Oshkosh High School - Index Yearbook (Oshkosh, WI)

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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

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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

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DECE.MBER INDEX NINETEEN HUNDRED SIXTEEN This is the best gift I ever had, said Mary, with shining eyes, for I really needed this. Alice flung the offending cake into the fire and they rushed anew into preparations. At seven o ' clock the girls were dressed in simple dresses such as they had worn when livi.ig on the farm. .After they had lighted the house from top to bottom, they sat before the fire, waiting in strained silence. Sud- denly they heard the sound of sleigh-bells. They rushed to the door and flung it open, sending a stream of light out into the darkness. Merry Christmas! they called together. Everybody laughed and talked at once as they hurried into the house. Well, well! exclaimed Mr. Bentley. This is the biggest and best surprise of my life. This young lady here, he said, looking at Olive, gave me to understand that we were to spend Christmas with brother Frank in Albany, and as she is a truthful girl. I believed her, and had no suspicions until we reached the station here. He stopped, almost overcome by the sight of his old home, and his children looking almost as they had in years gone by. Mrs. Bentley said nothing, but one look at her happy face repaid the girls for all their work. After supper, for Mary declared it should not be called dinner, the boys cut down a fir tree in a neighboring grove. It was brought in and set up in the parlor and trimmed amid many mishaps, for Alice fell off a step- ladder and Frank burned himself slightly while lighting the candles. But this only added to the merriment, and it was a very Jolly crowd that sat about the Christmas tree and received their presents from Frank as im- promptu Santa Claus. After this the young people all forgot their dignity and coasted down a nearby hill with boys and girls from the neighboring farms, and they ended by singing Christmas carols in the old sitting-room. The next day was a round of gayety. The dinner was a great success, much to the delight of Mary and Alice. I never thought this of you, Alice, declared Frank. I will no longer call you a useless social butterfly. If you ever want a recommendation as a cook just come to me. .Alice, remembering the cake, looked guiltily at Mary. In the afternoon the old neighbors on the surrounding farms came as a surprise party and stayed till evening. That night, after the neighbors had gone, the family gathered about the fire-place in the sitting room. A contented silence fell over the group. Finally .Mary broke it by inquiring: Well, folks, how did you like my plan? You girls can never know how much I ' ve enjoyed this Christmas, said Mrs. Bentley. I ' ve always wanted to come back like this, but didn ' t think you children would want to. Page thirty-one