Mechanic Arts High School - M Yearbook (St Paul, MN)

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TI-IE M DAY I THE BUSH lit' iX'l.'XR,ll7RIli lltttt-vx.-xx f n lllti Southern Cross had faded from ,233 the skv, the ghostly' gravness of 1' .V ' Q 'V' H . . ' ' . f1i,'Q early dawn glided into the air and the slightest suggestion of a white 'una' haze crept up in the east. The birds were awaking one by one. 'the psalmist of the dawn, the little yellow and green shrike robin was the first to salute the morn with his melodious 'ftink-tink g the pallid cuckoo was practising his chromatic scale far out of sighp in the top of a tree, a grey thrush's acrobatic whist- ling notes came from a wattle tree near byg from far away a coo-ee bird passionately called coo- oo, coo-oo to the unresponsive mateg the little house swallows joined in with their cheerful warbling songsg and every now and then the song was punctuated by a burst of raucous laugh- ter from a family of hookaburros. Thus the chorus of the birds, marvelous and beautiful, sang loudly, gayly, exultantly to greet the sun, that capricious lord of young Australia, As he rose in his glory of purple, gold and crim- son, the chorus ceased and the birds dispersed and busied themselves searching for breakfast. The day had already begun in a shabby, un-- painted little fratne house which sat perched up four feet from the ground on wooden posts. Mrs. Nlurray was already astir, kindling the fire and setting the ever present tea kettle on to boil. The boys who slept on a cot on the veranda, had been awakened by the brilliant Hood of sunlight and were ready for their cups of tea before they waded barefoot through the tall dewy grass to bring in the cows for the morning milking. By the front veranda was fourteen-year-old Nlonica, the only girl of the family. She was not a beauty by any means, but there was an in- describable charm about her attitude of shy frank- ness. Her hair was a tumbled mop of dark brown shot with golden glintg her eyes, a deep blueg her cheeks a dusky tan underlaid by a rosy glow. She was dressed in a torn and faded blue print dress and wore neither shoes nor stockings. Her attention was taken up by the beauty of a large Rangoon creeper which climbed on a trellis on one side of the front veranda. It was covered with clusters of tiny flowers which, although they were pure white now, would soon turn a pale pink under the action of the sun and later deep red. Soon lylonica had to go inside to help prepare the breakfast and was busy cutting great stacks of bread and opening a new tin of blackherry jam. The boys carrie in panting and breathless from a race from the cowyard to the house. Say, Mum, it's not fair, cried hfler- vvng he had a start of about six yards and then he crows about winning the raceln VVell,'y said Clarence calmly, 'flVlervyn's legs are about a lioot longer'n mine, so l think that evens it up. hflrs. Nlurrav, used to arguments of this kind, merely laughed and silenced the boys by putting the breakfast on the table. 'l'he early morning passed in the routine of rnilking the cows, separating the tnilk, setting the cream away in the cream shed, feeding the calves and pigs on skimmed milk and washing up the separator. 'l'he boys went away with their father to mend a fence in a far distant corner of the farm and were away until dinner time. In the meantime Mrs. Nlurray and lylonica were well occupied. Thev churnedg they baked breadg they swept and scrubbed and cleaned until the house looked like a new pin. .Xbout dinner time, as though attracted by the savory smells, a traveling man with his pack ap- peared. Sure of a welcome in almost any bush home, he sat down on the little back veranda dis- playing his wares which seetned to range all the way from a ribbon or a hairpin to a silk dress length. Greatly intrigued by his store Nlonica made him go through the entire pile. Having bought a few things, Mrs. lhilllfflly, as a matter of course, invited him to stay for dinner. After the meal was over and the traveller had departed, Moiriczt washed the dishes and prepared for the great event of the day, going for the mail. Unusually thoughtful of his sister lyler- wyn caught and saddled his sister's horse for her. She looked very sweet and fresh as she set out dressed in a pink blouse, a grey riding skirt and a wide brimmed hat trimmed with pink roses. The trip to the postotlice occupied about three- quarters of an hour, over an irregular road wind- ing through the dark mysterious scrubland, up hills, past gurgling little creeks where beautiful birds drank and bathed in the cool water. lyloni- ca enjoyed her ride through the drowsy, quiet dusk for she loved it in every phase, and always watched everything with a fresh interest, seeing new things at almost every glance. VVhen she arrived at the postoflice, which was nothing more nor less than an empty cracker tin nailed to a tree, she found several people already there awaiting the coming of the mail man. hlonica tethered her horse beneath a shady tree

