Machias High School - Margaretta Yearbook (Machias, ME)

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THE MARGARETTA 21 But don't you see, said Marcella happily, I've switched the envelopes. Eleanor W. Dodge '45 if ik 42 PRISCILLA TESS AND THE STRAWBERRY JAM Mr. Frums tiptoed quietly through the parlor in the dark. In his right hand were his shoes and in his left hand his soiled necktie. He was feeling his way through the darkness when sud- denly he knocked something over, hurt his leg, and let a rather low growl es- cape his lips. At practically the same time a light was turned on and a little girl started to laugh, H'wo pop, she said, what- cha got in yer hands, huh ? Nothing-just my shoes. Why aren't you in bed, Priscilla Tess? Sure- ly you're not taking advantage of your mother's being away, are you ? Nope, I ain't, I was jes waitin' for you ta 'get in', like momma does. Where you been, huh ? continued the child. That was a nice thought, your wait- ing for me, but a little girl needs her rest. Now go on up to bed like a nice little girl, said her father. Gee, pop, I'm hungry. Can I have some strawbry jam, huh? she said, putting her braids over her shoulder. No, you certainly cannot. Not at this time of morning, said her father. Now go on upstairs-hurry! and he sat down on a nearby couch. Mr. Frums lay down and almost went to sleep. Almost, because as he was about to doze off, his daughter, Pris- cilla Tess, hollered down: Daddy, aren't you comin ta bed, 'tis terribly late-huh, daddy, ain't you ? No, Priscilla, I am not! came the reply of her father. Oh, exclaimed Priscilla Tess. Will, will you bring me up a drink of water? I'm terribly thirsty-please? Come down and get it yourself. I'm sleepy, said her father, disgustedly. O'k, pop-if you're sleepy, Priscilla Tess replied. About a half hour later, Mr. Frums awoke with a start from his dreams in which he was being chased by a mad elephant and was running head first into a beehive. Mr. Frums sat upright on the couch and looked around the room. All the lights were on, and then it suddenly came to Mr. Frums that he did not see or hear his daughter. He ran upstairs, hoping to find her safely in her own room. No, she wasn't there. He opened all the doors upstairs, look- ed in all the corners, and when Priscilla Tess could not be found, he hurriedly ran down stairs again. Had Tess been kidnapped ? he won- dered. No, no one would want to kid- nap Tess. Even so, if she had been kid- napped, her kidnapper would probably bring her back very soon. He went to the kitchen, the dining- room and the parlor. He looked every- where-under the couch, behind the desk, in the dish closet-just in case Tess had been playing a trick on him. He was about ready to give up when he decided to look in the pantry and see if his salary, which he kept in the sugar bowl, was missing. He turned on a light and was about to step inside the pantry, when he saw, huddled limply on the fioor-Tess-her mouth and face all red. Oh, Tess, he cried excitedly, are you all right, dear ? Tess woke up and looked at her fath- er curiously. Why, yes, pop, I'm ok -why not?

