Northern Oklahoma College - Roundup Yearbook (Tonkawa, OK)

Page 141 text:

M1 ' A 1 ' 6 I Ti The Message of Life Leona Edmondson, '16 :I I'V1'7Lf1f'7' in fJ0f'lJljf Cvvzfrsl I wonder what I'm livi-ng for? My soul so many times has cried, M hen the whole world seems an empty place, And the doubts from my heart I cannot efface And my faith is sorely tried. The world seems dark, though a sunny clay, My sky is filled witlrgloomy cloudsg And my soul doth -seem but a wandering thing From all things bright it has taken wing To the abode where dark care enshrouds. But out of space there comes a voice- A voice so full of strength'ning powerg Arise it calls, take up thy work, Why dost thou thus thy burdens shirk, And idle the passing hour? There's work enough for thee to dog Thy fellow-creatures grief to shareg There's some dark spot that needs thy smile, Some weary hours you can help beguile For those bowed down with care. And thus my gloomy soul is stirred To feel the need of other meug My love for others rises up, With joy of living o'erfloWs my cup, And my sky is smiling again. 1-'li

Page 140 text:

ge be wk si ' - 1.-! .. .W ai -Cs..,,Q ,, . 5 rss. Qa,...s? fs-fwfsw .f r-. is he that hath ears to hear the still small voice that whispers, This is thy talent and it thou must pursue. A ' This age of specialization differentiates clearly and defines sharply the work of the skilled laborer and the professional man, but with this sharp drawing of the line has come the demand for expert knowledge both in head and hand. But it has not re- moved the demand for brains. Every industry is calling for men Who can thinkg for men who can see in the right perspectiveg for men of broad sympathy who can act as brother to brother. These are the reasons why the cost of preparation either in time or in money or personal effort will not be impediments of any consequence to the man who has the vision glorious. Not only do we have 'a duty to prepare our minds for service but our bodies must receive attention as well. The old adage of a sound mind in a sound body has not out- worn its usefulness. We a1'e coming more and more to realize that the busy life is the only happy life and that without a strong body, a clean and wholesome life, a rec- ognition of the laws' of nature we cannot endure this strenuous existence. Neither can we neglect the spiritual side of our nature. If we, in the quest of skill, knowledge, and power, forget that we are an image of the Creatorg that 'we have a soul that cries out to-be released from the bondage of practical existence, that longs to uplift the whole of humankind and make the world better for having lived therein, we have neglected the most important attribute of service. When we have finally pre- pared our three-fold nature for some service in life. we shall not only succeed, but also have the joy and satisfaction of knowing we are not a useless dependent on soci- ety. It is only as we press on through the depths of struggle that our vision becomes more distinct and we see our way clearly toward helping our fellowmen. We must be dreamers. Through all the ages it has been the dreamers' who have pierced the unknown vasts, who have sailed away undaunted for the far blind shores. Their brains have wrought all human miracles. Your homes are set upon the land a dreamer found. Your pictures on its walls are visions from a dreamer's soul. A lll'C2l.11l81',S pain wails from your violin. lf the heart be strong and the dream be hard enough, we can attain, where all have failed before. Then catch the gleam of light that is beyond the darkness: reach out, or count the time and effort lost that leads toward the goal of the best gifts attainable by man. CGet the Vision Glorious, which alone makes significant the slow toil of everyday work.l Just one chance to exercise the powers at their very best is ample COIHDSIISZI- tion for all the waiting and weariness that intervenes between what man is and what he may become. It is' the vision that you glorify in your mind, the ideal that you will become like in the fibre of your being. Then face the soul's' eternal sunrise, breathe deep-and plunge into the fray. 1,40

Page 142 text:

44 L. ri ' ,.f ' -5 S' - Iii? .ir The Killing of Gillstrape Ruth Muskrat, '17 The sky was a dull deep gray. There had been no sun all day 10118, 21-Hd the SDHV' inaw hills were topped with snow whiich had fallen the day before. Along Rattlesnake Ridge there ran a long straight road down into Rattlesnake hollo-w and across the Spavinaw River. The snow which had crusted over the road had not been broken ex- cept for an occasional horseback istraggler who had dared to brave' the bitter cold and the danger of an approaching storm. Across on Lone Wolf Ridge, C0V91'6d with tall green pines, could be seen occasionally the dark flitting form of an Indian hunter. The Spavinaw River, which flowed through Rattlseake hollow, gurgled, chattered, and roared as it dashed and whirled down its' rocky bed in and out among the innumerable Spavinaw hills. l ' , Gn the bank of this river under a high cliff, stood three men. They had about them the air of being watched. They moved cautiously and were constantly scanning the hills. They were Indians and all were dressed alike. They wore broad-brimmed hats and thick yellow coats lined with red and gray striped flannel which showed through on the lapel of the coat, and Several other worn places. Their shirts were oi black flannel, and their tro-users, once a yellow color but now soiled and darkened, were tucked into high gum boots which came to the knees. Each carried a huge gun. They were the Wycliff brothers, the noted Cherokee outlaws who terrorized the people of Delaware county and the surrounding country during the years 1907 and 1908. They had committed some small offense-I think it was disturbing the peace at a small school house, and in order to escape punishment had gone into hidi-ng in the Spavinaw hills. ' Gillstrape, a bigoted, cowardly sheriff, had gone to their home and commanded the feeble father to tell where his boys were hiding. When the father refused to tell. Gillstrape -took the butt-end of a rawhide whip he had with him and beat the old man without mercy. Since then the boys-with the Indian passion for revenge-had sworn not to surrender or be taken until they had killed Gillstrape. The group was joined by a slender boy on horseback. who dashed perilously into the river and up to where they stood. He was dressed like the rest, but he was ta' and. slender. He bore little family resemblance to the others though he was a brother. He was also dark, but, strange to say, he had a shock of red hair. His' eyes fashed with fire and action, and his'whole attitude was one of bold, reckless daring. Red, said John, the oldest, in a gruff tone, don't you know better than to bring a horse here. Naw', carelessly brawled the boy. Nobody here to hurt us-none of our enemies I mean. ' Not, eh? John waved his hand. What do ye see up there?,' Who-ee. Red said slowly as he caught sight of some dark forms on Rattlesnake Ridge. HI reckon though I am ready. . Did you get in home. Red? asked Dan, another brothe1'. Yes, but it was mighty tough work though-had to sneak in. They were watch- ing the house. Bill died last night. We CDad and D buried him about midnight. They don't know he is dead, and w0n't knowf' Dead! the tone was one of real grief though the news was received with the usual Indian Stoicism. That leaves only four of us and our brother's death to avenge. No, it is best that the posse don't know they killed him. Poor Bill-he was the oldest of us all and the best fighter. Gillstrape did it. I saw the bullet leave his gun. ' I-Iow' is Ma, Red? asked Jack, a tall heavy set man. Not very well. Billlfs death will make it hard for her. She wants us' to give up and come home. She is afraid we are starving. Not much danger of that: we have plenty of friends who will feed ug, and game EE by no means' scarce, John said as. he fingered his gun. I hate this life, Jack continued, but I hate Gillstrape worse, and I'll not sur- 142