Oshkosh High School - Index Yearbook (Oshkosh, WI)

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MAY INDEX FOR NINETEEN HUNDRED SEVENTEEN Larry ' s Scheme ONEITA WEST THE discontent had finally reached all of the members of the Home. The matron laughingly called it spring fever, but it was much more depressing, and, instead of improving, it increased as spring ad- vanced. Instead of war stories, the weather was discussed; instead of telling rather ancient jokes and quips, the probability of rain within twenty- four hours was argued pro and con. One sunny morning when this state of affairs had endured for a month, the matron discovered the cause. While she was passing through the living room, she overhead the conversation of some of the soldiers. They were discussing the plans for Memorial Day, which had just been announced. Well, declared Dan Bailey defiantly, I, for one, don ' t intend to ride in any of their autos! Why, I marched hundreds of thousands of miles under ' Little Mac ' he boasted. They think because our hair is white, we should be packed in excelsior, and put on the top shelf labeled, ' Fragile — handle with care. ' The scorn in his vo ice seemed to loosen the tongues of the others too. That ' s just what I Do they think just because We ' re younger than they ever If we can ' t march, we won ' t go at all, finished Sam Young, delighted to complete a sentence without interruption. But then, one usually listened when he spoke anyway. The matron hurried off to inform the committee on arrangements of the attitude of the soldiers. The committee met that evening at Mr. Flood ' s home to decide what was to be done. It ' s perfectly foolish! insisted Mr. Flood. Do they ex- pect to march three miles in the parade? They can ' t march! They ' re too old, replied Mr. Brummer. We all know that, interrupted Mr. Ellsworth, but what are we going to do about it? We can ' t leave them out and the matron says they won ' t ride! Oh, said Mr. Flood ' s son, Larry, just jolly ' em along a little! Pat ' em on the back! If you think it ' s so easy, just try it, challenged Mr. Ryan grimly. ' All right, and what ' s more, I ' ll promise to have every mother ' s son of them in autos and ready for the parade on May 30. Well, here ' s hoping, said his father. At school the next day, Larry found sixteen of his friends who were willing to help him. Although more autos than this were needed, he knew that when others heard of it they would follow fast enough. When some- Page thirteen

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{ The Legend of the Flowers MARION McCARVlLLE Stars of the earth the flowers were called In the days of long ago, For just as the stars bejewel the sky They brighten the earth below. But lovelier yet is the legend we get From the ancient Indian lore That the angels gather the flowers that die And strew them on heaven ' s floor. The lilies whiten the milky way, The forget-me-nots are the blue; The violets purple the summer sky. And deep in the velvet blue The yellow daffodils shine and glow With a wondrous golden light, For they are the stars that stud the sky As they peep through the curtain of night. When the promise of God appears in the sky, A wave of lustrous light. There are gathered there from everywhere. By the hands of angel ' s white. The lovely flowers that here on earth Have faded and drooped and died. And now are transplanted and bloom again In the rainbow, side by side. No flower so small, no hue so dim. But it serves to beautify The universe, that the sons of man May see and learn thereby That there ' s nothing so small in God ' s whole earth. But has its work to perform For service is judged by the willing heart, And not by the burden borne. I i f

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MAY INDEX FOR NINETEEN HUNDRED SEVENTEEN one ventured to say that he had heard that the soldiers were going to march, he answered confidently, I ' m going out to the Home and aslc them to go with the boys as a special honor for us. I wish each of you could go out, too. We just have to make them feel that they ' re wanted. Get ' em to tell you some of their war stories. Flatter ' em a little; they ' ll fall for it just as the girls do. Memorial Day was cloudy but warm. Flags were everywhere. The parade went off well, and, as the boys brought the soldiers all the way from the Home, it lacked the many gaps which would have resulted had they marched part of the way and been driven the other part. The old soldiers received most of the attention. For the first time in a number of years, they seemed to be enjoying a feeling of importance. The National Guard with their brass buttons, the Zouaves with their bright uniforms, the veterans of the Franco-Prussian war with their American flag without the German colors as streamers, were in most cases feeling rather slighted. That evening, the soldiers talked it over. Even if we didn ' t march, said Dan, it was a fine parade. March, repeated another, we couldn ' t have marched with the road to town so muddy from the rain Monday. It would have been a shame if we had disappointed those boys, re- marked Sam Young. They were all so afraid there wouldn ' t be enough of us to go around. 1 felt really sorry for those who came too late to get any of us and had to take the women of the Relief Corps. It ' ll teach them not to put things off again. Did you see how surprised young Larry Flood looked when Dan told him how far he had marched in one campaign? inquired a little man called Weazel because of his ability to get away from sentries while scouting. Yes, and the way they listened to our stories, broke in another. They really laughed at our jokes. They are all quite remarkable young men. I wonder, queried Sam, how they knew we would like to help trim the autos? This is the first time we have had any personal interest in the parade. We have had everything done for us but no one seemed to really care much whether we came or not, and as for asking us if we liked it they never thought of it. Yes, they certainly are remarkable young men, especially that Larry boy! His grandfather was a fine man and Larry is a ' chip off the old block. ' Well, at least, said the Weasel, smoking contentedly, we ' ve found someone who wants us! As for the boys, it was as Larry said: They ' re great sports when you get to know ' em. Page fourteen