North Carolina School for the Deaf - Clock Tower Yearbook (Morganton, NC)

Page 13 text:

— See Or NINATEAN FIFTEEN Gwenty Years After. Jennie Jones. Soon after my graduation in 1915, my mother moved West and made our home in a little mining town not far from Denver. During the first few years of my exile from my native state, I was so homesick and miserable that I did not have the heart to try to make the best of things and I am ashamed to confess that the letters of my dear class mates were unanswered. But never for one minute did I forget them and ch! how I longed for the happy days we spent together in Mor- ganton. ; But youth is buoyant, so in spite of my strange surroundings and the absence of my friends, I be- gan to feel the spell of the golden West and to be inter- ested in the people. Years past swiftly and the little mining town had be- come a busy city. My mother had prospered in her board- ing house venture and we had a beautiful home with all the modern conveniences and a great many luxuries. Though she had become independent, she still took boarders for everybody in the West works, you know. They don’t know anything about the dreamy, delightful ‘ease of life in the South. Just across the street from our home, was the Car- negie Library and I was fortunate enough to be the li- brarian. In this way, I came in contact with cultured people and “how thankful I was for my ability to read the lips and (9)

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CLA S SOF NIAN- AR LSIEEN gel) ely When Miss Peck, our beloved Principal, came to us three years ago, she put us all together and with 1911 our history as a class begins. Our class spirit was strong from the start and our great ambition was to prove that we were worthy of all that had been done and was being done for us. Our girls are all members of the Fepha Club which Miss Peck introduced. We are proud of being members, for membership depends upon character and behavior. We have weekly meetings over which Miss Peck presides. The personal touch of the principal has been of Sten ser- vice and pleasure to us. Our boys are members of the Sterling Society, a similar club for boys and Mr. Birck has been of great help to them. One of the most pleasant events of our class life was the reception which -we, as Juniors, gave to the graduating on last year. One feature of the evening was a con- t—quotations ’ from vine reading for the year— and ee Jones won the pri At the close of the ne we had aeuihtintions and I think all of us covered ourselves with glory. In the fall, when we came back and found Physics, Algebra and the required reading for college entrance ahead of us, our hearts misgave us and'‘our class confer- ences were by no means optimistic... We did our best though and our tasks are over. “The End Crowns the Work.” (8)

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CELTAS SS Ste OFG NINETEEN LILLIE EWN. speak for I had no difficulty in understanding and being understood. The library trustees wanted to send someone East to look up some records and asked me if I would like to go.. I jumped at the chance for twenty years had passed since I left North Carolina and I wanted to find out the whereabouts and circumstances of the class of 1915. After finishing my work in Boston, I wrote to Mr. Goodwin to know if it would be convenient for me to spend a few days at the school and if he could tell me anything about the boys and girls who had graduated with me. A telegram came before I thought my letter had had time to reach Morganton. It said—-Glad to have you. Be sure to c ome. E. McK. Goodwin. I was all excitement, but a wee bit disappointed for nothing was said about my class mates. I got ready to start at once and was soon being wheeled southward on the Federal Express. As I drove up to the School, I saw a brilliantly lighted building which I did not recognize. I was told it was the Benfield Gymnasium which had been given to the deaf children of the State by one of the graduates of the School who had become a prosperous man. Mr. Goodwin met me at the carriage and told me to hurry up and dress as quickly as I could for he had a pleasant surprise for me. I almost ran to my room and before you could wink, ! was ready for that surprise. (10)