Oakfield Alabama High School - Oracle Yearbook (Oakfield, NY)

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- 0 'Tm Sure y0u'11 understand, Professor, Myrna began confidingly, I have used ever one of my three cuts, one on January twentieth, right after I started Y the course one February third, when I had a five thousand word theme to finish for Rhetoric. and one last week when I didn't feel well one day. What excuse did you have for the first time? Well, - I had to have a new hat for the Senior ball house party. and I cou1dn't find another minute in which to buy it, Myrna explained rather feebly. Then, in order that he might not have time to think about that, she plunged into her story. Yesterday professor, I went to the library right after lunch. I looked over my Geology notebook and decided that I had it properly prepared. Then I got out a book the American literature professor recommended Jackson's Con- temporary American Novelists -and started to read it. I swear to you, Mr. Randall, that I became so fascinated by that book that I never came to until a friend of mine discovered me there at four o'clock. You see I wasn't absent yesterday on purpose. It was entirely accidental. Ol you were absent yesterday, too? I didn't notice-then,-you've had four bolts haven't you ? Yes, that's what I came to see you for. I should so hate to have to give up the course, Couldn't you possibly overlook it? I might even do some extra work, if I had time. That D again presented itself to the professor's notice. I really do under- stand your predicament, Miss Sibley. I'm awfully glad that something interests you so much. And I can sympathize with your enjoyment of Contemporary American Novelists . It's certainly a remarkably well done book, isn't it? Though Myrna widened her eyes a bit in astonishment, she eagerly seized her opportunity. I knew you'd understand. I told my room-mate that you wouldn't report me if I explained just how it happened! I'm afraid you misunderstood me, Miss Sibley. In-as-much as you dislike science so-for I'm sure you do-I feel it my duty to report your absence. I don't believe in making people study things which don't interest them, even if miss- ing certain things makes them become too narrow-minded to really do anything worth while! Professor Randall swung around in the swivel-chair which he had found convenient on many similar occasions, and Myrna, feeling complete- ly squelched , ,wandered out and found her way to her ten o'clock class. Although Professor Kane was explaining the art of book reviewing in his eloquent manner, Myrna Sibley did not hear a word that he said. Could it be that she, Myrna Sibley, a broad-minded college student, didn't always look at both sides of a question? Why, Professor Randall, a mere Geologist, had as much as called her narrow minded! She did admit, however, that it had never occured to her before that science was progressing more swiftly than any other kind of knowledge. And progress! Isn't that our aim? When Myrna Sibley stopped at the dean's office that afternooon and an- nounced her intention of dropping Book Reviewing, two and a half hours, the assistant who went to look up her record was rather puzzled, for Myrna was certainly getting good marks in that kind of work, and there were no 520IK1Bl'?1iHtS from any of her professors. w W But the most astonished person was Professor Randall, Wl10Q by the Way, had forgotten to report Myrna's cuts, for that girl,,g - 1101-lgh E3-RB!!-1'?I1f91Y 111- different still to the thrills of Geology, wrote a fin2i,1,Lll-'3-gipgqlgiwhlgh fully deserved an A! I Grace Ella IH Twenty-four e

