North High School - Polar Bear Yearbook (Des Moines, IA)

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could not order quite everybody about, said the General. Rest for half an hour and then be ready to start on your journey. ' ' Very well, she said, as she resumed her seat on the cot again. That half hour seemed to her never to pass. She planned over and over again how she would greet her father. How surprised he would be to see her! At last she heard the sound of horses ' hoofs and the General ' s voice at the door- way, Are you ready, Miss Carr? I am, thank you, Betty answered. Then, here is a horse you may use to convey you to your father, perhaps on your way back you can leave her. Good- bye, Betty Carr. If we ever meet again, I shall alway. remember you as the best little southern lady in all the South. As he said this he advanced toward her with an outstretched hand. Betty ' s small one met his half way, but all she could say was, Good-bye, General Carter, I thank you. That evening Betty reached the southern camp in safety. Her father was overjoyed to see her, and they talked of everything. Next day was Thanksgiving. And what a dinner they had! But in the early morning Betty prepared a nice dinner just for two and after gaining permission from her father sent it to the northern camp to Genera l Carter and Lieutenant Warren. When the General received this, two great tears rolled down his war-worn cheeks. Inside he found a note whicli read, Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and signed Betty. After all, thought Betty, all Yankees are not bad. And with this thought came the image of a young officer with head bowed down in sorrow and disappointment as he passed out of a tent. Some two years later, after the war was over and the country was again at peace, Betty Carr became the happy 82

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up her basket and followed him, for she knew further rea- soning was useless. When they had reached the tent and had entered, he turned and faced the girl. Betty, why did you answer the General the way you did ? He is a very obstinate man and set in his ways. I am afraid you will pay for this. You surely know something of the whereabouts and weakness of the Southern army and why don ' t you tell? You know as well as I the Southern cause is just the same as lost. Please tell, dear, for my sake, if nothing else. Lieutenant Warren, I wouldn ' t tell, even if I knew there was no chance for the South. And I wouldn ' t tell for your sake, or any other man ' s. She faced him with defiance. Then you give me no encouragement to court you even after the war is over and the country is once more at peace ? he replied, advacing toward her. No, she said shortly. Very well, but — He was interrupted by her. Please leave me to my own thoughts, sir. He left her, but with a heavy heart and the image of a greatly changed Betty. Betty sat down on the hard cot to think over the hap- penings of the last short hour. As she sat there pondering over one thing and another, wiping away the tears that could not be forced back, she was interrupted by General Carter himself. Betty sprang to her feet at sight of him. Just keep your seat, miss. I have come to talk over a little matter with you. In our heated discussion of a few minutes ago, you spoke to me as no other person has ever dared to. You are a fine little rebel and showed great pluck. I have made up my mind and am going to see that you get to spend Thanksgiving with your father. Oh, thank you, sir; you — Don ' t try to thank me. It is I who should thank you. It was you, a little southern miss, that made me realize I 81

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SgeeiHE ©MCLE ii wife of Lieutenant Dick Warren. Old Aunt Sally shook her head solemnly and said, Dem Yankees sure am a knowin ' how to capture things. First it ' s Richmond and den it ' s Miss Betty herself. A DESCRIPTION OF HOW MY FATHER USED TO SKATE IN EUROPE. When my father was a boy in Europe, he used to make his own skates in winter. He would first take a piece of wood, preferably fir, about one foot long and three inches wide and two and one-half inches thick, and cut it down until it fitted the bottom of his shoe. He then whittled each side until the bottom was a sharp edge. A piece of wire was fixed to this edge by nailing staples at the front and ba3k of the skate. Holes were made in the sides, about one inch from each end, by taking a red hot iron and burn- ing through the wood. He put a strong cord through the holes and fastened the skate to his foot by tying the cord in back and then twisting a stick around it until it was very tight. In this way he made a very good pair of skates, at the cost of about two cents, which was the price of the wire. He and his comrades played many interesting games on their skates, one of which was played by having each one of them put down either a penny, a marble, a top, or some other trinket in one place on the ice. Those who were in the game would then take turns at skating at full speed toward the objects and bending down and picking up whatever they could from the group. This was a very hard thing to do, however, as they nearly always fell over while bending down. After all the things were picked up, each player was permitted to keep what he had taken from the pvA the one who had the most, won the game. Harold Cohen ' 18. 83