Oakhurst Collegiate School - Acorn Yearbook (Cincinnati, OH)

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ATE one evening I settled myself com- fortably back in a Morris chair with my '- I History book in my hand to prepare for an examination on the following day. I read far into the night, not realiz- ing how late it really was, for Washington had started to cross the Delaware, and it was far too interesting to give up. I read and read until at last everything seemed to grow very vague, the room became misty and queer. Suddenly I heard a low rumbling sound which seemed to get louder and louder. I j umped up, only to tind, to my utter amazement, a queer little man standing before me. He was altogether unlike any human being 1 had ever seen. He was very small and plump, his long ROPHECY OF 18 w ; beard and hair giving him rather a ferocious appear- ance. His little suit of green which fitted him so closely was topped off with a small jacket of leather which matched his pointed slippers and hat. I was too frightened to speak, but, taking 011' his hat and bowing very low, the little man said that he had heard that I had many years back been a mem- ber of the Class of 1914 at the Oakhurst Collegiate School, and that he had something in his possession which he thought would greatly interest me. So saying, he took me by the hand and imme- diately I found myself transported into a grove which I had never before seen. The trees were heavy foli- aged, their branches meeting above, so that the twink- ling of the stars could scarcely be seen. The lovely

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tions were set down in ten laws and posted in the main hall. They were exceptionally good rules. Yes, indeed, but they caused, strange to say, much rebellion, and for several days the Seniors actually had to block the front door to keep the impudent Freshmen from entering at the Senior entrance. They became expert, too, at taking down disapproved hair and snatching off broad girdles. It was plain that an army was needed to keep order, and as none was forthcoming, the laws had to be modified. To what noble and lofty height their Freshnesses might have risen some day if only they had abided by those simple rules, will never be known. Now, together, we have almost reached the top of our oak tree. Somehow we don't feel so eager to graduateeto jump out into the air and swing to whatever branch we come. There is a grateful feel- ing and a love deep rooted in the oak tree, and, like Peter Pan, we shall always love it and wish to go back to it, that is, to Miss Kendrick, our faculty and the spirit of our Alma Mater. THE CLASS HISTORIAN, 1914. 17

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paths which wound in and out of the grove were bor- dered with liowers of every hue. So enthusiastic was I that I completely forgot that as yet I did not know what I was to see and had not even inquired. So far the little man had volunteered no informa- tion, and I was on the point of inquiring about our whereabouts, when he suddenly stopped in front of a wall apparently of stone, but which was covered with vines so thick and heavy that not a stone could be seen. To this the little man walked quickly, and, pushing aside some of the vines, disclosed, to my amazement, a very small door. Into this he put a long golden key, whereupon the door swung open. Step- ping aside, he signaled to me to pass through, and I entered into a wonderful cave. For the first few moments I was stunned by the wonder of my sur- roundings. There were piles of gold, beautiful cas- kets of every description, filled with precious gems and jewels, curios from all lands, besides many robes of beautiful silks and satins, and other wonderful things too numerous to mention, with which the cave was filled. But still I wondered Why my strange guide had brought me to the cave, until finally he came towards me and led me to a curiously carved old chest into which he told me to look. I complied With his request, very willingly looking at the many antiques and jewels which it contained. At the bot- tom I noticed a scroll or manuscript which I was about to toss carelessly aside, when the ribbons with which it was tied caught my eye. Yes, there they were, the wonderful gold and blue, the colors of the Class of 1914. Upon examining the scroll more 19 closely, I saw that the title inscribed on it was, Quickly snatching it up, I rushed nearer to one of the amber-colored lights which glowed from the walls of the cave, so as to see it more closely. Yes, there it was, written by the pen of my dear old class- mate, Kitty Wright. In brief, the contents of this historic scroll were as follows: The author herself, it seems, had gone to college from which she had been graduated, and had then started on her literary career. She had already written several well-known books, and a few plays, pronounced by the critics to be of especial merit. one of which was a musical comedy in which Miss Katherine Schell, the well-known prima donna. had sung herself into fame one night. The play was first produced in Paris, and on the night of its premiere, as the playwright and prima donna were leaving the theater together, they heard a familiar voice. Turn- ing, they saw Margaret W., who was in Paris con- ducting parties of tourists around to the neighboring Chateaux and towns. These parties had grown so large that Margaret had at last bought a rubber- neck wagon, from which she called out, through a megaphone, all the places of interest. In this occu- pation Margaret had continued for many years, as she found it both interesting and profitable, despite the fact that it was a great strain on her voice. Finally, after a successful tour abroad with their musical success, the playwright and prima donna returned to their native soil. On the day of their arrival they decided to attend the theater where a