McKinley High School - Nugget Yearbook (St Louis, MO)

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THE CARNATION .ttf 25 jig..- He stopped in a confectionery with the idea of buying a package of cigarettes. The little old man who kept the store was nowhere to be seen. Glancing around the little store Danny's eyes fell on an old-fashioned till, it was wide open and con- tained money--bills of several denominations and silver in abundance lying there, waiting for someone. Money, the thing I need most, thought Danny Jones, here it is, within my reach. With this I could go home and put up a good appearance. I could take my mother a fine present, and then his eyes fell on some goods in the window, marked Soiled--to be sold at re- duced pricesf' It occurred to him that should he take this money to present himself as a gift in splendid wrappings, he would be cheap, worthless, even as was this soiled goods in the window. He turned and walked out of the store. Christmas morning a long freight train passed through Cen- terville, lndiana, and on it was Danny jones, but he did not pass through. He jumped off and looked at the familiar old station, with a feeling of satisfaction. His face glowed with happiness at the thought of his coming home on Christmas Day, bringing to his mother a faultless gift, free from Haws, as was a perfectly turned-out factory article. Ten minutes later a happy little gray-haired mother was cry- ing with joy over a penniless son who returned to her with the look imprinted on his honest face that meantq'First Class and Unsoiledf' n LUCILLE WALLACE. FAME DOES Nor sPo1L HERE had been no excitement in Pleasantville since over eight months ago when its noted native son, now a great Mig author, Pierce Norton, had come home. But now the town was agog with excitement for the far-famed motion picture actress, Dolores Pettingill, was returning to her home town. ,The people of the town had known her in childhood under the colorful name of Petunia Smith. However, when her ability began to shine in Hollywood, that name didn't seem exactly appropriate. Now, she was a high salaried and really gifted young actress and was therefore deeply revered by her friends in Pleasantville. However, all the people in Pleasantville were not her friends. Among those who weren't, a certain Mrs. Sophronia Winkle and her daughter, commonly known as Sissy, stood out. H , Mrs. Winkle lived next to Mrs. Smith, but didn't know Petunia very well, because she had just moved there five years ago when Petunia went to seek her fame and fortune in Holly- wood. From all l seen of her, l sorta thought she wuz a skinny lank lookin' girl. Now, take my Sissy fer instance, l'd say she's a sight better lookin' than this Dolores Pettingill, her with her high falutin' names, as if her own name wa'n't good enough for her. Oh, she'll put on a lot of high falutin' airs all right, but she won't git very far with me ! Mrs. Winkle was wont to remark the day before Petunia's return. Sissy Winkle cherished other opinions on the subject, for while she was no adorer of Petunia's, she wasn't going to let her know it. She was going to don her best dress and go to call on her in the hope that Petunia would notice some startling re- semblance in her, or an unusual ability to act and insist upon her coming to Hollywood. Petunia was coming home to help her mother sell the furni- ture, pack up and go to Hollywood, where it was hoped that her poor health would improve. All the townspeople planned to go to the station and meet the actress when she arrived. The Mayor was learning a very impressive speech, which he was going to deliver. He was very proud of the way it began, therefore most of the town had heard

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...gy 24 jg... THE CARNATION Well, then, he decided, 'l guess maybe l'll stay an' talk to you while you're workin'-if you' don't mind, the youngster ended up shyly and rather hesitantly, for it was clear that his friendship for the other had been won. Gee, ut's an awful load off my mind, remarked young Danny as he settled himself on the curbstone, shivering. You know, he pursued the subject with greater interest, it makes you feel so nice an' sorta warm an' happy way down inside when you can git up on Christmas morning and go in and give your mother somethin' an' then she'll kiss you and hug you an' say a lot of nice things an' tell you how much she likes the present. l'm gonna git my mother the most beeyutiful fancy cap l ever saw. lt's down in the dry goods store window. lt's got all lacy things an' ribbons on it an' it'll look so purty on my sweet little mother, he glowed enthusiastically. Then as he was diverted by another thought, What you gonna give your mother? Huh? The ,elder Danny had listened to this monologue with a strangely sweet look on his face, but his eyes were full of tears. He put down his shovel and thought a moment. What was he going to give his mother? His dear little gray-haired mother probably waiting and longing for him now back in that little Indiana town. He hadn't seen her since he-came home from war. He had been a wanderer. The Wanderlust was still strong within him, but even in that moment he felt a certain inexplicable some- thing creep into his heart, a something akin to a happiness he had not felt for many a day. He looked down at the earnest brown eyes regarding him so seriously and felt a tide of warm color flood his face. Why, Danny, l-I-l haven't decided, but-she'll get something-some- thing which lu hope will please her. Then the conversation branched into more general lines and other topics were discussed. When the coal was in the basement and the shovel and wheelbarrow put away, Danny Jones collected the money, a crisp dollar bill. He didn't like to ask for change and yet didn't know how to get some change for little Danny. He put the problem up to his little friend. Dontcha' wanna come to my house an' wash up, Mr. Danny Jones? asked the youngster, Han' then l could give you my quarter an' you could give me your dollar an' that ud be right, wouldn't ut? Danny Jones nodded gravely, But I'll tell you, sonny, l don't think l'd better wash up in your house because- well-because l can wait. Aw, come on, the little fellow urged him, my mother won't care: you better, he added seriously, 'cause your face is awfully dirty! Well, Danny Jones succumbed to his young friend's en- treaties, all right, but let's hurry. Their business was transacted inthe kitchen where Danny had washed his face and hands. Then a voice that somehow vaguely reminded him of the past was heard from the next room, Danny, dear, come here a minute, will you? It was said just in the tone in which his mother had used when calling him. With this reminder came a thousand memories. Little Danny had left the door ajar when he unceremoniously rushed away, leaving his guest alone in the kitchen. Danny could hear a low hum of voices and catch an enthusiastic phrase occasionally of the boy's excited chatter. Such a nice man. He knows so awful much! Such nice eyes, mother! ln a moment little Danny bounced in and imparted the de- lighted news that there was a thermos of hot coffee and a half a cherry pie which his mother had said they might have. When Danny Woodruff finally had to part with Danny jones he thought sure he was going to cry, 'cause he liked him so awful much! Danny jones, too, felt a pang of sorrow when he went down the bleak street, leaving the solitary little figure behind him.

