Milford High School - Oak Lily and Ivy Yearbook (Milford, MA)

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10 OAK. LILY AND IVY. the parrot’s cage hung from a hook near the window, and the umbrella stood up in a corner. Then Joshua sank back with a sigh of relief in the cushioned seat, but his wife straightened her prim little bonnet, unfastened her cloak, fold¬ ed her hands, and gazed about. “There, Sarah, I reckon we’ve got everything fixed now and I must say I’m right glad to be startin’ fer home.” “Yes, that’s right. Not but what I’ve had a good time visitin’ John and his wife but I jest can’t get used to those city folks.” Nor me, neither,” Joshua answered. Why, Grace has even changed John so’s I’d hardly know him for the young-un I used to spank when I caught him playing hookey.” “You’re right he has changed. And say, will you believe Grace makes him sleep in pajamas ! Just you think of that! Poor John. If he’d only stayed at home with us we wouldn’t a made him sleep in them pink things.” “Wa’al, Sarah, I don’t mind them pink pajamas so much as I miss a soap¬ stone to warm my bed. When I asked Grace fer a soapstone she brought me a rubber bag filled with hot water,—a hot water bottle she called it. Good heav¬ ens to Betsy! Did she think I was going to put that thing in my bed? Wa’al, I guess not. The old thing might a busted and then I’d got my death-er-cold. No, siree, no rubber bags filled with hot water in my bed.” At that moment, the brass-buttoned news boy came through the train shout¬ ing his wares. Joshua purchased a paper while Sarah watched him closely to see that there was no cheating in making change. She had been well instruct¬ ed in city ways, and in her estimation Joshua still needed her care. “Anything in the paper ’bout Hiram Young’s funeral?” asked Sarah. You know ’Lizabeth wrote ’twas the largest in years.” “No, there ain’t nothing ’bout that, but here’s all about Nellie Grimes’ wed- din ' .” “Who’d she marry? It’s about time she stopped flirtin’ and settled down.” “That young city feller who’s been spendin’ his vacations there fer the last year. They’ll be trottin’ to the city pretty soon, I suppose, and then she’ll be wearin’ a night cap to breakfast same as Grace does.” “Why Joshua Allen!” exclaimed Sarah nudging him to be quiet. “’Tain’t a night cap it’s a boudoir cap.” After this rebuke Joshua laid aside his paper and looked out the window, twirling his thumbs. “Guess we’ll have a storm ' fore night. It’s cloudin’ up over there in the East.” 1 Just then Sarah began looking about, in great excitement, first on the hat- rack, on either side, then on the floor. “Joshua, it’s gone!—Joshua, I tell you it’s gone!” “What’s gone?” he drawled. My umbrella. Someone’s took it! It’s just as good as it was twenty year ago ’cept for a little hole near the top.” Well, mebbe you left it at John’s. Anyhow, I will buy you a new one when we get home.”

