Lincoln Middle School - Lincolnian Yearbook (Portland, ME)

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T HE LINCOLNIAN Seven A heated argument followed as the high priest hated his ruler too much to yield. Suddenly the Maharajah's mighty voice boomed out, She is no curse. I say she shall go and by the grace of Brahma she shall go! The priest was about to answer but thinking better of it walked sullenly to his elephant to await'the pax-ty's departure. Twelve strokes came from the oriental gong and the natives knelt in prayer. Then they rose and mounted silently. The palace gates swung open and the party passed through them. Down the treacherous trail into the jungle walked the ele- phants. Just before dawn the party reached the small village of Rhutan at the very door of the tiger country. On into the tiger-infested area swept the party. Shortly after this. they reached their destination. Here they rested until nightfall. About midnight the hunters took their elephants and prepared for the night's work. The nrst hunting party was successful so the Maharajah allowed his daughter to go on the next one. But on this one several men were lost. This continued for a week and was climaxed by the disappearance of one entire group, all but the high priest. In their anger the natives threatened to kill the Maharajah unless he sent his daughter back alone to his palace. The Maharajah refused but his daughter pleaded that if she did not go. all would bf lost. Finally, the Maharajah consented and the girl started home a one. A few hours later a number of the lost party returned and revealed that it was the high priest, not the girl, who had done the evil. The party immediately set out after the girl but a tiger had claimed her. All that remained was the tiny ivory prayer bracelet that the girl's father had had made from the tusk of the first ele- phant she had captured. Her father took the bracelet and for many years it was kept in the glass case in front of the palace where the natives came to worship it. At the death of the Maharajah the bracelet was lost and famine and tragedy stalked the land. A few years later the bracelet was recovered and the people prospered once more. Although the natives have been offered fortunes for the bracelet, they remain steadfast in their belief that should the bracelet slip from their hands their kingdom would crumble and fall as their princess had so many years ago. HENRIETTA HAMMONDS, DIV. C-8 HOMEMADE GHOSTS Do you believe in ghosts? Joan and I did until-. Well, here's the story. We were walking down a lonely road one afternoon. Suddenly it began to thunder and lightning flashed. In a few minutes it began to pour. A short distance from us was an old house to which we hurried for shelter.

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Six THE LINCOLNIAN THE LEGEND OF THE IVORY BRACELET It was the most beautiful courtyard I had ever seen. It was like fairyland and it retained all the pomp and splendor of old India. In the center of this gorgeous courtyard on a velvet cushion in a glass case decorated with gold lay a strikingly carved ivory bracelet. This bracelet caught my gaze because of all the attention it was receiving. indians of rank and position who received the admiration of all were bowing in humble devotion to this beautiful bracelet. I consulted my English friend as to the history of this bracelet and as he told the story. I was swept back through time to early India where I paused to look on as this beautifully tragic story was unfolded before my Ayes' -r fa- x a wr at It was almost midnight and the full tropical moon floated lazily along its sky trail, reflecting its weird light on the still jungle below. All was silent but the continuous roar of the river as it sped over rough crags on its way to the sea. Now and then the stillness was broken by the roar of a tiger or the trumpet call of an elephant as he ducked his companion in the river. High above the mysterious jungle on a rocky hill stood the palace of the Nlaharajah, ruler of the north Indian province of Suristani. The palace courtyard looked more like midday than nearly midnight. as elephants were being brought into line and seats were being placed on their backs. Mahouts were chaining the ele- phants together and many score of servants were loading them. Rifles were being loaded and spears and knives were in readiness. Although all were hustling and were apparently used to their tasks. a certain tenseness hung over the scene and all spoke in animated whispers. Suddenly all moved back against the walls and knelt as the Maharajah in all the glory and splendor of an Indian prince appeared. His guard of honor in gay uniforms followed close behind, the priests bringing up the rear. A servant appeared in the doorway and beckoned the Maharajah. After a discussion the Maharajah gave his consent to the servant's request. Shortly after, a girl appeared in the courtyard. About eighteen years of age, she was tall and slender, with beautiful dark eyes and hair and a smooth olive complexion. She was bareheaded and wore a plain black velvet cape with no jewelry except a small finely carved ivory bracelet. This girl was the Maharajah's only daughter. Her wish was his command. At the sight of her. uneasiness swept the party and a stubborn expression crept over the face of the high priest. for it was a well- known fact that a girl on a hunt was an evil curse. The girl ap- proached her father, knelt in reverence and started toward the largest elephant. At this point the' high priest interfered. No, he said sullenly. The girl turned inquiringly toward her father who, with an angry gesture. summoned .thehigh priest to him.

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Eight THE LINCOLNIAN As we approached the house a hollow booming sound was heard. On the front door was painted Haunted House with a large skull and crossbones underneath. This sound together with the sign startled us but rather than get wet we decided to go in. The door opened easily and as we entered the hallway. the booming sound grew louder and every door in the house seemed to be opening and closing. Black storm clouds made it quite dark within. We decided to stay near the door so that a quick exit could be made if anything like a ghost should appear. The storm lasted about fifteen minutes and so did the booming sound and slamming of doors. The moment the rain stopped we left hurriedly, glad to get out of that house. Before we had gone far the sun came out bright and warm and with it came most of our lost courage. We stopped and talked about ghosts and wondered if the house could really be haunted. Joan said she had been told that ghosts did not come out in the daytime. Hoping that was true. we decided to go back and explore the place. On entering, we again heard the same sounds. The first door upstairs was banging noisily. We found that the door could not com- pletely open or shut because of large rocks in front of and behind the door. The windows were all broken. allowing gusts of wind to blow through the house and causing the door to swing between the rocks, making a loud noise each time it hit. We found all the doors in the house fixed that way. That cleared up one mystery but what made that hollow sound? After thoroughly searching every room on the nrst two floors, we proceeded to the attic. There we saw a rusty wash boiler hanging by a rope from one of the beams between two posts and so fixed that the least draught would make it hit one of the posts thereby causing the hollow sound. FLORENCE SAWYER, Div. L-7 HE DOES NOT UNDERSTAND Upon Tony's arrival in New York, he was met by a wealthy American gentleman who had been traveling in Italy the summer before and knew Tony. This gentleman took him to many places of interest and Tony had a very good time. However, there was one thing he could not figure out and that was the way the people of the United States talked. For instance, after dinner the gentleman took Tony riding in his automobile. They stopped to get gasoline for the car and the gentleman said. Fill me up. XVe have just had dinner and why does he want to be filled up? wondered Tony. Later, the gentleman bumped into a policeman and said, Now my goose is cooked. The policeman said. You're in the soup now. To make matters worse, a friend came up just then and asked, Are you in a jam?