Lock Haven Junior High School - Echo Yearbook (Lock Haven, PA)

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THE. ECHO 29 MA BTG LITTLE GIRL!! What's that in your hand, Bob ? asked Edith Trevill. Something to make little girls ask questions, retort- ed her brother. Little, am I? cried Edith, eyes flashing. I'll show you I'm not little! The next time you want your coat brushed or you tie cleaned, don't ask me to do it. I'm too little! she ended sarcastically. Now, Edie, fEdie was her nicknamel, don't be like that. Be a sport. You know I didn't mean it. You never acted like this before. What's the matter? Bob asked, as he tried to calm his sister. Matter ? repeated Edith, sneeringly. You always call me little and you're only fourteen! A year older than Elsie Linden and two years older than I and you're always talking to me about Elsie. You like Elsie better than me. Idon't care. I'll show you and that catty Elsie Linden something! and she walked off, hurt but determined, leaving a very red-faced boy behind. Sis, protested Bob. You can't act like this! This and other protests fell on deafened earsg Edith-head up, walked out to the corral to watch the men branding the cattle. Perhaps this rather fiery introduction needs an ex- planation. The Trevills lived at the X Bar X Ranch and lVlr. Trevill owned a considerable amount of property. Robert, better known as Bob, a tall, blond, blue-eyed boy, was the image of his father. Also Bob was known to like Elsie Linden better than other girl acquaintances. This was the cause of a great amount of teasing among Bob and his friends. Edith, a slim, golden-haired girl, was like her beauti- ful mother, quick tempered and very easily offended as the opening of the story will reveal. Never-the-less she was a great favorite among the girls. Edith was a trifle jealous of Elsie and that accounts for her words about ucatty Elsie although Elsie was a very companionable girl. After watching Bill and Harry brand her pet calf, Edith sauntered up to the house. She met her father, guns hanging at his hips, coming through the door. Dad! What happened? Has Jack Brickly been stealing our steers again ? inquired Edith, peering into her father's face. Yes, sister, he has, and I'm out to get him for it. Goo'-bye, honey, and be good. lVlr. Trevill jumped over the porch railing and landed on the back of his waiting horse. Edith wondered what her father meant by out to get him. Would he-. But Edith broke off her thoughts and went to her room. How was she to show Bob that she wasn't little? For she felt very small and lonely as she sat at the window watching her father slowly fade out of sight. She heard Bob slowly come up the steps and step over the big chest in the hall. Why was he going that way? That was the attic. Edith flung open her room door. Suddenly a shot rang out and Bob whirled, clutching his left arm. He fell down the attic steps and landed at his sister's feet. The bullet was the direction of the clump of trees in front of the house. It came through the open window and after going through Bob's arm, sank in the wall. Edith screamed and Mrs. Trevill came running toward her daughter calling as she ran, Did that shot get Bob? Edith frantically nodded her head as Mr. Trevill came up to her. She, IVlrs. Trevill, took one look at Bob and said to Edith, Saddle your broncho and ride out to Doc Wilkins, the doctor. The bullet went through Bob's arm and he may have his ami broken if the bullet struck any bones. Ride as you've never rode before and don't ask questions. The last was lost to Edie as she ran down the steps and out to the barn. She saddled her own horse and was across the field and out to the road. Doc Wilkins lived ten miles away and the girl had to bring him back in an hour at least! Wilkins might be gone to town for the mail as he sometimes did. Edith had to get to his home before four o'clock because the mail al- ways came at four o'clock. Could she make it? Gritting her teeth and bending low in her saddle the girl cut across the five-mile strip of deserted land which would cut two miles off the ride. Mr. Trevill had positive- ly forbidden his girl to ever cross the strip, known as Ban- dit's Hole for the many places for refuge. But 'Edith never would stop if it was for her brother. Bob! The recollection of the quarrel brought stinging tears to her eyes. She just missed a huge hole and a large mud hole. Never had Edith been across Bandit's Hole without her father with her. And at that time it was said that Dan lVIcGrough was with his men at the old tumbled down shack nestling at the foot of a hill. The girl was almost there. What if the men should stop her? Dan bitterly hated her because she used to call him Dan lVlcGrouch. Yes, the men had seen her and came running out to stop her even before they could see who it was. Edith expertly swung around and sent her horse -to the west. One man pulled a gun, but seeing that his intended target was a girl he dropped the .45 back' into its holster. At five minutes of four, a frothing horse and a girl rider rode up to the small Wilkin's home. Jumping off her horse, Edith, for the girl was she, knocked at the door which was opened by Doc Wilkins. Come-come to-X Bar X-right away. Bob is- shot. H-hurry! grasped Edith. Doc Wilkins grasp-

