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

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12 OAK LILY AND IVY. ure and from the poison of alcohol in his veins. His body refused to obey the commands of his liquor-steeped brain, and the only response was a feeble move¬ ment of his hands, and a gutteral exclamation of astonishment. However, it was enough to serve the purpose he wanted. A big, white steer snorted, shook his head in the air, dug his feet into the ground, and was off. The herd, a few seconds before quietly and curiously gazing in wonder¬ ment at the figure on the ground, were now completely hidden in a cloud of dust hundred yards distant, and travelling at a furious pace. About a mile further on, from different directions cowpunchers could be seen racing to cut them off. Small chance they had, however, to head them off, for once a herd has started on its mad rush, no human effort can check its flight until exhaustion ends the wild stampede. And the human factor in the scene? As the dust rose,gradually a dirty and blood-besmeared piece of cloth could be seen on the ground all cut and mangled.. It did not move, and upon looking closer it could with difficulty be made out that the object was once a human be¬ ing. Completely unrecognizable lay this creature, upon which four thousand hoofs had stamped and beat, crushing and hacking till life was extinct. Henry J. Ripley T7.

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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-

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OAK, LILY AND IVY. 13 In every high school, there is one essential upon which, in a great measure, depends the success of every school activity—scholastic, athletic, social. This requirment is school spirit. What is school spirit? It is an earnest and enthu¬ siastic desire to do everything possible for the advancement of one’s school. School spirit is absolutely necessary for advancement; without it, schools would soon deteriorate in rank and scholarship, would stagnate into mediocre and in¬ ferior institutions. Indifference in studies, indifference in athletics, indifference in social activities, all are lamentable; the unconcern and indifference of our high school boys and girls as to the future is both alarming and amazing. From our high schools come the lawyers, doctors, financiers, statesmen and and politicians of the future. Upon the mental efficiency of our youth hang the fate of nations, from their deeds and accomplishments will be formed the history of the future. We do not want the coming generation apathetic and unambitious. We want real live Americans, full of vim and determination. Since it is in school and especially High School that our habits are moulded and our possibilities given every chance to develop, it is in High School, then, that we should secure a firm foundation for our after life. Beware of indifference! Be enthusiastic about everything you undertake. Do not be satisfied with merely getting by”, try to get ahead, to lead your class. Give your sanction and support to every movement for the betterment of your school. Praise your Oak, Lily and Ivy, support your baseball and football teams take pride in the reputation of your school; in short, be loyal students, show your school spirit. Then, indeed, we shall have a Milford High School worthy of our loyal admiration, and later, when the glow of our school days has van¬ ished and we have encountered some of the trials that come with years, we can look back with pride and gratitude to our Alma Mater and be thankful for what we have received from her. B. L. B., T7. J