New Hanover High School - Hanoverian Yearbook (Wilmington, NC)

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ORANGE AND BLACK 27 “KNOW-ALL TOM.” BY HAZEL BLACK, ’10. The rain was pouring down in torrents on a late July afternoon when, more bespattered and muddy than my first ancestor could possibly have been if, during the pro¬ cess of his dusty make-up, he had been caught unprotected in a tropical rainstrom, I slowly made my way up the steep hill to old “Know-all Tom’s” cabin, miring meanwhile ankle-deep in the muddy road that seemed wet to the very center. It wasn’t very pleasant to think of, not only my first day of my two weeks vacation, but a good number being spoiled by a rainstorm like this, when I longed to be down on the river fishing under “Know-all’s” unsurpassed guid¬ ance to the best holes, or hunting with his dogs. So I wasn’t in a very congenial frame of mind when I halted at the door to answer the cordial “Howdy, come right in;” but after his wife’s good supper with plenty of fresh milk, tendered as freely as old Tom’s prophecies of “fair weather tomorrow,” I was in a more cheerful spirit as I climbed the ladder to the loft, which was the guest chamber. “Know-all Tom” had become famous as a boy for his wonderful knowledge of the ways of the game of the mountains. No ne knew better where to look for a fish, in just which coves, in the sunny spot or shadowy corner, and his knowledge of the four-foot game was just as great. There was only one-draw back to him and that was that it had gone to his head; by his bragging he made enemies of many of his neighbors who liked nothing better than to get up practical jokes on him, to which marked attentions he answered in language—well, not printable. Indeed he had been expelled from membership in the church by the good members because of his proficiency in the use of the

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26 ORANGE AND BLACK HEMENWAY NOTES—EIGHTH GRADE. Class of 1909-1910, started upon its career with the un¬ derstanding that we would have to work very hard indeed for our Secondary School diploma. Some of us followed this suggestion conscientiously and others are now bitterly lamenting that they ignored it. We have enjoyed our English course more than any¬ thing we have studied. We have read: “The Lay of the Last Minstrel,” “Enoch Arden,” “Evangeline,” and “The Tale of Two Cities.” We were intensely interested in the latter and it made a great impression on our minds. The most difficult work we have accomplished is the writing of a history of the United States for the last decade. Our text book only takes us to 1900, and we have collected materials from many sources and have written a brief nar¬ ration of the chief events in our country’s recent history. Our teacher seems much pleased with the work and we feel that it has a real value. We have the distinction of being the first class of the Grammar School to take four months’s work in Latin. We have found it very difficult, but have made good pro¬ gress. We are at present at the beginning of the verb SUM. We are preparing for a final examination in Latin and are much exited because our promotions depend largely on finals this year. We have to stand a final on English Grammar and one on Algebra. These occur the fifth week of May and after that we will know who really composes the graduat¬ ing class. Our class colors are white and gold, and our motto is: “There is no royal road to learning.” We have found our motto true at every step in our year’s work.

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28 ORANGE AND BLACK English language along certain questionable lines. Whether this was because of the dictates of their con¬ sciences or because of a little jealousy, I cannot say, but such were the facts. The rain continued to fall steadily and away off low thunder was beginning to be heard as I dropped to sleep. About midnight I was awakened by the sound of the door being opened below me. Looking out I saw old Tom by the light streaming out of the room, standing in the door in sleeping attire looking intently down into his corn¬ field to the left of the house. At the same time a tinkle in that direction informed me that old “Red” must have been enjoying a luscious supper while her master “slumbered and slept.” Without a moments hesitation “Know-all Tom,” minus hat, coat, shoes, etc., dashed out of the porch and down the cornrows towards the sound. But the cow had the quickest movements and the greatest knack of keeping out of the way of the pursuer. When he was at one end of the field she was at the other and when he would nearly reach the point that she seemed to be the bell in some mysterious way would sound exactly behind him. According to mountain politness, it was my duty to go down and aid him. Therefore I quickly dressed and proceeded to the field of action. And a field of action it certainly was! “Know-all Tom” was racing from one end to the other, aud was, with every breath, showing me that my memory of his particular variety of English was only baby-talk to the actual thing. It came in one steady stream, only interrupted now and then in an agonized call to his wife to come and help him. Standing by the fence I heard the cow coming my way, so decided to wait till she came nearer; but my as¬ tonishment was boundless to see only one of “Know-all’s” brothers, in heavy boots and with a large