North Quincy High School - Manet Yearbook (North Quincy, MA)

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MANET 15 WINTER'S MOON By Elizabeth Balcom, 12-1 On high. fine nights A white lady walks up the sky, Piping on a silver pipe Brittle strains that fall And splash Hlld scatter, A shining cascade Powdering the blackness XVith a thin, white light. Sometimes she is a nun. A white nun telling brilliant beads Through icy fingers, Washing them with bitter, glittering tears, Silently murmuring aves, Filling the night with a clean, cold holiness. THE DELIGHTFUL GUEST By Elisabeth M. Ogilvie, 12-2 This story, although sentimental and improbable, has a cliarming atmosphere of fragile and beautiful old age. The descriptions are remarkably lucid, and the general tone of the story is warm and pleasing. It was spring in Miss Gabrielle 's garden. Not that it wasn't spring outside, too, .but it seemed to make a specialty of decorating Miss Ga- brielle's little walled place. -Though a good many people would sniff at calling this secluded spot a garden, it was one undoubtedly.. u There were four apple trees, growing in- formally instead of geometrically, they were in blossom and the air was full of creamy-rose petals. And old-fashioned flowers-fred and white striped tulips, michaelmas daisies, and iris in lavender and blue, and tawny yellow, grew in great unrestrained clumps. The ali' was heavy with lilies-of-the-valley and lad's love. There were no prim paths, but single flag- stones dotted the grass which was Miss Ga- brielle's pride-it was so thick and green. And all around this lovely spot there was a wall of faded rose-red bricks. Miss Gabrielle sat in a green wicker chair under the chiefest of the apple trees. Through its snowy branches she regarded the uncertain blue and white of the April sky. There was a thrush somewhere 5 at his sudden rapture Miss Gabrielle felt a sort of sweet wistful sadness. Gabie, you're not getting sentimental, she accused herself. '4You're not thinking of dear dead days beyond recallln But she was, unconsciously. She sighed, then abruptly sat up with a quickening of the pulses. She had the same feeling she used to have as a child- a conviction that at any moment something strange and delightful was going to happen. It had been company or a humming bird or jam for tea, but now company, besides the butch- er's boy and the postman, was unheard of, and there were always humming birds in her undis- turbed garden, and she had long since out- grown her love for jam. Nevertheless her heart beat faster and she looked around ex- citedly at the quaint gate in the wall. No one appeared at the gate but there was a scraping noise somewhere, and precisely at the moment that Gabrielle turned to look in its direction, which seemed to be in front of her chair, she saw a dark head, a pair of shoulders and finally a whole body appear on the wall. And there sat a young man, swinging his legs and regarding her with somewhat frightened amazement. Miss Gabrielle was also astonished and startled. Then, with a flush in her cheeks, and without rising, she said, 'iGo0d afternoon. Good afternoon, he answered back, nerv- ously. By his voice he was a very young man indeed. He leaned forward and added an- xiously, 'tl say, I'm awfully sorry I barged in this way-I had no idea there was anyone here? VVhich sounded strange but he was so visibly embarrassed and sincere that Miss Gabrielle Said reassuringly, Do come down before you fall! And I like company. He smiled suddenly. 'tThanks-thank you! He slid off the wall and landed with a thud on the grass. He crossed to her quickly, put his hands behind his back and looked down at her from his great height, speaking breath- lessly. This is awfully decent of you-you see, I was coming down the road from town and I saw your wall and-well, I've always had an insatiable curiosity for the wrong side of a wall-and I saw the tops of the trees-and- here I am! t'Wliat a dear boy he is. thought Miss Gabrielle. She said graciously, motioning to- wards a chair, VVon,t you sit down? He accepted promptly, but sat 011 the grass instead of on the chair, crossing his legs and leaning his elbows on his knees. A mist arose in Miss Gabrielle's eyes. All her life she had longed for boys in her garden. At first, sturdy rosy youngsters in tight blue jerseys that showed the curves of their hard, independent, yet lovable little bodies. Then boys growing tall and fair, in worn tweeds, and bare brown, scarred knees, a superfiuity of arms and legs, and a ridiculous, uncertain, lilt in their voices. And now-the stranger hugged his knees and beamed at her from blue, bright eyes under dark brows-the left one quirked in absurdly fam- iliar fashion. He was by no means a handsome boy-his nose had a bump in the middle and his mouth was wide-but his teeth gleamed and his skin was darkly glowing against his white scarf. She found herself speaking. This is a de- lightful surprise to me. I have so few visitors. He was looking around with enchanted eyes. ls it real or isn't it? I thought gardens like this existed only in books !

