla for she was looking faint. Why I supposed you knew. Who are you? Pracilla avoided the question and asked excitedly, i'Will she get well? May I see her now? Well, I don't know. You see, she's unconscious just now, was the reply. I think you may see her for a few minutes. She may come to any minute. The nurse led the way through the room. Everything Pracilla saw added more to her remorse. Perhaps if she had stayed at home this would never have happened. As she came to the room her mother occupied she felt like one who had pro- nounced a death sentence upon an innocent person. There, before her, lay a still form while on the chair lay a letter. Pracilla did not look at it but she knew from whom it was. Her mother stirred slightly and her eyelids fluttered. Pracilla thought of stories she had read of people talking just before their death. She shuddered. The nurse and Pracilla bent low over the bed while the old lady whispred, She-she was a-asha-med of me-me, but-but I-I'm still her mother. As the sun slowly sank in the west, the old mother passed on with it, leaving behind her a very cloudy sky for one who had forsaken her and had returned too late. -M. M. '44 Where T11ere's ci Will Bump! bumpety! bump! crash! bump! bang! What in the world is going on? called Mrs. White as she hastened to the source of all the racket. Oh, I fell downstairs again, replied Tom. One step at a time is too slow, I still think we ought to get a sliding board. But how would you get upstairs ? inquired Mrs. White. To this Tom gave no reply. He decided, however, that something would have to be done, or soon he would be nothing but a great big scar. Tom lived with his parents on a small farm. His one big ambition was to go to school in the nearby cityg this was impossible due to lack of money. Tom was determined to invent something whereby he could get money to go to school. Perhaps if he could invent a sliding board that could be used also as a stairway, his problem would be solved. He decided to wait until the next morning, when milking the cows, to think about it. Perhaps this would take some of the monotony from that dull job. That night, if you had been an owl sitting oustide Tom's window you might have been started by a sudden-'Tve got it! This was from Tom who was sitting straight up in bed. Then, if you had been brave enough to peep into Tom's window to see what had caused the commotion, you'd never have found out. All you could have seen would have been Tom with a wide smile on his face, settling down to go back to slee . P The next morning Tom was walking on air, as he always was after getting a big idea. He fairly flew through the chores, and no doubt the cows and chickens wondered what was happening. The next few days Tom spent all his spare moments in his small shop, and soon the stairway in Tom's home was equipped with what we today would probably call a hand railing. This, however, was wider, very crude looking, and sturdy, -25-

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Alumni Class of '32 Gideon Yoder is director of the Civilian Public Service Camp in Dennison, Iowa, after having spent several years teaching in Kansas. LaVerna Robertson continues her duties at the Quadrangle at the State University of Iowa. Lois McKray Eash also lives in Iowa City. Ervin is ready as ever to serve you at the Economy Grocery Store. Class of '37 Shirley Erb was married to Roman Gingerich and has moved to Goshen, Indiana, where her husband is physical education director of Goshen College. She has been taking part time work at the college. Previous to her marriage she had taught school near her home for two years. Kathryn Miller Yoder is living at her home place-a farmer's wife. Merle Stewart is the pride of their home. Wilbur Miller spent several years working for the Farmers' Electric Cooper- ative but is now employed at the Wayside Hatchery at Frytown. Last summer he mar- ried Opal Cramer, originally from Nebraska. Charlotte Miller Winborn is living on a farm near Old Man's Creek. She and Milton have quite a sheep ranch. Yes, she still sings and plays the guitar. Virgil Grout is helping with the farm work at home. Marguerite Graper finds plenty to do on the farm north of Frytown. Beulah Gosnell has completed her work for the degree registered nurse and is employed at the University hospital in Iowa City. Dorothy Miller Wagner lives on a farm along the Black Diamond. They have two children. Eloise Birkey is at home again after having spent a term at Iowa State Teachers' College at Cedar Falls. She is preparing to teach. Billy Evans is at present employed at the psychopathic hospital in Iowa City where Simon Wertz is also employed. I'l1 bet he and Sim have plenty of fun! Howard Yoder is helping his brother farm again after having spent some time in the employ of Maplecrest Farms. The Nagle farm west of Iowa City is the place of his activities. Ward Liebe, wife and son, were living at Prescott, Arkansas, for six months where he was employed by the Callahan Construction ,Company as ccst, distribution clerk. Since March 12 he has been timekeeper for the Bluebonnet Construction Com- pany at Waco, Texas, where they are now living. Class of '41 Eunice Fleming enrolled as a freshman at the University of Iowa last fall and has done commendable work there. She often returns to C. H. S. for our activities. She hopes to be a teacher some day. Clifford Grout can be found at home most of the time helping with the farm work. Arlene Hochstetler attended Hesston -College at Hesston, Kansas, in prepara- tion for a teaching career. She spent several weeks doing observation of teaching methods at our school Cgradesj after Thanksgiving. The twins, David and Daniel Brenneman have helped their father in the Joe- town garage as well as helping neighbors in addition. Their pet Model A finds another master i?J when Ada drives it to school. Myrtle Gosnell has moved to Iowa City and has answered calls for help there. She usually shows up here for plays and such activities. Riverside' missed her in our cheering section this year. Cleo Dickel has spent considerable time helping his father with maintenance work during the past year. He also purchased some power tools to continue his hobby of woodworking. Nora Miller found plenty to do helping at home. She faithfully attended C. H. S. activities whenever she could. She was also a member of the home nursing course sponsored by the Red Cross and presented at Center this spring. -27...