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ln T H E stvr' lailed to appear. for us it was the thrill that eomes once in a lifetime. hleanwhile the pre- siding ollieer who was introducing the speakers was saying. . . and lX'1r. Lyle Cobb, Mr. l rederiek l.undbery and hflr. tlammer ,lones will take the negatiye side. The Caribous sat up with one aeeord as if the seats had been Charged with electricity. I gasped. Then looked again. Surely I was tlreaming but no-there was .lam- mer ltittirelli sitting on the platform in place of the first boy who had disappeared. Then 'twixt murderous glances from the Caribous and victor- UPON FINDING A DEAD SOLDIER llv 'l'oxi SP1-:Nei-,ia NVhy lies he here, so still, so stiff, so cold Upon this dreary, drab, and drizzly morn? 'Tis but a youth, with striking features bold, WVhose dirty, bloody clothes are Wet and torn. I looked into his tired and eareworn face His hair and eyes of deepest darkest brown. No beard as yet, had made a lasting trace. I saw instead a bloody mat of down. .and as l looked, ll strange thought came to me Somewhere, back home, a girl is all alone. And, too, a mother's waiting patiently For his return, when cruel war is done. W'ith heavy heart, and sorrow drooping head. l turned and left the soldier lying dead. ious looks from the Uzxelas, klim and l slumped down in our seats and listened in a daze while the Uxxelas won the debate. ln absolute dexieetion vve lelit the auditorium but a group of the Oxxelas behind us were eheer- ing loudly and clapping each other on the back. Suddenly we oyerheard Nlammer's voice exelaim. Say, that atomixer stuff sure was a wonder. lt helped my hoarseness like magic. l tnustn't for- , . . . - v get the name ot it in ease l'm hoarse again. Oh . . . l that was almost too much. .lammer sure must have had a patent leather throat, thatls all l ran sayl - A SONNET llv lNl,vnr:ti'i kl'l'i-I 'lliucsvax liaeh day l lie within my quiet door, AX lonely Cabin on the mountain side, To see, along the valley's winding floor The west express magnificently ride XVith egoistic whistle and a pour Of plumy smoke blaek as an inky tide. liach day from Pullman windows satisfied Sophisticated ones my lot deplore. ,Xnd yet I know, as they, the buds of spring, The summer's fulness, autumn's ruddy wane l feel the fires of human love that sing To my upholding through all bitter pain .-Xnd l find my meager living lose its sting ln passing of my forbearls sturdy strain. SUM ER BY Nlaiuci. Gktwi-:yvAi.n Upon a shady bank l sat, Une lovely summer day And watched the lazv water pass By on its happy way. Here violets blossomed in the grass And eowslips, yellow gold, Soft breezes stirred the willow trees And magic secrets told. The birds above sang merrily The clouds went sailing by l Watched and wondered drearilv VVhy I should ever sigh. I

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T H E MH and went to join the group who were discussing the weather, the neighbors who were not there, and the affairs of the world in general. She heard how Bill Bronson's girl was going in for the state scholarship, how llarker's new baby was very sickly, how Kate lyloloney was to be married in March-arid just fancy, she only met her fel- low in Brisbane last October. The district pessi- mist had a group of his own to whom he was proclaiming lf we don't soon have rain, the grass will all dry up and nothing be left for the cattle to eatf, VVhen some one raised the ob- jection that things were prety good this year, he replied, VVell, of course, you haven't lived here as long as l have, as for myself, I haven't seen things look so bad in twenty years.'l just at this moment the rattle of the mail coach coming down the hill could be heard. Soon it came around the corner into sight and everyone went forward to meet it. A queer look- ing contraption it was, with an erst-while white canvas top, empty cream cans tied onto ledges on either side of the coach, several passengers in the back with bundles and parcels on the floor at their feet, the most precious article, the mail bag, in front by the driver. Pulling up with a flourish, the mail man jumped out, and threw the mail bag on the ground where it was seized by several eager hands and turned up side down on the ground, while the mail man unloaded the numerous and varied bundles, the contents of which he had purchased for the work of the district from the stores in the little station town. After all had received their mail, examined their letters, front, back and finally inside, read and discussed the headlines of the two-day old newspaper, they loaded all of their packages and bundles onto their horses and departed for home to go through the routine of evening work on a dairy farm. THE llr C.tX'l'lll4LRINlfI 1 QA crimson of the western skv is re- flected on the great clouds which hover overhead. No sound is heard except the dashing of the angry 'SL 9LT93'L' waters against jagged rocks. The leaves of the sudden breathless calm which precedes the storm lills the forest. The crimson of the sky becomes century-old trees do not stir. The darker, it deepens into scarlet, then swiftly roll- ing black clouds hide the blood-red heavens. Rap- idly they advance. On the plains below, the yellowing grasses bend before the wind, yet in the forest all is still. Suddenly, the high-pitched laughter of a child is heard. Then a slender, golden-haired girl is seen dancing on the velvety gI'1lSS. VVith arms outspread, her lithe body swaying to and fro, she dances with quaint little steps, her saucy eyes and pursed lips half hidden by her bobbing curls. As she daintily twirls and leaps, she glances over her shoulder to observe her companion. lfagerly he watches her. His large dark eyes follow every motion of her swaying body. His lips quiver with a tender smile when he sees her turn her head to look at him. As she pirouettes before him, he touches his crutch beside him. For a moment his eyes were filled with sadness. The girl flings herself on the ground near him, panting. Oh, how l wish that l might dance with you but oncefl he says sadly, for in all his twelve years of life, he has never walked. The rumble of distant thunder reverberates STORM Scnxiiwr through the forest. The lightning flashes. Come, we must go, for it will storm, says when the rumbling has ceased. he No, let me dance again just for a moment, she pleads as she rises. Scarcely waiting for his consent, she begins a fantastic little dance. Circling about, between trees, behind bushes, she twists and turns her way. Closer and closer to the roaring, rushing, luring waters of the stream she goes. The boy watches, fascinated. Suddenly he cries out, but the crashing of thunder covers his warning cry Still she circles and dances, thinking of nothing but her own actions. A flash of lightning rends the sky. Startled, she slips into the raging tor- rent sweeping by. With a cry the lad is on his feet and runs towards the stream-he runs who has never walksd. He plunges into the dark water. He struggles on toward her. He grasps her andlights to reach the nearest bank. Slowly he struggles onward, and hnally she clings to a rock. Then his grasp suddenly loosens. His sigh is scarcely heard above the roaring of the mad waters. His muscles relax, and he is motionless for a moment. Then the rushing waters carry h im onward, l i fel ess. The crashing of thunder has ceased. The clouds have broken apart and rolled away. All is still except for the dripping of water from the leafy trees and the sobbing of the girl as she clings to the body of the dead boy. lt was so that they found them. 16