Nelsonville High School - Saga Yearbook (Nelsonville, OH)

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6 The Scarlet and Gray Thanksgiving Day in TUabam Thanksgiving day has come, not one of those clear, snappy, frosty days that you hear about but a warn balmy day. In fact warm enough to make a fellow sweat with the least exertion. This sounds strange for we have nevei heard the word Thanksgiving but what we think of snow, cranberries and turkey. It will not sound so add when we say that this Thanksgiving we are talking about was in AlabanT, where B. V. D.’s are popular all the year round, and when they mention the word Thanksgiving down there they always thihk of roast ’possum, sweet taters and a rising thermomet- er. It was on such a day that Jefferson Lee, a short, heavy-set bachcelor about fifty years of age. sat on the veran- da in the front of his old colonial man- sion half asleep and half awake. His neck had become cramped and while making an attempt to straighten it out, he turned his head far enough over his shoulder to notice an old (larky approaching. “What do you want?” was his ab- rupt question. “Some clothes,” was the more ab- rupt reply. “Ah been thinkin’ as how dis war Thanksgiving you all might help a poor nigger ba givin” him some old clothes.” “Sure, I will if there are any. Go around to the back door and tell Ned, my man to look around and see if he can find those old shoes of mine. Care- ful not to go too near the back fence, my nephew has his blood hound tied there. “Thank ya, suh—thank ya, suh!” The old negro bowed himself out of sight around the corner and knocking at the back door, repeated what Lee had told him.. The butler finally found the shoes and the old negro thinking them most extraordinary decided to wear them home. After the agony of getting them adjusted to his corns he proceed- ed around the other side of the house. He was walking along admiring his recently acquired shoes when his nose suddenly caught an odor that made his mouth water and his eyes roll around. “Roast ’possum as sure as Ah live,” he remarked glancing upward at the open window. As if in a dream he re- membered reachcing upward and re- moving a plate with a large and beau- tifully roasted ’possum on it from the window sill. Remembei'ed clearing the back fence in one spasmodic leap, barely escaping the hound and arriv- ing home breathless but with a large brown ’possum, granished with sprigs of spearmint all ready to be eaten. The first news Jefferson Lee got of the theft was when Aunt Susan, his old colored cook came running to him crying and told him how she had set the possum on the sill to cool and turning around had found it missing. Mr. Lee’s nephew suggested they set the blood hounds on the trial and make sure of the thief, w’hile they went out to look over the plantation. The young man led the hound around to the window and after letting him get the scent of the thief, took him around front and turned him loose. Mr. Lee, who was in the woods back of his house heard that blood curdling howl as the hound took the trail. And just to make sure that there was no mistake he ran around in a circle a few times and walked rapidly to the other side of the field. The hound bounded into view, nose close to the ground and at every five leaps letting out one of those awTful yells. When he came to the place where Mr. Lee had stood he began to yelp confusedly and circled several times. The hair on the back of Lee’s neck befan to raise. A chill started at the back of his head and ran all the way down his spine. The hound was trailing him, and how to outwit him he did not know. He had heard of men delaying them by leaving some cloth- ing behind so he took off his light coat, (he really did not need it for he was perspiring freely) and rolling it in a bundle placed it in the bushes and took to his heels. The dog soon came to the coat and after tearing it to bits picked up the trail and started after Lee again. Our hero by this time was nearly out of breath and the dog was gaining on him every second. There was only one thing to do, climb a tree. So he selected a nice easy one and started for it. The doe- was not far from him but he gathered him- self for his dying effort and put all his