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14 MAN ET lim only his cousin and Arne was old Sven's sister 's child. VVhen Sven died the boy almost died too from grief. I let him come here, thinkin' he'd have enough money to pay for himself. Sven didn 't. make his skiis for profit. '4Five hundred dollars, Mister, sure we could use it. A heavy step was heard i11 the doorway and Gus spoke, HI dunno, we were gettin' kind of attached to the kid. A thousand! 'When the car drove off the doctor had a writ- ten relinquishment in his pocket. The pale face brightened at the doctor's entrance. UI saw your friends this afternoon 'Sonny'l Next winter will you teach me how to ski? Next winter? L4 'W Sure-Sonny. ' ' A CHILD'S VIEW POINT By Arthur Schuh, 12-1 A C-HILD'S VIEW POINT is an essay with a ser- ious purpose which is indicated rather than achieved. The comparison between the child and public opinion eiectively realizes the writer's purpose. and the studied formality of the language emphasizes satirically the childisliness of public opinion. Unfortunately, a con- vincing application would have exceeded the word limit of this competition. From the development of even the minimum number of parallel applications would have emerged an essay occupying far more than its space in The 3IflllPf.N Honorable mention. Have you ever observed a child who was looking forward with great expectancy and the happiness of anticipation towards the visit of some acquaintance or relative who usually may be counted upon to bring some little favor for him? This favor may not be much, but so long as its nature is a surprise, Johnny is genuinely thrilled and regards its giver as a hero and a remarkable collection of all of the most. desirous traits and qualities. Needless to say. once a surprise has been given, the visitor emerges from obscuritiy into the limelight of Johnny's hall of fame. His place in this institution is directly proportional to the gift and Johnny's appreciation of it. .lohnny's appreciation depends upon whether or not he has had gifts of the same nature from other people. However, the donor should be careful to always bring a gift from this time on, the gift will be anticipated and Johnny will he expecting to be surprised. lint, let this charitable guest forget once or in his haste bring something which does not meet with Johnny 's approval, and his image is ungraciously removed from the hall of fame to repose forever afterwards in the discarded pile, the pile of has beens . Johnny has forgotten any former signs of friendship and can only think of his bitter disappointment of the pres- ent rather than the bygone pleasures of the past. This is the guest 's reward for setting his standard and then departing from it in some slight way. In this world there are many millions of Johnnies, the only diderence being that the young are franker and not quite so experienced in their opinions. Nevertheless, I'll make a wager with any one that a child has an in- stinctively keen judgment of people which is as good as that of most men of the world. These millions of Jolmnies constitute the world as a whole and are responsible for its opinions. This great thing called public opinion is then, merely the equivalent of the opinion of millions of children. To gain favor in the proverbial public eye, one must figuratively present it with gifts in the form of surprises. When I say surprises, I refer to exceptional performances in one 's chosen profession. Great actors, bankers, politicians, authors, poets, comedians, soldiers lecturers, explorers, athletes, and even crim- inals all gain places in the gallery of public opinion. Their places depend upon the nature of their contributions. 7 Once a man gains the support of favorable public opinion, he is not secure, he must main- tain his reputation because any deviations are frowned upon by the public. He must keep up his fine work and continue to surprise the pub- lic. He must remember that the public is look- ing to him for surprises just as Johnny looked to his benefactor. If in the apparent security of his position, he neglects the ladder which helped him climb to success and forgets to ap- pease Johnny 's increasing desires, his slow and painful ascent of the ladder is of no avail. His downfall is ten times as rapid. Wlieii a man has reached his height of achievement, and can- not add to or better his contributions in any way, the wise course is voluntary retirement. Johnny will inquire solicitously for a while, but a new idol will soon appear and Johnny will forget the old for the new and the former idol may gain whatever pleasure he may from quietly watching his successor follow in his footsteps. Thus public opinion is a tickle versatile feel- ing of the masses which cares for individuals as long as they seem to serve to their utmost ability. But public opinion does not tolerate any decrease in the quality of the service and forgetful of the past services rendered, it pushes him down the ladder into the obscurity from which he rose. XVhat children wc are!

