Paxton High School - Reflector Yearbook (Paxton, IL)

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THE PAXTON HIGH SCHOOL REFLECTRO trying to hunt any more then. Again the question arose. Should he o home? No, he was not a coward, but s i I he didn’t just feel like facing his p-rents or the poor woman who had sent him. He knew what the loss would be to her. A faint hope flashed through his mind. Possibly, in the growing dusk he had failed to see the money, and if he were to look early in the morning he might find it. So he decided to search for an empty box or barrel to sleep in, and to re- new his search at the first signs of light in the morning. After a time, he found a place to sleep and settled himself for the night. Although he was warmly clad the piercing wind chilled him thoroughly. This, added to the thoughts of a warm supper at home and the warm blankets on his own bed. rendered him very uncom- fo-table. In spite of his efTorts to re- strain them, the tears forced them- selves into his eyes, and the harder he tried to forget his warm home and his father and mother, the faster the tears came. Finally, he resigned himself to that babyish art, crying, and cried himself to sleep. He did not awake until he heard the strange noises of traffic. He had intended to be awake before daylight, and. judging by the number of people about, it must be quite late. He stood ttp.and tried to straighten out his wrinkled clothing. He felt rather weak, and wondered why. Then he remembered the facts of the preced- ng night, and at the thought of hav- ing had no supper, be became very hungry. But he must hunt for the money so that he might get home. He staggered forward and sank down on the snow. A policeman came up, and after restoring him to consciousness asked him where he lived. The boy began crying again and managed to J2 tell the officer his address. Then he lost consciousness again. Charles opened his eyes in his own room at home. His father and mother and the doctor were bending over him. He had been trying to tell, in an unconscious state his story. Now he managed to tell it, and the parents at last found out the reason for his absence. When he was strong enough he and his father w'ent in search of it aga.n. He picked up his cap, and out of it fell the lost money. He had put It into his cap instead of his pocket. THE FATE OF AN EASTER BONNET. (By Orpba Jessie, T5.) The general topic of conversation, in a certain colored settlement, was Dinah Black’s new Easter Bonnet.The gossips soon spread the news far and wide, and lastly it reached no other person than Dinah herself. Of course she was very proud, and said to Mos- es, her husband, “Well, eben if I do be a washerwoman. I guess dat 'hat will make dose cullud belles mighty jealous,’ and Dinah chuckled at- the sensation she thought would occur, on her arrival at the meeting house. As Moses said, Dinah seemed to be living in the future, for she could hardly wait until the eventful Easter day, when she should come forth in her new creation. One day, about a week before Easter, Mrs. Black de- cided she needed a new dress to cor- respond with her hat. So Moses hitch- ed old Sam, the mule, to the wagon, and off the two started for a nearby town, where Dinah had formerly purchased her new hat. As the wheels of the wagon rattled along the unpav- ed street, the neighbors came to their windows to see what the noise was

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THE PAXTON HIGH SCHOOL REFLECTOR J» ,1 HGH SCHOOL CALENDER Dec. 16—Nothin’ doin’. Dec. 17—The faculty and one Jun- ior girl held a lengthy session in the office after four p. m. Dec. 18—The Freshman number of the “Reflector was issued. Dec. 19—The students discovered they had a musical genius in their midst. For particulars ask Marian S. Dec. 20—One Senior boy could stand it no longer, so he took the afternoon off and jurneyed to Gilman to meet “her”. Dec. 23—Ethel W. lost her equilib- rium on the front stairway. Dec. 24—Mr. Rogers gave the chem- istry class their Christmas gift, in the form of a quiz. Jan. 2—Everybody is back at hard work after a much needed vacation. Jan. 3—This broke all records as visitors’ day.”. v Jan. 6—Mr. Papineau flooded the school yard. He took so much delight in doing it, that we can not decide whether he did it for his own pleas- ure. or the students’. Jan. 7— C’mon and slide—‘Every- body’s doin’ It.’ ” Jan. 8—Still slidin.’ Jan. 9—Nothing but grind on our lessons. Jan. 10—Too bad. Sophies, that the rain spoiled your bob-sled party. Jan. 13—The thirteenth and a Mon- day at that. Jan. 14—Clithroe made a social call. Jan. 15—Clithroe called again. Jan. 16—Mrs. Daniels of Greenville, 111., gave the high school students a short talk on Household Science.” Spelling exam. Jan. 17—E. J. did not have his alge- bra. H. A.'s paper failed to reach him. Jan. 20—Call is issued to Sopho- mores and Seniors for their report cards. The girls lunched” at school on account of bad weather. Menu: banan- as and cheese-straws. (Continued on page 55.) THEMES SELECTED FROM THE RHETORIC CLASS. An Unpleasant Experience. (By Marie Newman, T5.) Charles Lyons was making his way rapidly down the street, whistling as if his life depended upon it. A block or so ahead of him, he saw the sign of the commercial bank, his destina- tion. In his pocket he had a roll or bills which a neighbor had asked him to deposit in the bank for her. At first he had thought it might be well to hold the money in his hand to guard against losing it, but some of his friends had kindly presented him their greetings in form of snow balls, and he could not resist the temptation to “fire” one back. So hastily putting the money in his pocket, he fired several back, and hurried on. On reaching the bank, he was re- lieved to find that it had not been closed. He went in, and. drawing off his mitten, reached into his pocket for the money. Why, he must have put it in another pocket! No, it wasn't there either! Finally, after a thorough search, his first awful dreads were now actual facts. The money was lost. What should he do? Go back and tell the neighbor that he had lost the money or got and look for it. He de-' cided upon the latter course. He re- traced his steps to the place where he had stopped to make snow-balls, but no trace of the lost money could be found. By this time it had grown quite dirk, ‘o (here was no use in

