Oak Grove Coburn High School - Oak Leaves Yearbook (Vassalboro, ME)

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OAK LEAVES LOVELY ARE OUR GARDENS AND FAVORITE NOOKS

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OAK LEAVES There are countless persons who feel that the real quality or lack of it in a girl is shown as quickly in her recreation as anywhere else. If she takes unfair advantage in a game, is sulky when an opponent wins, or exults when a victory is hers, we know that her nature is selfish and un- lovely. A Good Sport is considerate, unselfish, and absolutely fair. It is very likely, dear Undergraduates, that th-e sam-e qualities which you d-evelop in your hours of recreation will be those qualities which determine your success or failure in later life. There are some students who are honest and faithful in regard to their studies, who will play a game with fairness and yet do not get along amiably with their associates. Unless we can rejoice as much in the success and happiness of a friend as we can in our own, th-en there is a jealousy in our natures which should be eliminated. If we could only cultivate generosity, if we could just remember that we have faults as well as our roommate, then we would be more forgiving and less critical. Some of the greatest inspiration and most lasting joy in life comes to us through our responsibility to be just that type of friend to somebody else. In one of his meditations, Kagawa says, Nothing lifts us upward except the power which comes from within- If this philosophy is true, then we must realize that much of our success and happiness in life depends upon our own attitudes or the spirit in our hearts. You who are Juniors will be studying Ruskin's essays next year and in King's Treasuries, he tells you who is advancing in life. We cannot wish anything finer for you than that as you continue at Oak Grove you are truly advancing in life so that your school is a finer place in which to live because you are a part of it. And now, dear Undergraduates with whom we have worked and played during these months that have sped by so swiftly, we leave Oak Grove in your care, 'believing sincerely that you will give careful thought to the profbl-em of human relations as it conc-erns you individually, as it concerns Oak Grove, and as it concerns your contri-bution to the world. A magnificent personality is the one that is really advancing in life and is the one tha.t can reveal as fine a spirit of service as Jane Addams did. May each of you feel the same responsibility that came to her to make the world better because you are a part of it. FLORENCE WORTH, '36. 7

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OAK LEAVES LOVELY THINGS Into my heart's treasury I slipped a coin That time cannot take Nor a thief purloin, Oh, better than the minting Of a gold-crowned king Is the safe-kept memory Of a lovely thing. Lovely things-a full moon rising slowly from behind a silver cloud, a scarred pine rustling in a summer breeze, first green grass in the spring, the tang of blue wood smoke, the song of a robin after rain, the smile of a mother, the strength of a snow-crowned mountain, the grace of a stretch- ing tiger, the flight of a gull, blue, lblue sky and white, white clouds, dew- pearled webs on the grass in an early morning, a half-blown white rose, the laugh of a golden-haired child, the blush of a girl in love, a road wind- ing over a hill, the sparkle of sunlight on waves, a white-cap on a tumbling green wave, a sail with a friend, a smile-a glimpse into the soul of one you love, these are lovely things. They are mine, and nothing can take them from me. Though I become old, I shall hold these forever in my heart. ETHEL WENTWORTH, '38. STEPPING STONES FROM STUMBLING BLOCKS From the security of our Oak Grove hilltop overlooking the Kennebec valley, we had been watching the old river with casual interest as it grew wider and widerg but being a mile above its banks, we could not possibly comprehend the anxiety with which others might watch the rising waters. With the carefree inexperience of youth, we were thinking how pleasant it was to be perfectly safe when w-e suddenly discovered that the lights would not turn on in our rooms. The current had been cut off where it crossed the river in the city above us. Word went quickly through the halls that we were invited to a formal dinner by candlelight and were asked to dress promptly before it was dark. A real surprise awaited us when we came from dinner to find our Assembly Hall quite transformed with a lovely arrangement of crystal and silver candelaibra in which tall white tapers were burning. We were welcomed to a Colonial Party and invited to imagine ourselves in the days of Martha 9