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The Scarlet and Gray 5 Timothy's Thanksgiving In the little town of Tipton there lives a man by the name of Timothy Winnepeg. ’ low his name suits him perfectly, and he is very proud of it. He is very short and fat, in truth quite wobbly on his short fat legs. His feet and hands were small. His head was very large, his eyes small and close together. His nose was short, but spread out fan shape. His ears stuck out from his head, and really he looked like “A tree full of owls,” as the expression is often used. His father is a Dutch farmer, or rather a retired fanner and his son is all he lives for. Being quite wealthy he is inclined to be lazy when there is work to be done. He sits for hours and gazes out over his farm thinking of the future happy years. Timothy does the same, but with an entirely different attitude, for he is thinking of the time when this farm will be his own and just how many limousenes the money will buy. Not that he wanted to hasten his father’s death at all, but the city is tempting him greatly. Now Timothy is quite romantic and in love with a young girl who lives on the neighboring farm, but who does not happen to care for him. For she loves a handsome good-for-nothing young chap by the name of Lew Wal- lac. who during the summer boards at their house. Each Sunday afternoon you can see Timothy walking along towards Pri- cilla’s house and in an hour coming home quite down hearted because Lew had come to call on Pricilla and had politely told him that “Two is compa- ny. three is a crowd.” Pricilla Deane was the only daugh- ter of Jacob Deane Esq., who was of English descent, another one of those old gentlemen who peacefully while their life away smoking their pipes. His daughter was to him what Mr. Winnepeg’s son was to him. This particular Sunday happened to be the one before Thanksgiving, which is always noted for good things to eat. Timothy had decided to ask Pri- cilla and her father over to their house for dinner but was rather uncertain as to whether she would accept the invitation or not As he slowly mounted the steps he tried to think of some thing to say but failed. He knocked and stood with rapidly beating heart until Priscilla came to the door. “Why er-a-good afternoon,” said Timothy, his heart in his mouth. “Won’t you come in.” “Er-a-certainly.” Now Timothy was not bashful, but on this occasion he was slightly uncomfortable. “I just came over to ask if you would spend Thanksgiving with us.” He said it very calmly but he felt far from calm. “Oh we had thought of spending Thanksgiving at home, but I will see what father says about it.” Presently she came back, her face all smiles. “Father said he would be delighted. He and your father are such good friends you know, like two old cron- ies.” Timothy could not trust himself to stay there any longer so arose to go. “Oh, my, you aren’t going so soon, 1 hope?” ‘ Well, I had better, as I just came for a few minutes.” “Oh, I’m so sorry.” She really wasn’t but she had to say something. “Good bye then until Thursday.” z With this he started home, all the wav he was unusually light hearted and happy. Their house keeper spent the day before Thanksgiving preparing the feast. A large turkey was killed, stuffed with dressing and roasted brown Pumpkin pies baked, white bread, ginger bread, a large cake and cookies. All of these goods things were stored away in the pantry. Sweet cider large rosy apples, chestnuts and candy, nothing was omitted. About ten o’clock the next day, Pricilla and her father came over to the Winnipegs. Such a feast had nev- er before been prepared. But just as they were sitting down to eat a loud shrill motor horn was heard. Timothy recognized the sound for he had heard it frequently and knew it belonged to Lew Wallace’s car. His heart actual- ly missed a beat. With an excited little iesture, Pri- cilla arose, excused herself and hast- ened out. Sure enough it was Lew. Continued on Page 7

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7 The Scarlet and Gray energy in the leap, succeeded in grasp- ing the lowest branch and pulling himself out of reach just as the dog came up. There he sat just out of reach of the dog’s frantic leaps and quite out of breath. Half an hour later young Lee came up and chained the dog down and helped him out of the tree. Upon arriving home he gave ab- solutely strict orders never to give an old pair of his shoes away again under any circumstances whatsoever. In the two room, mud-kinked cabin where the old negro lives, peace reigns supreme. His family with a few in- vited guests are seated around the rough hewn fine table. He bows his head and after giving thanks to his Maker calls on Deacon .(ones to “carve de possum.” John E. Zeller, Jr. Imperator et Milites Caesar imperator magnus erat et Gallos pugnavit. Milites Caesaris in castris erant. Caesar et milites a Gal- lis oppognabantur. Milites et lega- tus Gallos superaverunt; Vias et sig- num Gallorum delebant. Frumentum multum delebatur, equi, multi vulnera- bantur. Oppida multa a legione deci- ma vastabantur. Nuntius celer victor- iam Caesaris regi nuntiavit.—Joe Stocklen, ’24. Thanksgiving at Larson Continued From Page 4 cloak of cloth and whife fur. “You scamp,” Peggy laughed. “You had better take off your wrap.” “No they are coming now!” In fifteen minutes all were on their way to the Larson Academy. After about three quarters of an hour they reached the academy. Load of pretty, happy girls went into the great hall. Betty was one of the last to arrive and when she came from the dressing room everyone stared. Surely this was not their Betty! Their little westemr. Ter dress was green. Leaf green at the bottom shading into deli- cate floating sea green. Then the pro- cession and a happy hour in the ban- quet room. Tired but happy they returned ot Miss Huston’s that night. “Remember our bet,” Betty said as she rolled into bed. “I’m not apt to forget,” replied Peg- gy- After a three weeks’ vacation in Texas, Betty returned a bigger favor- ite than ever. But Loma still voiced dislikes of “red and green.” Vivian Nixon, ’20. Timothy9s Thanksgiving Continued From Page 5 Presently she came back, took her coat and with many apologies pre- pared to leave. “You see, Lew wants me to have Thanksgiving dinner with him and meet his family. Since he is to be my future husband, I’d better go— don’t you think?” But she was gone before any one could answer. Timothy tottered but did not fall: he dimly recollects hearing a car pull out of their drive. Then his eyes hap- pened to rest on the turkey and Pri- cilla along with all the sorrow she had caused him was soon forgotten. Now each Thanksgiving he thinks of what he escaped, and is even thankful that the shrill auto hom in- terrupted his Thanksgiving dinner a long time ago. Kathleen Lowther, ’24.