Oakhurst Collegiate School - Acorn Yearbook (Cincinnati, OH)

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4 THE ACORN were five very frightened-looking girls, each clutching 3. rolled manuscript and looking very uncomfortable in their stiff, white dresses and shiny shoes. Miss Jessie Hall ! called the principal. The girl at the end arose and came forward. Nervously she unfolded the paper before her and still more nervously began to read. It was the story of a lost wanderer and his adventures, but it failed to hold the audience. At its conclusion, two people applauded it, the young authorls father and mother. One after another the names were called, the girls stepped forward, and the stories were read. It was late when the last name was called, and already the sun was sinking low in the West, sending its golden rays into the dingy little school- room. ltMiss Mary Howard! There was a pause and then a little figure stepped forward from the back of the room. A pathetic little figure it was, dressed in a blue gingham dress, and 01d, rather clumsy shoes. ler. Lands? she pleaded, wonlt you please decide from the other girls' stories? Mine is not good and I do not want to read it. Mr. Lands took her kindly by the arm. No, my clear. You must read it like the rest. Go on, now, the people are waiting.n She mounted to the platform and in a clear, belt-like voice began to speak. She told the story, rather than read it. It was that of a girl who met tempta- tion and was saved by her faith in God. It was beautifully told, simply and directly, and she had put her very soul into the work. As she finished there was not a sound. The whole room was as quiet as the grave. - For a moment Mary stood irresolute. She had expected failure, but not such a failure as this. Her heart gave a wild throb of bitter resentment. Then, with- out a word she turned and fled from the sohoolroom. She had gone only a short distance before her brother caught up with her, HCome back, Sis,u he panted. nThey want you at the schoolhouse. All the resentment left her. She turned 'and silently went back with him. No doubt her mother wished to tell her how sorry she was about the dress, she thought. Mr. Lands met her at the door. Mary, he said, uI congratulate you on your success. Mary looked at him dumbly. My success ?,l she repeated. ttWhat do you mean P He led her up in front of all the people. HMary. you have won the prize! A great shout went up and Mary felt something hard in her hand She looked down, and as she saw the locket, the goal toward which she had worked so hard and so long, a great wave of j0y swept over her and yielding to its force, she buried her face in her hands and wept. e FRANCES HARMON, 1915.

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mm ,Fl a pair, 57-31 . u! v, Q22 A: v . . $5$3 ' t'xQeki'V THE CONTEST OTHERln exclaimed Mary excitedly. llI am one of the six girls who have been chosen for the contest. Isnit that lovely? And, oh Mother, I may have a new dress, maynjt I? Rushing to her mother, Mary threw her arms around her neck and rained kisses upon the smiling countenance. hWhat does all this mean, dear ?I, Mrs. Howard asked. llSit down and try to tell me in a connected way about this contest and what you have to do. Tossing her books and hat on the table, Mary sat down. llWell, you see, she began, 'tMr. Lands, the principal, announced that there would be a contest on class day for a prize. Six girls were to be chosen, each of whom was to write a story. On class day they are to read them, and the girl whose story is adjudged the best is to receive a prize, which is a gold locket. Oh! I am so happy? And again Marys cup of joy overHowed. IIWhat sort of a dress shall I get? she demanded. Mrs. Howard was silent a minute. Dear, she said softly, I am sorry, very sorry, but I am afraid you will have to get along without a new one. You know the rent is due and Tommy is ill now. I hate to disappoint my little girl, but she must remember we are not rich. Your blue dress is fairly good and the sash is new. I am very glad you have been chosen and I am proud of you, dear. For a few minutes Maryls face grew dark. Then she remembered that day two years before when her father had called her to his bedside and had told her to take care of Mother and help her to the best of her ability. Would it be helping to ask for something it was out of her mothetls power to give her? ltNo ! she decided. I must pretend that I do not mind. She rose and, going over to her mother, kissed her tenderly. itItls all right, Mumsey, she said. I donit mind. And she went quietly upstairs. at :k :k 3k :k 2k 1k :k a: It was a hot June day. The sun beat mercilessly down on the little frame schoolhouse of Granshurg. It was crowded to its capacity with men, women and children, whose attention was divided between the raised platform at the end of the room and the steady stream of passersby, some of whom paused and looked curiously in at the open windows. Seated on a bench at the side of the platform

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THE ACORN 5 THE HERO e: JLD SAM was very worthless, but considered himself a most import- ant part of the church institution. The committee in charge of the bazaar now in preparation had found him especially trying. His policy, like that of many others of his race, was to get out of as 9 much work as possible; for he knew he would not be discharged, on account of his long service. On the night of the much-talkedwof and prepared-for bazaar, he was every- where, busily engaged in doing nothing. When asked to help in anything, he would reply, iiSorry missy, but Iise jest got a' fix to git ready to do something else, and would bustle off with an air of greatest importance. Helen Dale was in charge of the refreshment booth, and as it was too early in the evening for lemonade and light eatables to be in great demand, the booth was nearly deserted. Thinking she smelt something burning, Helen started on a tour of investigation. She found that the electric wiring which lay on the floor, had become damaged, and was setting tire to the carpet Suppressing the scream that rose to her lips, she rushed forth to hnd some one in whom to conhde without starting a panic in the crowd. Old Sam, Who had been hanging around, saw her go, and thought it was a good time to help himself to a glass of punch, He seized .the ladle, when, catch- ing his foot in the leg of the stand on which the bowl stood, he tipped the table, and sent the bowl crashing t0 the ground; the liquid splashing onto the burning wire. tTitf de lani sake! Wot am I gwine te do now ! he ejaculated in horror. Meanwhile Helen had found same of her friends, and they came quickly to her aid, When Helen saw that he had put out the fire by such an ingenious trick, she cried, nSam, youire a hero 1 And soon old Sam was standing on a chair telling the assembly just exactly how he had done an act that showed such great bravery and presence of mind, and, needless to say, enjoying himself to his hearth content. - LUCY WHITE, 1916. W