Norfolk High School - Milestone Yearbook (Norfolk, NE)

Page 33 text:

■prop ecy-- IV|ay-tS) y 1 i)re am.” Ruth Olnky. One May-day I was gathering flowers for May-baskets. I gathered a large bunch of violets and then seated myself in a grape-vine swing. I had been thus for some time, when I heard a sweet voice say, “How do you like the looks of my subjects?” I didn’t think of the subjects at first because I was looking for the owner of the voice. At last I turned my head, and there, swinging and swaying on a willow branch. I saw a tiny being wearing a golden crown and a dress of pansies. I knew at once that this was the “Queen of the Flowers,” so I said. “I beg your pardon, but to which particular subjects were you just referring?” She laughed and said, “Why, to the ones you have with you.” Then I looked down at the flowers in my lap which, it seemed to me, looked brighter and sweeter than ever, now that their queen was near them. “Oh!” I said, “Why, I think they are beautiful and so sweet.” This seemed to please her. Suddenly I experienced a strange sensation as though passing rapidly through space; then I found myself on the outskirts of the city of Athens. I felt the cool breeze, heavy with the odors of numerous flowers, and saw the bright blue sky above me. I started into the city, and as I advanced was surprised to discover that I was not in Athens of this day, but in “The eye of Greece, mother of arts,” in the days of Parthenon. I saw many people dressed in their loose and costly garments, and was not a little surprised to notice several women among the throng. When 1 came to the Parthenon I was dazed at what I

Page 32 text:

- 28 THE MILESTONE. When the years of earth are over and the cares of earth are done; When the reign of time is ended and eternity begun; When the thunders of omniscience on our wakened senses roll, And the sky above shall wither and lie gathered like a scroll; When among the lofty mountains and across the mighty sea. The sublime celestial bugles shall ring out the reveille, Then shall march with brightest laurelsand with proud, victorious tread. To their station up in Heaven, our Grand Army of the dead.”

Page 34 text:

THE MILESTONE. 30 saw. This building was made of white marble; the pillars were of Doric style, and the cornice was the work of a master. I next found myself at the Acropolis, the seat of the guardian gods of the land. Here were pictures and statues of great beauty by some of the masters. The Acropolis was ascended by broad flights of marble steps which were surmounted by beautiful colonnades. At last 1 came to the temple of the oracles. As I entered I saw a young woman seated over the opening in the floor through which the intoxicating fumes were ascending; she had begun to be affected and swayed from side to side. Crowds were gathered around her, and the priests stood as near as possible to catch every word which the woman spoke and record it, in order to interpret it to the rest. As I watched these queer people going through this performance, a sudden inspiration came to me. and I thought that here I could get some knowledge of the future. 1 then approached the priests and asked them if the oracle could tell anything that anyone wanted to know, and they assured me that she could, so I questioned concerning the future of our Seniors. The oracle said that the one fair girl in the class would at first fancy that she was born an authoress and affect the inky fingers, frowzy hair, unlaced shoes and pre-occupied air of a regular blue-stocking. She sent many manuscripts of would-be novels to various publishers and always received the same brief reply, “Declined, with thanks. ’ She now concluded that her talents did not lie in the line of the romantic, but of the philosopical and accordingly wrote a treatise on ‘‘Which Contains the More Sweetness, Graham Flour or Sugar Beets?” and her success was unbounded. In 1910, A. D., in a great private hospital, built of gray stone, on the banks of the beautiful Hudson, may be seen, any evening just in the twilight, one, who, from her bearing, is immediately recognized as the nurse in charge. She moves about with a quiet, stately grace, and all who see her serene, fair face cannot help feeling that here is a woman who is beloved by all to whom she has ever ministered.