Oshkosh High School - Index Yearbook (Oshkosh, WI)

Page 31 text:

DECEMBER INDEX FOR NINETEEN HUNDRED SIXTEEN Any more thoughts in that remarkable brain of yours, Co-ed? in- quired Frank. Oh, I ' m just started, laughed Mary. Then she continued seriously: Maybe it ' s because I ' ve been away at college. You folks that have been here all the time wouldn ' t notice it so much. I thought both father and mother looked tired and discouraged. They need cheering up, and this is my plan — Trust Mary for plans, murmured Frank. Silence! commanded Mary, I have the floor. Well, to proceed. T thought it would be a fine idea to go back to the old farm for Christmas. You know everything is the way we left it. I could write to one of the neighbors to open up the house and get the fires started, and then Alice and I and Olive, if she has time, can go down the day before and get things ready for Christmas dinner. Me, cook! interrupted Alice. Why, I ' ve forgotten how altogether! We want to do everything ourselves just the way we used to, returned Mary. Then Christmas Eve the rest of you will come down. But remem- ber this is to be kept a secret from fa — . She paused suddenly as her father came slowly into the room. His tired face lighted up with pleasure as he saw them all about the fire. It seems like old times to have you all home again. Then added somewhat sadly: You are all so busy nowadays I scarcely see you. The four exchanged guilty glances. From this sudden silence, I fear I ' m intruding, he said smilingly, as he left the room. I guess you ' re right, sis, father does look tired, said John soberly. Some big deals that he ' s got on aren ' t coming through according to ex- pectation. Let ' s give ' em such a jolly old Christmas that they ' ll never forget it, exclaimed Frank, nearly tipping over the fragile couch in his enthusiasm. What ' s this? exclaimed Olive, coming in rosy-cheeked and pow- dered with snow. A political meeting, to judge from the noise. It was explained to her by Mary, with frequent interruptions, even Alice becoming interested in the end. But what can I do? exclaimed Olive, sinking info a convenient chair. There is to be a banquet at the settlement for the poor children Christmas afternoon, and I ' ve promised to help trim in the morning, and there ' s an important committee meeting in the afternoon. Forget the fresh air kids for once and remember your poor, neglected family, said John impatiently. Can ' t you try and arrange it, said Alice. I ' m going to give up Mrs. Gordon-Smith ' s party even if she never gives me another invitation. Page twenty-nine

Page 30 text:

D E C E II B E li INDEX FOB NINETEEN HUNDRED SIXTEEN Christmas Here and There, Now and Then Christmas in our country thiis year, to the majority, will be a far dif- ferent one than in the past. Many difficulties have occurred, due to the conditions brought on by the present war. Money in abundance for food and gifts in the last few years, will at present be used in a more thoughtful way. Donations of food and clothing to those in need were liberally given then, but now the soaring prices have diminished all these donations. The conditions of Christmas abroad this year will not only be a great contrast to that in our own country, it will be a great contrast to that of the past. Joy, laughter, and ready money were then in abundance, but now, war on its fields stopped all this. Starvation is facing millions, many inno- cent of the cause, and many a father, brother, husband, or son has been killed on the battlefield, and the families will spend their Christmas in mourning this year. These examples are only a few to suggest a sorrowful Christmas that many will have this year in our own country as well as abroad. M. S., ' 20. An Old-Fashioned Christmas WHAT this family needs is a good old-fashioned Christmas .celebra- tion, announced Mary Bentley with conviction. Three of the Bentley family, seated in the oppressively elaborate drawing-room, looked up in surprise. Their answers were characteristic. Celebration, echoed Alice in a bored tone. I had planned to sleep all Christmas day and rest up for Mrs. Gordon-Smith ' s party at night. If I don ' t I ' ll be simply a wreck. The eldest son John, just recently started in business with his father, looked up with interest. It sounds good to me, he said. We always look to you for new ideas. Fire ahead. Seventeen-year-old Frank, sprawled awkwardly on a spindle-legged couch, called out, Proceed, in his most oracular manner. Well, it ' s just this way, said Mary. When that money was left to us, father and mother came into town just to please us, so that Alice could shine in society, so the boys could get a good education and a start in busi- ness, and so that Olive and I could have a chance to do what we wished. I ' ve been thinking it over and I ' m beginning to realize what a big sacrifice they are making just to please us. Now don ' t think I ' m preaching, because I ' m not, finished Mary, somewhat out of breath. I guess you ' re right, agreed John seriously. We ' ve just been so wrapped up in our own affairs we haven ' t thought much about the folks. Alice remained silent. Paere twenty-eight

Page 32 text:

DECEJIBER INDEX NINETEEN HUNDRED SIXTEEN Hurray! Hurray! for Alice the Martyr! cheered Frank, while John patted her on the back and Mary beamed delightedly. Olive agreed to arrange matters so that she could go. The secret was well kept and Mr. and Mrs. Bentley remained in entire ignorance of the plans, expecting to spend the usual monotonous, conven- tional, and to them, sorrowful Christmas. On the morning of the twenty- fourth Mary and Alice set out for the old farm. They told their parents they were going to spend the day with a friend. It was a four hours ' jour- ney on the train and then a walk of a mile through the fresh, frosty air to the farm-house. Though they had lived so near, Mary and Alice had not been back for five years. Mr. and Mrs. Bentley had not sold the house nor even allowed it to be changed in any way, hoping, perhaps, to come back there to live in their old age. So, as the girls turned in at the gate, it looked familiar and home-like. It was an old-fashioned white house surrounded by evergreens whose branches were weighed to the ground with their burden of snow, and snow was heaped in great drifts against the house, . gainst this cold background, the house looked all the more cheerful and warm. Smoke was pouring from the chimneys and through the windows the girls caught a glimpse of a fire in the great fire-place. They rushed up the steps, but, before they could reach the door, it was flung open by an old-time neighbor, Mrs. Nelson. The Swedish woman in her enthusiasm had cleaned the house from top to bottom and done her best to welcome them home again. She seemed somewhat awed by Alice ' s fine clothes, but informed Mary that she was the same girl as ever, so chuck full of ' idees ' that she was fair bubbling over. It is safe to say that the girls never spent a busier day than that. They baked mince pies and pumpkin pies, biscuits and cookies, and at last Alice ventured to bake a cake. Suddenly there was a loud rap at the door. It was a neighbor who had promised to stop at the depot for provisions which were to come from the city. ' There wasn ' t nothing there. Miss Mary, he said reluctantly. After he had gone Mary gazed tragically at Alice. A Christmas dinner without a turkey! What shall we do? she ex- claimed, sinking wearily into a chair. About an hour later Alice thought of the cake in the oven and drew it forth hastily. It ' s as black as a cinder and has sunk a half an inch since I put it in. I guess our troubles have surely begun. You probably forgot the baking-powder — Mary paused. There were footsteps on the porch, and then a loud rap at the door. When Mary opened it, there was a heap of packages on the threshold, crowned by a huge turkey. There was a card attached to it bearing these words: To the Bentley family, with wishes for a very Merry Christmas from their old neighbors. Pagre thirty