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16 MANET Miss Gabrielle smiled again and contentedly studied the blue blazer, piped with white, with a white monogram on the breast pocket. Some sort of school uniform, sl1e thought, then sug- gested, Perhaps you'd like to explore. He jumped up eagerly. t'May I really? Of course, said Miss Gabrielle. 'tI'll let you go alone-I think it 's much more inter- esting to discover things by oneself. He plunged his hands in his pockets. I say, you are a jolly sport l He turned away and sauntered across the grass, whistling a tune- less fragment of song. VVhen he had disap- peared Miss Gabrielle said to herself, 'tPer- haps he a burglar-but if the way to a l112l11,S heart is through his stomach a good tea might be of some use. She smiled up at Janet, who, unconscious of the guest, had brought out tea for one, laid attractively on a wheeled tray. Tea for two, Janet, with some of the little plum cakes you made, and please put some jam in the little ming bowl-the yellow one. For two, Miss Gabrielle? Janet's plain face was astonished. She lifted severe eye- brows, half-opened her straight dour mouth.. A young gentleman is calling, Janet. Please hurry. Janet, burning with curiosity, switched off with an indignant whirl of starched skirts, Miss Gabrielle quivered with excitement as she made sure that there was plenty of sugar- boys liked sugar-and put a spray of apple- blossoms in her hair, like a maiden going to meet her lover. IVhen the visitor returned, Janet had already made the necessary additions, had returned to the house, and had stationed herself at a con- venient window. She caught her breath sharply when he came into view, for there was some- thing in his easy lounging poise that reminded her very much of someone who had stood, in that same spot, leaning against the twisted trunk of an apple tree. Miss Gabrielle, meanwhile, was extremely happy. He had come back with shining eyes, and flushed. HA dovecote tool Now I know it can't be real! And does the tiger cat bother the dovesfll MNot at all. Please sit down and have some tea with me. Talking continuously he sat down and opened his snowy napkin with calloused, capable, brown hands. I never was in a place like this before. Are YOU real? You look like a Dresden china figure, he added boldly. Miss Gabrielle's cheeks became as pink as the fragile old teapot from which she filled his cup. HPlease, please, she murmured, passing it to him. Over the cakes he became confidential. Amus- ing and entertaining details flowed in a con- tinuous stream-his family, his school life, his childhood, his friends. Miss Gabrielle was entranced. 'fThey still think I'm the baby at home, he stated heatedly. I'm nineteen. Sometimes I think I'm rather old for my age, but maybe I'm wrong. Alaric-the one that's in India- is no end hipped on himself. VVith outmost gravity he licked a crumb from his finger. I hope I'll never be like that. My dear, you will never be tl1at,M thought Miss Gabrielle. Not as long as you are so confident and delightful and friendly. They talked. Long gold lines came across the wall. It grew cool and a faint breeze scattered the creamy-rose petals on a silvery head and a black one. Suddenly the boy was up. t'It must be late! he exclaimed, drawing his black brows together. Suddenly Miss Gabrielle knew. She didn 't have to be told his name . . . she knew, as surely as she knew her name. VVith a contagious, surprised laugh, he cried out, f'We don 't even known each other's names? HMy frends call me tMiss Gabrielle', she said gently. HAnd you're- Michael Storm. My father used to live near here. Perhaps you knew himf' Miss Gabrielle sat very still. He approached her and she held out her small, fragile, hand. He took it in his big brown one, saying, I've had a jolly time! His eyes were eloquent. 4 ' I 'm coming again-sometime. Miss Gabrielle would have spoken, but he bent swiftly and kissed her cheek. Suddenly she was smelling heather . . . soap . . . vigorous young hair , . . he stood up, she saw his bright, dear blue eyes smiling down at her, through a mist-he was gone. Janet saw him vault the gate and wondered. Miss Gabrielle stayed dreaming in her chair, staring at the napkin he had dropped on the grass. All at once she was filled with an all- consuming ecstasy . . . Michael Storm had left her without a word years before . . . but he had come back . . . to kiss her good-bye. ELFSSA WAS A BLONDE By Hazel Borne Pull over that big chair there and I'll tell you all about the whole thing. In started with Daddy 's getting that new man, David Harrison, in his office. You'd think Dad'd know better, getting in a man with blonde wavy hair, and inviting him out the house evenings with two girls already in the house, and Margaret asking a third one to visit for a couple of weeks. I must tell you about that girl, Margaret's vis-