Paxton High School - Reflector Yearbook (Paxton, IL)

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Paxton High School Reflector 21 (Angeline looks aghast, turns toward the audience, winks and giggles.) MR. R.: Why—er—er my dear Nettie, 1 thought after so many years of toil you deserved a little rest. I’m sure she'll he satisfactory. PROF. D.: Yes I assure you. Mrs. Rollister, she is a most remarkable womar. most remarkable. ROSIE: Yes, Mother, and that’s not the only pleasant little surprise we h ve for you. MRS. R.: Well, what next? ROSIE: Why, Aunt Priscilla is coming to visit us. Daddy just gave me her lei ter a few minutes ago. MRS. R.: You don't mean it child? ANGELINE: Yes and Jack has— (All turn toward Angeline with warning looks.) ANGELINE (nervously clasps her hands): Why, all I was gointa say was that Jack is nearly starvin’ an' so am 1. Come on shake a foot to the dinin' room. (All rise and follow Angeline . Mr. R. placing an arm about his w'fe.) CURTAIN ACT II SCENE—Same as Act I. TIME—Perhaps two weeks later. (Mrs. Rollister and Aunt Priscilla are seated talking earnestly. Aunt Priscilla is holding a large cat.) MRS. R.: It seems so good to have you with us again.- Priscilla, just like old times. I so wish you could live nearer us. AUNT P.: My deah Sistah! I wouldn't live nawth with you Republi- cans foah anything. The climate sutainlv doesn't agree with me, and as foah James Cox heah. I'm suaii lie’s lost at least foah pounds. MRS. R.: What do you call that cat? AUNT P.: Janie:, Cox. one of the 1 est names I know. You see a friend gave h!m to me just befoali she sailed foah Europe: and as he had nevali iiad ary name befoah. poah deah. I straightway named him aftaii my favorite candidate. Since I’ve had him. he has defeated nine dogs five of them belonging to strong Republican families. MRS. R. (laughing heartily): Well, as the Professor might say, he cer- tainly must be a remarkable cat. (Mr. It. enters.) MR. R.: Nettie, could I have your attention just a minute please? MRS. R.: Certainly dear, what is it? MR. R.: Well, here's that article Rosie wrote for my paper, and it s one of the best I've read on the subject for some time. Too good, in fact, for the old Advance, so I had thought of sending it away. What do you think of the idea? MRS. R.: Of course, the very thing. It will be such a pleasant little surprise. Just where were you intending to send it? MR. R.: Why really. I hadn’t decided. Where would you suggest? MRS. R.: Let me see. Say. why not to Dick Van Replen's paper, The Literary Era”? She's always been friendly with Dick, and besides it might boost his magazine. AUNT P.: That is one of my favor.te magazines. I've taken it moah than twenty yeahs. MR. R.: The very one. I'll take it down immediately. Now don’t let it leak out. remember it’s to be a surprise. (Enter Katie.) KATIE: Professor Sam-u-el T. Doodle is calling. MRS. R.: Show him in immediately. Katie and hereafter please bring the card to me.

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20 Paxton High School Reflector Saxon language. The exuberent use of slang is unexcelled by any other country of the t niverse. Why in iny native land, God bless her, such language would be considered indecorous, inelegant, uncouth, unclement, even vulgar. You must remember, my dear young people, that on you rests the responsibility of making your nation the noblest, and les., nor can yon do this without the aid of good English; for you know, as the old saying is, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” (Turning to Rosie.) Po vou r.ot agree with me Miss Rosalind? ROSIE: Indeed, I do, Professor: Their s ang is remarkable. ANGEIdNE: Now Professor Doodley Oodley, you told me once you thought I had temarkahle ideas fer one so yrung. But say, won't you help me write this English theme and give poor little tne a chance to answer this letter that should have gone ages ago? PROF. D. (smiling); Avec plaisir. Madamoiselle Angeline. MR. R.: Well, speaking cf letters, that reminds me, here’s a letter for you Rcs’e, postmarked Tennessee. (Mr. R. hands the letter to Rosie who breaks the seal immediately, while all look up interested.) ROSIE: Oh the perfect dear! What a surprise! How we’ll enjoy having her. ANGELINE: Havin’ who? ’Suprised at what? JACK: Great governor! Spill the beans! ROSIE (holding the letter close): Net until you ask me in the proper way. JACK: Ah. my fair sister, allow me to know the contents of your epistle. ROSIE: Well, it’s from Aunt Priscilla Patterson, and she’s coming to visit us. Isn’t that lovely? ANGELINE: Honest? May I read the letter Rcsie? Site's a picnic all in herself. (Jack whistles, kicks his foct in the air.) JACK: Picnic is tight! Say Professor, you wanta make a mash on her. That old bird sur as got the dough. PROF. D. (figgiting about as usual): Tut, tut. John, tut. tut. Bless my soul! what strarge ideas you have. You know, as 1 was just saying, I never understood the— (Mrs. R. enters.) MRS. R.: All home already? Why, howdy do. Professor. Well I must have been gone longer than I figgered I would be. But we certainly had a tine time. As Angeline says, we all brought our “pep” along and I did make quite a talk on “Better English.” It wasn't so hard after I once got started ar’ I jist—just—mentioned a hundred reasons why we ought to talk better. An’ sakes alive! you can’t imagine who's been ’licted president. ROSIE: Not you Mother! MRS. R.: An' why not me? Ain’. I jist as good for president as Sarie Matthews or Amanthis Warren or even that Mrs. Baxter, who thinks she’s a notch bettern’ the rest of us? Still, I can’t say I deserve the credit—Rosie there, first put the idea in my head. MR. R.: You never knew what you can do. Nettie, until you really try. ROSIE: Oh, it makes me so happy Mother to think that my little plan isn't in vain. JACK: Yes. I’m thinkin’ Sis, you’re O. K. after all. KATIE: An it's meself that’s thinkin' you had better be rattling your bones 'ere the dinner gits cold. (Mrs. R. looks bewildered—confronts her husband exclaiming!) MRS. R.: William Jeremiah Rollister! What have you gone an' did? JACK: “Did” is right. Ha! Ha!