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OAK, LILY AND IVY. 9 blank, vacant stare from Colcord’s eyes; in its stead animation and determina¬ tion reigned supreme. Before he reached Bancroft, he started talking. I say, Perry,” he gasped, Lve changed my mind about playing. Although I don’t believe I can help any, you seem to think I can and I’d sacrifice myself a thousand times, rather than have those Fisk shrimps beat us; so won’t you please send me in?” “Won’t I?” cried Perry, You come right along with me, darling. Here, take my arm. Hurry up, before you change your mind.” He found a suit for Francis and sent him in with fervent prayers for his success. As soon as the third quarter started, a subtle change crept over the St. Timothy players. They had been in the Slough of Despondency, now they were in the seventh Heaven of Delight. Who, seeing Colcord’s playing could help feeling encouraged? He got the ball the first time it was snapped, ploughed straight through the Fisk line, knocking them right and left, and made for the distant goal past one—two—three players, he dodged, and now there was but one left between him and his heart’s desire. The remaining opponent was almost as large as Francis and he looked determined, but Francis looked sot”. Tie had made up his mind to carry that ball across the line and no football player or anything else was going to stop him. As the burly Fisk man approached, the boy dropped his too proud to fight” tactics and made no effort to edge away. Just as the fellow gathered himself for the tackle, Francis shot his right arm out and his open hand made good con¬ nection with the other man’s chin. The Fisk man promptly dropped to the ground. At last, the coast was clear and with both teams close to his heels, Francis leaped the final line, throwing himself flat on the ground, and hugging the precious ball close to his wildly beating heart. He had made the first touch¬ down, and though that would seem enough for one man for a little while, it was he who, a few moments later, kicked the goal. That was the beginning of St. Timothy’s run of success. When time was called the score stood 46 to 21 in favor of St. Tim’s”. If you listened intently, you could hear above the thun¬ derous cheering; What’s the matter with Colcord? Tie s all right.” —E. METCALF, ’20. OVERHEARD. I had just settled myself comfortably in an East-bound train when a little old-fashioned couple entered. “Come, Joshua,” I heard the woman say, 4 we’ll sit here on the left side,and then we can see our chimney first thing over the hill when we reach Madbury.” They had some difficulty in getting seated, for the new valise had to be carefully placed under the seat, the bandbox safely stowed in the hat rack,

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OAK, LILY AND IVY. II “Well, I guess you won’t,” crisply replied Sarah- “I won’t have you so ex¬ travagant. If it wasn’t for me, you’d been bankrupt long ago.” “Huh! I wouldn’t gone to John’s if it hadn’t been fer you. You was the one who wanted to go. Talk about extravagance! I had to buy two of them boudoir caps fer you. There is your umbrella, anyway, right in the corner where you left it.” After that a cold silence reigned, and while the old couple stared gloomily out the window, I became absorbed in my book, which I had forgotten in my in¬ terest in my neighbors. In a few minutes I again heard Sarah’s voice. “Joshua, there’s our chimney. I can just see it over the hill.” “Good gracious, so ’tis. Guess we’d better be gettin’ our things together.” By the time the train arrived at the little station they were both standing waiting for the train to come to a stop. It stopped with a jolt and Sarah was thrown back into the seat. “The ship’s sinking!” screamed the parrot, and amidst the laughter of the other passengers Joshua and Sarah left the train. —Kathrine Lester, T8. KING ALCOHOL. The western sun was just setting in its glorious splendor and the distant plain was being slowly wrapped in the dusk of evening, when over the trail leading to the corral of a Texas ranch a figure could be seen approaching, evi¬ dently very much under the influence of fire water”, which was sold extensive¬ ly at Sleepy Gulch Tavern, two miles distant. He was muttering to himself, and between the words of indignation could be heard threats against some one, apparently the ranch owner to whom the corral nearby belonged. This indi¬ vidual had been discharged on account of being under the influence of drink while at work, and now in his drunken stupor was turning over a plan to avenge himself upon his late employer. He stumbled on past the corral and on out into the twilight. Fmally he fell down in the lee of a slight rise in the prairie out¬ side the ranch. He awoke to find himself the center of hundreds of eyes. It was morning, and as usual the cowpunchers had taken the cattle out to feed, away from the proximity of the corral, and the prize Texas animals had wan¬ dered on till one of the herd had spied a queer object in his path. Western cattle can be disturbed very easily and they have an extraordinary sense of inquisitiveness;so when this unfamiliar obstacle blocked their path,they advanced slowly and timidly. They were gazing upon him with wonderment when the prostrate figure awoke. He did not move, but after his drink-befud¬ dled brain took in the situation, an idea slowly took form within his dull head. If I jump up,” he thought, I will throw them into a stampede, and then old ‘Beehive’,” for that was the name the workmen had given the ranchman, will have something to thank me for.” Acting accordingly, he struggled to jump to his feet and shout; but his limbs were too stiff from his night’s expos-