Mechanic Falls High School - Pilot Yearbook (Mechanic Falls, ME)

Page 21 text:

M. F. H. S. PILOT 19 Look here , protested Ted. You don't understand, I can't play football . That's the very reason why you are going to report then , retored the leader. Without another word they trooped out of the room. Ted sank back in his chair and buried his head in his hands. He well knew that if he re- ported for practice and could play very well that he would be expected to report regularly. If he did not play he would be considered yellow . Finally the dreaded day arrived and Ted reported for practice, dressed in pajamas. After a few minutes practice he forgot that he was not supposed to know how to play football and he entered into the game with all of his old ability. You showed some hue ability to- day, Walsh, and I intend to make a fine football player out of you , ex- claimed the coach after practice. Ted did not want to lay the blame on his father so he lied to the coach. I'm sorry, Coach, but I never could see any sense in the old game , he replied. The next day Ted passed through a trying ordeal. The coach had evidently told the boys on the team about Ted's refusal to play, and they had adver- tised it over the campus. Everybody shunned him! The days stretched into weeks and Ted's position in college remained the same. Only his roommate, jim, would speak to him. He tried to cheer Ted, but all to no avail. Ted made no replies to his jokes, but resolved to write his father and tell him about the situation. When Ted received an answer from his father, it was so discouraging that he threw it into the waste-basket. jim was excused from classes early that afternoon so that he could report for practice for the big game between Harvard and Yale, on Thursday. When he reached his room he was in such a hurry to get his sweat shirt that he stumbled over the wastebasket, spilling its contents on the floor. In stooping to pick up the papers he noticed Ted's father's letter, and could not help reading the first part. So this is why our young friend doesn't play football! Supposing I write to him and tell him how matters stand? But I know of something better! I'll ask him to come to the big game on Thursday. On Thursday morning, an old man alighted at the station. In spite of .himself Ted Walsh could Knot help thrilling at the sight of the town where he had had such glorious times in his college days. At two o'clock he started for the football team. When he arrived he found the crowd yelling madly and he almost wished that he was going to play as he had in times gone by. Soon after he took his seat, the game began. An impertinent fellow, sitting in back of Walsh kept hitting him on the back and taking his hat to wave it madly in the air. At one particu- larly fine play he nearly knocked Walsh from his seat. Can you beat that? Say, wouldn't this old team sail some if we had Ted

Page 20 text:

I8 M. F. H. S. PILOT E J Hotnlfaovse ' S-tops!! f0rig,S. IW Nts f :- 5- whit MP5 -e Q ill 'Q -1 it Literary ONE MINUTE TO PLAY Son, remember your promise. On no condition are you to play that horrid game called 'football'. If you break t.his promise you will have to return from college and go to work in my factory . These were the parting words of the famous athlete, Ted Walsh to his son, Ted, Junior, as they stood outside the station waiting for the train that was to take Ted away to college. You know I was injured in a game between Yale and Harvard. I do not want you to go around on crutches as I have had to all these yearsn. There was no more opportunity for conversation, for the train came roar- ing into the station. Ted bade his father an affectionate farewell and boarded the train. When Ted could no longer wave to his father, he settled back in his seat and began to think. He had been the star player on the High School football team, but in the last two years of his course he had had hard work to per- suade his father to let him play. After a seige of arguing and quarreling his father had finally consented to his play- ing if he would promise to have nothing more to do with sports after his gradu- ation. Ted had eagerly promised for he did not expect to have a chance to engage in many sports after he grad- uated. But an oil well had suddenly been dis c o v e r e d on his father's property. After learning that he was a rich man, Ted's father had made plans for Ted to attend Harvard University. Ted was suddenly interrupted in his thoughts by the conductor's cry of, Cambridge, next stop. Prepare your baggage for the change . Ted had hastily gathered his bags together and eagerly waited for the next stop. Wl1C1l Ted alighted from the train, he found the platform crowded with students from the University. Most of them waiting for friends. But no- body seemed to notice Ted, so he walked through the crowd without a word to anyone. VVhen he reached the University, he found that he was to room with the athletic hero of the school, jim Corbett. Ted hurried to his room and tried to settle himself and his baggage. Before he had finished placing his clothing in the closet he heard a loud rapping on the door. Open the door at once and admit your superiors, the lofty Sophomoresn, shouted a voice from the outside. Ted opened the door and a group of young men entered the room and made them- selves at home. Two weeks from to-day, you are to report for football practice, dressed in a pair of pajamas and wearing no stockings .

Page 22 text:

20 M. F. H. Walsh in the game? Believe me, if I were his father I would be the proud- est man on this side of the Pyrenees . Who says that Iim not proud of him ? demanded Walsh. So you're the guy, who won't let him play. If I were you I'd hide my head under my wing , retorted the other. I'll show you , muttered Walsh, and he hobbled down to where his son was sitting on the front row of the grandstand with his head buried in his hands. Go in and show that clam up there that you can play as you never played before , commanded Walsh. Do you mean it? May I play? Oh Dad! Ted's face lighted with smiles and he jumped to his feet. He fairly flew over the ground until he reached the gym. In less time than it takes to tell he was back on the Held, dressed in his football uniform. A mighty cheer went up as those who recognized him saw Ted go to the coach and whisper to him. The referee's whistle blew for the third quarter. When the team went onto the lield again, Ted was with them. Did he play? As a wild-eyed fan expressed it, The boy fairly ate up the yards . In five minutes the score was tied, fourteen to fourteen. For the next nine or ten minutes the ball zigzagged across the field. With one minute to play, the ball was in Yale's possession. Go it! Harvard! Do it shouted the half-crazy fans. The Yale center tossed the ball at S. PILOT one of his team-mates but luckily for Harvard he missed it. Straight into Ted's hands it flew. Ted started. Ten, twenty, thirty, forty , the people shouted. A touchdown! A hundred yard run ! shouted the wild fans, as Ted ran between the white posts. The crowd surged on the field and lifted Ted to their shoulders. reached the grandstand, father arguing with the When Ted he found his man who had sat behind him during the game. Well, he you're sorry ! shouted Walsh. is now , he explained, did it! Now I guess Here he when he saw Ted standing behind him. If it hadn't been for me you wouldn't have won the game . Never mind about that father. I'm only interested in the fact that you are once more a lover of football . Iola Chase, '33 THE SONG OF THE WHIP-POOR-WILL Softly down the mountain side came the cry of a Whip-poor-will. Silvia Morgan, sitting at her window in the darkness, was listening to his cryg as she had done every evening since she was seven and now she was Fifteen. The Morgan family consisted of Mr. Morgan, his wife and their children, Richard and Silvia. They lived at Wild Acre Farm in Sangeville, Maine near a small mountain called the Whip- poor-will, named for the small brown bird who inhabited it. Mr. Morgan worked in the lumber mill at Klamath Falls a short distance from Wild Acre Farm. He had bought