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28 THE. ECHO CIRCUS! CIRCUS One sunshinny morning last June, I had an ambition to have a circus. Several of my small friends agreed with me, so, with boundless ambition and energy, but a limited supply of animals, we began to practice our stunts. To our consternation, the donkey and pig would not see-saw, in spite of all our tearful threats. A prize-win- ning beautiful white angora cat resided in a rough cage, the proud possessor of a few black stripes across its back. One of my friends succeeded in stealing one of her mother's switches, which we attached to my pet collie's back in an effort to make it look like a lion's mane. We decided to have a bull-fight as the grand finale on our program. I was unanimously elected to visit our bull, W- and to stress upon him the utter need of his services. My friends left me at the bam, from which I proceeded on alone. My spirits rose as the bull came in sight, peace- fully grazing in the next field. Before I had time to vault the fence, the bull had seen me and was charging for mc. I turned and ran as fast as my legs could carry me, for I did not want to keep the others waiting. Also, away back in my mind lurked the faint suspicion of the bull charging after me. This suspicion, however, was unjustified, for I reached the others safely. Moral: Always keep a gate between yourself and a bull, especially if you have a red dress on. Mary Frances I'Iickof'f-9. TROUBLE WITH CEMENT Once upon a time in a city called Rollins, there lived a little girl named Ann. Ann was a very little, mischievous girl. It was said that the only time she was good was when she was asleep. One day Ann's parents went away for the day and left Ann to look after the house. Of course, Ann promised to be good. After her parents had gone she went outside to play with the dogs. Everything was fine when sudden- ly Ann got an idea fShe always did get bright onesj. She ran quickly into the house and got out the flour and other baking utensils. She buttered the pans and got every thing ready. After all was in readiness she put the cake into the oven and then started to clean up the kitchen. It took about forty-five minutes to clean up the dirt she had made. In the meantime, her mother had returned home and properly scolded Ann for her conduct. Otherwise, she was glad she had cake for supper. That night all hurried through with their supper so they could taste the cake. Bob, Ann's brother, was the first to taste it, Ouch, said his father, Gee, this is hard. just then Ann, who had been in the kitchen, came into the dining room sobbing, Oh, dear, oh, dear, I didn't look to see what I was putting in the cake and I put cement in. 'flimminy I yelled Bob. No wonder I couldn't eat it. I'm sorry, sobbed Ann. Ah! come on, said sympathetic Bob, I'lI show you how to bake a cake. We wonder if Bob fared any,-better. Mildred Menge-7. ww MY MOST EXCITING EXPERIENCE As I leaned out of the cabin of my little aeroplane, I gasped in astonishment, for that morning when I started off from New York for a short trip I had expected to return soon and now below me, as far as I could see, was a huge expanse of wooded land. Off to my right I saw a moun- tain and, approaching closer, a lake. I studied my instru- ments and maps carefully and, with the aid of these land- marks, came to the disconcerting conclusion that I was in Central Africa! My gas supply was low and I could not hope to return .to civilization without replenishing itg there- fore a landing would be imperitive in the very near future. The lake shore presented the best landing place avail- able, and after seriously contemplating its possibilities for several moments, I descended. There appeared to be no signs of life in surrounding forest, and so I jumped from the plane and advanced a few steps into the jungle. I heard a stealthy sound behind me and tumed to confront a huge black decorated with portions of European clothing that I realized, with a sinking heart, must be parts of the apparel of other unfortunate victims! A pair of arms grasped me from behind and I was dragged toward the native village, situated near-by. I was then thrown into a small hut where I passed sev- eral unpleasant hours and finally awakened from my re- veries for the express purpose of being eaten. I soon adorned the tall stake in the center of the villageg also the center of attraction. There followed an interval during which a war dance was executed and then with a shrill yell they advanced toward me. I fully expected that in a few minutes I would be in one of the several huge cooking pots which hung over the fires, steaming and ready, but, making a final effort to escape, I awoke and found that the war- whoop was really my mother trying to wake me up for school. It was all a dream! William Long-9.