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20 THE MARGARETTA Startled, the girl looked up at him. David, then you knew all the time? Only after we got to the cabin, he answered. But how ? Your hands told me, he said. They aren't going to be a lady's hands any longer, David, she told him. I'm going back and ask Captain Mont- gomery if she can use me-if maybe someday I can wear a bonnet that I've really earned myself. Elaine Schoppee '45 wk lk HK THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY Marcella was in a very difficult posi- tion. She had two boy-friends, Paul and Billy, and each was extremely jeal- ous of the other. They were getting to be quite a nuisance. She did not like either of them well enough to continue going with them, but how was she go- ing to drop them both at once? Yes, she was in a difficult position, but she must get out of it immediately. She took a new writing pad, a full bottle of ink, and a fountain pen into the quiet living room. She sat down in a large, comfortable chair, and drew a wastebasket near her. Evidently she knew what she was about. This little picture could be called Meditation . Marcella's lovely brows were puckered in thought. A moment of silence, a moment of scribblingg and the paper goes in the wastebasket. Then everything starts all over again. Far into the night Marcella sat hud- dled in her chair. As the clock struck twelve, Marcella got an inspiration. All the furrows in her beautiful forehead disappeared, and her lovely eyebrows settled back in their accustomed place. With one sweaty hand she pushed back her rumpled hair. Even the little wrin- kles around her mouth disappeared. The effect was that of the peaceful calm af- ter a tempest. Everything was going to be all right now. With an unfaltering hand she wrote the following letter: M-i, Mass., July 3, 1943 Dearest Billy, The time has come for me to tell what's in my heart. I only realized last night 5 you are the only one in the world for me. I could never get along with- out you. As for Paul-he's a modern and one of the worst. He's only a passing fad to me. Dearest, I am Yours forever, Marcella. Carefully she folded the letter and placed it on the table. She gave a lit- tle chuckle and started on her second letter, which read like this: M-i, Mass., July 3, 1943 Darling Paul, Since the Barn Dance Saturday night I have known that you are the only one in the world for me. I hope you feel the same way about me. I could nev- er get along without you. As for Billy-he is a stuffed shirt with all his airs and graces. CPoof, we moderns can't stand himlj Yours forever, Marcella. Another chuckle and she placed the second letter near the first. Then she relaxed in her chair and slept till the family got up. When Mamma came down in the morning, she was surprised to see the look of deep content on her daughter's face. A little later, Marcella woke up and explained to her mother, showing her the two letters. Mamma couldn't un- understand how that would help.

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22 THE MARGARETTA But, darling, the blood on your face ! her father said nervously. At that Tess giggled sleepily, Shucks, that ain't blood. That's straw- bry jam! SCHOOL DAYS I'm dragged out of bed at quarter past eight And hurried to school so I won't be late. I climb the stairs at twenty to nine, And that, my friends, is not on time. At quarter to nine I go to my classes, And while I am passing I eye the lasses. I look each one over from head to toe, And that's why in passing I am so slow. Let's start oif with French this beautiful morning, And right now let me give you a warning. If my lessons I do not know, Don't think I'm lying, it is so. Miss Eaton says, Today we have Chapter 9, And I find out I'm only five chapters behind. Oh, well, what is a lesson or two, Especially when you're going to school. Then I go to English class, Occasionally in this I do pass, But when I should be reading my English story I'm thinking of Lancelot in all his glory. ' Then to Geometry class I go, With dragging feet and head hung low. When Miss Ebbeson gives us a test- I-I can't endure to tell the rest. What a life it is to go to school! Five hours each day under demons' rule, And if you even get into a fight One of them says, Detention tonight! Laurence Johnson '44 Pk vii Ik PF I LOVE MY COUNTRY I love my country, my native land That stretches from sea to sea, And touches many a foreign land. America's the place for me. Now when I think of all the hate That spreads abroad today, I square my shoulders as I say, My country must not go that way. I love the lakes, the streams, the hills, The bubbling brooks, the rocky rills. It makes us bow our heads in prayer, God bless our land so rich and fair. Dick Kimball '45 Pk Pl' PK PF EDUCATION FOR VICTORY We must try for our EDUCATION In spite of the cry of WAR, So to M. H. S. we will be true And go on as ever before. We must study our lessons harder To prepare us the future to win, And may our brave and sturdy youth Keep the enemy from coming in. We must always think of the future When this cruel WAR is done, Then we'll be glad we have done our duty Instead of wasting our time in fun. Let us hope that now and forever Our people will always be FREE, To worship, to study, to play, and to win And lead on to VICTORY. Helen Hanscom '45 aw Pk Pk 4: GOOD ADVICE When I was, oh, so very young, I heard an old man say,' Keep very little for yourself, And give the rest away, Life will seem worth living, Just you wait and, see. But I was young, so very young, No use to talk to me. When I'd increased my learning I heard him say again, The things you've shared with others Have not been given in vaing Kind deeds make people happy, Be thoughtful the whole day through. Now I am two and fifteen And yet, I find it's true. Muriel Mawhinney '43