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-5gj261g.-.- THE GARNATION p about it. He was going to assume a kindly pose and start Wel- come, O famous daughter of Pleasantville. Although the name of 'Dolores Pettingillf is renowned from the sunny coasts of Cali- fornia to the rock-bound coasts of old New England,-nowhere is it so loved and respected as in Pleasantville, for here we know it stands for our dear little friend, Petunia Smith. Sissy Winkle aptly expressed herself in saying that Part of it sounded some- thin' like a patriotic song. Petunia- was to arrive on the noon train Saturday. Saturday morning in Gint's store Sissy related how Mrs. Smith sure was gettin' swell, hirin' a white maid to do the cookin' and polish the stove. - She based her claim on having seen the maid that very morning. I guess, tho' it's 'cause Mrs. Smith had a purty bad stroke Tuesday and didn't feel up to it herself. Having volunteered this she sailed out in triumph under the impression that this peace of news would cause a stir. On her way home Sissy met up with the Mayor, a Mr. l-Ioosengoofer. Oh, how d'ye do this morning, Mr. Hoosen- goofer? Huttered Sissy. Why, good morning, Miss Sissy, re- turned the good man, with the benign manner that caused the people of the town to say that he wasn't one of those stuck-up kind. And how are you this morning? he inquired. Oh, why l'm just feeling grand this morning, snickered Sissy. But, oh, Mr. Hoosengoofer, have you heard the news about Mrs. Smith? , Why, no, I hadn't heard anything about her, why? Noth- ing serious I hope! that gentleman exclaimed with an intended look of anxiety on his face. Oh, no, simpered the young lady coyly, just that sheis got a white maid thet's been workin' around the house all morning, and we can't jest exactly get hep to what it means, unless Mrs. Smith is feelin' worse again. She had quite a stroke Tuesday. .Poor woman, she'll have a hard time of it when Petunia gets home, becuz I heard as how she needs a maid all her own to help dress her. Now kin you imagine that? ended up Miss Sissy in a disgusted tone. Well, now, Miss Sissy, if you have no more marketing to do, suppose I accompany you home and we stop in Mrs. Smith's a moment. l've been meaning to ask her to ride down to the sta- tion with me in my machine, proposed Mr. Hoosengoofer pomp- ously. ' All right, giggled Sissy nervously as they started down the street. They were truly a queer looking couple, Mr. Hoosen- goofer and Sissy Winkle. Mr. Hoosengoofer was short, fat and pompous. He was baldheaded, red-faced and had a wart on his nose, but was single and therefore considered a very good matri- monial subject by most of the ladies in town. His small beady eyes glowed with self-importance, while even his long, thick, black mustache bristled aggressively. As he waddled along that morning in his tall black hat, frock coat, yellow vest, gray trou- sers, yellow spats and patent pumps, by the side of the robust Sissy, he was, indeed, a figure. Sissy was a tall, plump girl of buxom appearance. I-Ier fat, rosy cheeks bespoke a good appe- tite while her small, blue eyes were rather coquettish at times. She wore her hair in as many puffs, rolls and curls as she could gather it into. So you can readily see that she, too, made a very pleasing figure. When they finally arrived at the Smith home, Mrs. Smith answered the door, looking somewhat surprised. She was a small, gray-haired lady, with sweet, mild blue eyes and ever-smiling lips. Why, good morning, Mr. Hoosengoofer and Sissy! she ex- claimed, ucome right in. Once seated, Mr. I-loosengoofer cleared his throat portentously and prepared to speak while Sissy yearned to ask about the maid. Mrs. Smith, the mayor began, I was just wondering whether or not you could make use of my car to go down to the' station and meet your daughter when she