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30 TH E. ECHO ed his bag and hat and was with her in a minute. Better get a fresh horse, girl, Wilkins told Edith. Not time. Come, and away rode the two people. No time for words as they sped across Bandit's Hole. Doc, shouted Edith, turn southeast so we can get past lVlcGrouth and his men. They're layin' for me, I bet. I'll lead then you'll be sure to know the way. UO. K. was Wilkin's answer. At last the horse Edie was riding began to drop behind. She motioned for the doctor to go on and then settled the foaming, sweating horse into a trot. Thankful that she was past NlcGrough's men, Edie relaxed and took time to wonder, for the first time, who shot Bob and why. Suddenly it came to her that Jack Brickly must have thought Bob was Mr. Trevill and shot him. That was it! When at last she reached X Bar X she found her idea was correct as to season but one of Brickly's men had fired, not Brickly. Bob had been put to bed and Wilkins was ready to leave after dressing Bob's arm. Bob, pale and weak, smiled at Edith and she said tremulously: Forgive me, Bob, please. I am just a little girl. No, sir, a girl who would ride into 'Bandit's Hole' as you did to get the doctor isn't little but is big. Con- gratulations, big sister! I'll tell you what was in my hand. It was a birthday present for a girl who refused to be called little. Bob! you darling! cried the red-faced Edith. 'Tm just a big little girl. Ruth Smith-8. W f-ir NEVER rAu.s I shuffled sulkily down Broadway, intent upon the serious problem of causing sufficient trouble to land me safely in jail for the few cold months of winter. The cold had come uncommonly soon this year, only last night my thin overcoat and a few newspapers had failed to warm my park bench sufficiently. Always before I had managed to commit some minor offense that would sentence me to a few months of luxury in a nice, warm jail, with plenty to eat, but this year all my old tricks seemed to fail me. When I cut capers and act foolishly, yelling and walking on my hands, the policeman, in answer to bystanders' queries, laughingly asserted that I was a foolish Harvard boy, celebrating a football victory. Disgusted, I entered a large expensive restaurant, hoping the waiters would not notice my frayed and patched suit. Unluckily, the headwaiter spied me and promptly chased me out quicker than I had gone in. Perhaps, I thought to myself, I have been a little too hasty. Going down a side street, I came upon a less preten- tious restaurant. I entered and ordered the largest meal on the menu. When I had eaten, I dared the proprietor to call the police, as I had not a cent. At last, I thought, I have gained entrance to jail! But not so- again I was destined to be disappointed. The head wait- er, by a signal from the proprietor, promptly seized me by the seat of my pants and my coat collar and kicked me out into the street, where I lay sprawling. As I got painfully up, feeling for broken bones, I wandered herdlessly on un- til my mad rush brought me to a quiet shaded avenue, up which I walked. I was suddenly arrested by the sound of music pealing from the organ of a great cathedral. I lis- tened, enthralled. All at once I saw the kind of life I was living and for the first time was ashamed of it. I was in- spired to a higher goal in life than a park bench warmer, forced to seek my winter lodgings in a jail. I would square myself with the world-build a home, get a re- spectable job, and have a tidy savings account. These were my rosy dreams of the future. But a hand clapped roughly on my shoulder, broke the bubble of my dreams and I came back to earth with a start. Watcha doin', the cop queried? I had nothing to do but admit. Nothin', I replied suspiciously. Well, come along-a few months in jail won't hurt you. Mary Frances Hickoff. ew MY woons When a certain restless spirit overtakes me, I always feel like walking up a crooked path that leads into a beau- tiful woods located on a round hill-top. just now this woods looks very pretty with its differ- ent shades of brown sprinkled here and there with dabs of green and red. In the summer it has its green leaves and the moss and the fragrant flowers growing along the fences and on the ground. When the winter thaws and spring appears the leaves start to bud and the violets spring up everywhere. This woods then has a scene no costly perfume can imitate. Still, winter with its snows is the most beautiful to me, as this woods has large, branched trees on which the snow Hutfs like balls of cotton. This hill is, too, my fav- orite sledding place. Jean Kunes.