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22 Paxton High School Reflector KATIE: Yis mom. (aside.) An' faith it's meself that's thinkin' :hat plagued Anglishmon is hangin’ aroun’ this jaint mighty often of lat 3. (Coes to the door and calls): ‘Step right in Professor.” (The Professor advances in his usual way hclding behind him a very prim bouquet.) PROF. I), (bowing): Good afternoon, ladies. 1 tri:s: I'm not inter- rupting a pleasant little tete-a-tete. MRS. R.: Not at all. Professor. You know you are always welcome. Won't yen be seated? PROP. D.: 1 assure you. Mrs. Rollister. your hospitality is unpreced- ented. (Turning to Aunt P. he offers her the flowers with a low bow placing a hand on his heart.) Are you fond of forget-me-nots. Miss Patterson? AUNT P. (beaming): Oh. 1 simply adcah them, and so does James Cox, heah. (Holds the bouquet to her nose and then to the cat's.) And that reminds me, Sistah. Its high time he was liavng h's sattcah of milk. Professor, would you excuse me foah just an instant, as 1 nevah can intrust the feeding of my deah pet to that imprudent maid? PROF. I).: Most assuredly, most assuredly. (Exit Ar.ntP. and Mrs. R.) (The Prof, marches up and down the stage murmuring) — Bless my soul, bless my soul—a most remarkable woman—most remarkable. I wish I knew the Lest way to win her heart Oh, I wish— (Angeline jumps into the room grasps the professor and dances him around the room.) ANGELINE: Oh! Professor Docdley, Oodley—the most wonderful thing has happened! You can't imagine! It’s almost too good to be true! Why don’t you look interested? Sit down and I'll tell you all about it. (Half shoves the Professor into a chair and seats herself on a stool by his feet.) PROF. D. (greatly agitated): My dear child, my dear child, allow me to get my breath before you tell me that the lost tribe of Israel has been discovered, the Moriscos have returned to Spain or Capt. Reed has reached Mars. ANGELINE (shrugging her shoulders): Why rone of those begin to compare with this. PROF. D.: Bless my soul, surely the Phoenician— ANGELINE (stamping her foot): Keep still and I’ll tell you all about it. You know the other day, Rosie gave me a pip of an idea when she mentioned that we start a better English movement in school. Well, I wrote a theme on Better English” and used bigger words than Webster ever dreamed of. PROF. D.: Indeed my dear young lady, I always said you were a most remark— ANGELINE: Yes. yes, but that isn't near the best part of it. The Prof, tbot it was peachy, gave me a beamin' grin and politely asked me to read it at the next literary entertainment. I could have kissed the dear old »ird from sheer joy. Now isn't that just rippin' news Professor? An don't you 'spose the family will be tickled? An’ don’t you think Rosie is the darl-ingest sister? ' PROF. D.: Yes she is a most remarkable woman, most remarkable. I think she greatly favors your Aunt Priscilla, don't you my dear? ANGELINE (disgustedly): No. I don’t! She’s a whole lot nicer than any old Rollister or Patterscn that ever lived, so there! Why. she’s always helpin' a fella out when he gits in a tight place. Say, you know I wish T could help somebody out or.ee in a while. (Places her head in her hands with a mournful little sigh.) PROF. D. Graying a hand on Angeline’s shoulder) (aside): Ah! surely this is my opportunity. (To Angeline with a deep sigh.) Child, there is a great problem on my mind and I wish to discuss it with you. But—first—this Is just OUR little secret and you must promise never to tell.