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

Page 15 text:

MA SMO ON NETE AN FIFTEEN —— —. Mr. Goodwin went with me to the gymnasium and there J faced a brilliat reception—all in my honor, too. Daisies were in profusion and festoons of gold and white were every where in evidence. But who were those six middle-aged, dignified peopie in the receiving line? Mr. Goodwin introduced me to Mrs. Fitzerland and i was making my best bow when she threw her arms around me and said, “Why, Jennie, don’t you remember me? I am, or at least was, Alice Hardin.” Then Alice said, “I married Mr. Fitzerland nineteen years ago. I have a handsome home on Ffth Avenue ans am quite a society woman. I have a grown daughter who graduated at Vassar last year and is now in Europe. I was abroad last year. I have been South only once since my marriage and did not see any of my old friends then, as I was on a fly- ing trip. When Mr. Goodwin wrote me about our class reunion and that you had been discovered, I dropped everything and hurried down here.” “he little woman standing next to Alice I recognized as Myrtle Stockton. She had married a widower with ten children and she had a most motherly air. I asked her why on earth she had married that widower and she said she was sorry for him. Mr. Goodwin told me to guess who the next lady was and before I could say “Jack Robinson,” I was grabbed and given a regular bear hug. I remembered that old time squeeze and asked Josie Durham why she was dressed in black. (11)

Page 14 text:

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)

Page 16 text:

ICL AS S (O'R INLINE TE Lae Lee She told me she was wearing it for her husband who had been dead two years but she had decided to put on coiors as she needed some one to help her manage her farm. The same old Josie of long ago! She had nade a spec- ialty of chickens and pigs and her sausages and country hams were as famous as those she used to get in her boxes from home. I knew at once that the spectacled spinster was Eliza- beth Julian. She had become principal of the Day School for the Deaf in Charlotte and was doing excellent work. It was easy for me to distinguish Everett Brown and Willie Benfield. Willie had made lots of money on his moving pictures but he was still a bachelor and as lady-like as ever. His latest fad is blooded horses. Everett Brown had grown very stout and prosperous looking. He had made a great success of his dairying and his wife is a famous butter-maker. We chatted away until the wee sma’ hours but before we said good bye, we promised each other faithfully that we would have another reunion in 1940. (12)