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11- O, A Seiemntilhe Achievement H YRISA, My1'I1al . Helen Smith had to speak twice in the low voice re- b k hfllllfed by the library authorities before her friend looked up from the oo s e was reading. At first she was dazed by the interruption, and her red- illfllgled SYGS betrayed the fact that she had been reading steadily ever since boltgyvhy did You Skip Geology lecture, Myrna? I thought you'd used all your I d g',I1elen! What time is it? O-Have I cut Geology! What on earth shall o . . Swiftly there passed through Myrna's mind the remembrance of the scene with her father before her departure for college her Freshman year. Thomas Sibley, a druggist, seldom interfered with the plans of his children, but, when he did, no one disputed him. He had said to Myrna quite firmly, Remember, Myrna, that, though I see no sense in your having a college education anyway, I shan't make any objections as long as you take at least one science course every semester. You must do that much to please me. Myrna had faithfully endured this hardship for two years, but by the bef ginning of the third she had fully decided just what things interested her, and among them science was not included. She was deeply interested in rhetoric and literature and had discovered that she had quite a little talent for writing. The ultra-modern writers won her most passionate admiration, and her highest ambition was to reveal the gloomy realities of life, simply and artistically. In order to include all the subjects she desired to take she had received special permission from the dean of women for two and a half hours of extra work. Then, greatly pressed for time, she had developed a strong hatred for Geology. Helen interrupted her gloomy reverie. You'll be kicked out of class. Randall gives no favors, not even to the people he likes. And I'm quite sure you're no favorite of his. If I'm kicked out, there'll be an awful row. But don't worry, my special permission will save me from that. They'll make me drop my book reviewing course or something else instead. And I'm getting so much out of Professor Kane's classesg he is so interesting. The only chance I can think of is to go and see Randall and ask him not to report the cut. Well, my dear, said Helen, I wish you lots of luck in that, but I don't believe you can do it. Let's go get some Cokes at the Yellow Parrot. Even her daily Coca Cola failed to cheer Myrna, and on her way back to the Delta Gamma house she decided to try the plan of seeing Professor Randall. The next morning Professor Randall's consultation hour was nearly over when he saw a tiresome looking young woman enter his office. She was dressed in black which, though gloomy, was rather smart. Her mourning was further accentuated by a thick coat of very white powder on her face and dark circles, which were not artificial, around her enormous eyes., Ah, Miss-? I ' Hsibley. fm in your Geology class lecture periods at three o'clock, Monday and Thursday. ' O yes. What can I do for you, Miss Sibley? Inwardly Professor Randall remembered that he intended to give her a D. Twenty-three - A.

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O-- Victory T WHS nlght. The thund.er roared and the lightning flashed, lighting up a Small, white room and showing a fair-haired boy of about twelve years Cgmefillg Under the bed clothes. When he uncovered his head to see if it were S 1' S orming, he showed a face as white as his pillow into which he again thxust h1s.head and there sleep finally found him. But upon awakening the nent morning his first thought was of the storm and he trembled as he thought of it although he was partially ashamed of his fear. Q He recalled other incidents in his young life when he had been thoroughly frightened and ashamed of his cowardice. Was he not afraid of those huge fire crackers and their terrific boom which so delighted other boys? Did he not always shiver and shake when he saw and heard gun-play in a movie? And did he not always tremble with fear when he lay in bed at night and heard the wind howl? Yes, he was frightened at all these things and said aloud, Gee, I must be an awful coward. The matter did not end there either for older boys in the neighborhood knew of his fears and persisted in calling him a coward and a sissie , afraid of his own shadow. Which indeed was almost true for he never dared venture out at night for he always thought that someone was following him or was hiding just around the next corner or a tree. ' It was night. The thunder rolled and the lightning flashed again lighting up a room where we see again not a young terror stricken child but a young man of seventeen with a pale drawn face trying to make himself believe he is not frightened. Surely , he thought, if I can't convince myself, nobody else will think I am not. A brighter flash than any which preceeded it lit up the room and died away. Then what was that light which steadily grew brighter? Why did it not die away? Realization dawned upon him. The apartment house next door was aflre. What should he do? The flames grew brighter. Had the tenants been warned? Were they aware of the fact that they were in danger? He tried to call but his voice refused to come forth. Then increased horror came to him. Why, he was in danger too! Many thoughts raced through his mind. What to do! How to do it! A new thought gradually took form in his brain. Many lives depended up- on his decision. Shouldn't he then conquer his own fear and brave danger for the sake of so many others. His mind was made up. He hastily Jumpedlfrom bed pulled on his clothes, and buttoned them as he went down the stairs in leaps yelling fire as he went. By the time he reached the street everyone in the same building was hastily appearing. He turned in a fire alarm and al-A most instantly he could hear the far-away sound of the engine. The firemen were not afraid of fire-let them rescue the tenants and carry them to safety. Fear overcame him again- 'dly filling with people, mostly women and children who d She sgiisgnwasofnataheir beds Wails from frightened children filled the air. ha een ' .7 t d h' her. Where were the firemen. Why had. they not re- ghrfngzdxtfes Wallin Zveryine was safe now, only the building would be totally dgstroyed and perhaps the other one adJacent to it also. Twenty-five V ,.,...w, -19 ' ' 7- , ...frilfldliifiiilmii -lf'