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53 THE PAXTON HIGH SCHOOL REFLECTOR about. Seeing who it was, most of them went back to their woTk, but one especial gossip ventured to spread the news: “I wonder what Dinah has gone to town again fo’ I ’spose she’s been on buyin' some moh new togs”. ‘She’s gettin’ entirely too scruraptous foh dis yer town.’ So saying she re- tired to her home. In due time Dinah and her husband arrived home with the new purchase. The dress was a sight to behold, being a flashy, prom- inent figured, red calico. Neverthe- less it suited Mrs. Black, and she de- clared to her husband that she and no one else was the one to be suited. The eventful day arrived at last, and Dinah donned her new costume, and accompanied by Moses started for the meeting house. She certainly caused a sensation at her arrival, and also during the whole service. For after- ward, the parson declared that they were more interested in her new hat and dress, than in his sermon. The hat which Dinah wore must be de- scribed in order to show how ridicu- lous she really looked. It was a large, flappy strawhat, adorned with huge red roses, with a touch of yellow to bring out the beauty of her complex- ion, as Dinah said. On account of the flappy brim, her face was almost en- tirely hidden from view, but wisps of her wavy hair could be seen peep- ing out. After showing off the hat. as she expressed it, they started for home. When they came within about a mile from their destination it began to sprinkle, and finally increased un- til there was a regular downpour. Din- ah began to weep, saying her new hat would be ruined. Moses whipped the old mule, but he did not have any in- clination to hurry. As a last resort, Dinah placed the hat under the seat, but nevertheless the rain reached it, and by the time they reached home it was utterly ruined. Yes, said Moses, I believe de Lord done punished you by 8poilin’ your hat ’cause you done be too proud.” “Oh gone on you good for nthin’ niggeh, yu done be just as proud of me as I wuz,” but down in her heart she knew he was right. P. H. S. IN THE YEAR 2,000 A. D. (By Marie Newman, T5.) It is the morning of April 1st, 2,000 at the model highschool in Paxton, Illinois, United States of America. Small children are standing about in groups on the sod in front of the building. They are talking of various frivolous things, socialism, politics, economics and the like. Under his or her arm, each one carries a number of books, worn and thumbed from studious labor. A gong sounds. Talking stops immediately and each one steps out of the way of a neigh- bor who wishes to pass, then walks sedately up the broad stairs to the as- sembly. Quickly and quietly the wraps are hung up, and, in an incred- ibly short time, every one is settled in his seat and at work. The assembly is a large room with many plate glass windows, neatly- hung with old-rose lace curtains. The walls ar’ frescoed in delicate shades of tan and brown: and, here and there are hung etchings, masterpieces or some famous artists of the early part of the twentieth century. In the front is a wide platform extending the width of the room. On this are desks of dark, rich oak. seasoned by great age. On a table in front of the plat- form are many old manuscripts from which these model pupils glean unli- mited knowledge. Then behind the desks is a piano of ancient model, on which the young ladies render classi- cal old concerts and sonatas with the.