Pembroke Academy - Academian Yearbook (Pembroke, NH)

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THE ACADEMIAN , A -ii A STRANGE DISASTER , . C. D. Stevens, 'Twas a hot, sultry day in June when I first met Burns in a friend's back yard. He was sunning himself beside his newly built home at the farthest corner. He wasn't very big for his age but he had great ambitions, his greatest of which was to be buried in the briny deep. I thought it rather funny for such a small young- ster to have such an ambition, but rather than discourage him by paint- ing horrible things that might hap- pen to him after he had seen the salt water awhile, I helped him all I could by inducing him to eat more of the right food so that he might become big and strong. Only those who are large and healthy ever get the salt in their veins. With these words of advise I left him, for my business called me to my office. Burns didn't seem dis- turbed to see me leave though we were the best of friends from the start. He didn't even bother to wish me luck or, as I remember, even to say good-bye.. I didn't mind though. He was probably a- sleep before I was out of sight. What a life, eating, sleeping, and having a good time doing it. How I wish I were he for a day, As I said, my business called me away, clear to San Francisco, in fact. I went, of course, but I kqn thinking of Burns' ambition, Why should I care? He was nothing to me. I'd never met him but once, but somehow I hated to see him do it. when a youngster gets en idea in his head, though, it doesn't pay to try to change it. I finished my work for the day and went to my room. Somehow I wasn't hungry when it came supper time. Could it be that I was think- ing of Burns? I didn't know, but he was on my mind when I finally went to sleep. After what seemed years, I re- turned home and rushed to my neigh- bor's to see Burns. Yes, he was what a change had He had nearly there alright but come over him. reached his goal. Just a few more weeks and he'd be there. Somehow I hated to see him go, but I hadn't the heart to tell him for he was so proud. I told him I'd be around to see him leave. As the day drew-near, it more than visiting a dentist, I dreaded but when it finally came I found ny- self drawing nearer Burns' home. Something seemed to tell me I'd never see him again, but I kept going. As I rounded the last corner a shot was fired. Something made me feel as I'd .never felt before. Things grew black: I couldn't go on. I have no wry of knowing how long I lay there, but gan to wonder Burns? Had he cou1dn't bring anyone, but I when I came to I be- again. was it poor achieved his goal? I myself to ask it of found out the worst about a week later. As I walked by a meat store, I noticed these words on the window, 'Ask about the Burn- sorian Special, today only, native salt 'pork, twenty-five cents a pound.W Uhat's this got to do with the story? Well I'll tell you. You see Burns had achieved his goal, for he was a persistent Bershire pig and, like many other pigs of his neighk borhood, had been buried in the deep salty brine of a pork barrel.

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Dear Jim- by Jeanette Demers You and I grew up together. We were next door neighbors after I moved to the little town of Clear- dale. I guess it all started the day I fell into the river and you came to the rescue. We had such good times in those days before anyone ever thought there would be another war. Swimming, dancing, long walks, and bowling were Just a few of the many things we did to- gether. After high school you went on to college, and I got a Job. We didn't see each other again for four years. I hadn't forgotten though, and I don't believe you had either. Hbw proud I was at your graduation. You got a Job near the office where I worked, and we re- which by then newed our friendship had grown deeper and stronger. We planned to be married the following May but Fate intervened, and you went away. You enlisted the day after Pearl Harbor because you said that you wanted to help preserve the things you held sacred. It was then that we had our first real quarrel ,that left me in tears. I would not relent because I thought that the least you could do was to wait and be drafted, Now I see that I was terribly wrong. You went away with your faith in me ut- terly destroyed. But you fought hard, because that was the only thinn that could ease the ache in your heart. I didn't write because my pride wouldn't let me. I'll pro- bably never know the many dmos- you waited for mail that never came, and how you tried to smile and en- joy the bits from the letters that your buddies got from home. Oh yes, I kept busy while you were gone. First Aid classes, nur- ses aide, Red Cross work, and many other things occupied my hands, but they didn't occupy my thoughts which were on you continually. Yes, I've regretted a thousand times over the things I said during that quarrel. You tried to make me see it your way, but I refused to. Yesterday a telegram came. It was from your mother. I read these five simple words with sobs that tore the very heart from me. 'Jim is missing in action.n that froze my Five simple words heart within me. I cried the rest of the night, and now there is a feek ing of numbness and emptiness that comes with the realization that I'll probably never see you again. I don't know whether you're living or not, Jim, but somehow I feel that you know what I'm saying. Wherever you are, Jim, I want to say that I'm terribly sorry for what happened and, God willing, we'll meet again-won't we? M U D Arthur H. Fowler Here's to some mud in your eye, When I go recklessly by. Look at my Jeep: it's a mess I'll have to give it a bath, I guess. Here's some more mud in your eye. I'm waiting for the darn stuff to dry. If spring doesn't come pretty soon, I'll ride in the stuff till mid-June.

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ras AQAQSMIAN D ,,,,,,,,,,,,-.,...,,.,, zalnmnosrscrzon Madeleine Richard Having almost teeshedethorend of my high school career, I think that it is a good idea to look back upon the things which have impressed me and which I will want to remember always. X The first things that come to my mind are the little unimportant hap- penings that, because of their humor, because they were so charact- eristic of someone, or just because I had a part in them, have remained ln my memory for the past four years. My very first day at P.A.. my first glimpse of the new teach- ers every September, eating under the trees, scoring basketball games, and Charlie Yeaton and the vase of pussywillows at the senior play dress rehearsal are examples of what I mean--examples of the light- er side of my high school days. ity days at P.A. have not been filled only by silly and trivial moments. The past four years have been marked by a lot of serious thinking, by some disappointments and some rewards. My first debate, the first time I received four A's on my report card, the sociology c1ass's visit to the home for the feeble-minded, translating a diffi- cult passage of V1rgil's Wheneidn are some of my more serious memories Finally, in looking back, I will always remember the many, many things for which I owe so much to Pembroke Academy. The fine educa- tional opportunities which I have had, the friends that I have made, the teachers who have taught me how to apply the facts which I have learned, and the attitudes which I have gained--all these things have laid the foundations for my future. And so, as I conclude my retro- speotlon and begin to look ahead, I can only say, may all my future years be as happy and as worthwhile as my past four years. -1:--ui L C O K I N G U P Q Ella Severance Did you ever climb a mountain? that a grand feeling it is to stand on the highest point to be found and look down onto the fields and plains below. The colors, all blended together to form a delight- ful pattern of unmatchable hues and colors, make you reluctant to look at anything else. Then, you look up into the sky. It was far away when you were on the ground. and, strangely enough, it still is. But how much more you can see. The sky stretches endless- ly on and on, and, if. you are high enough, the ground appears to ex- tend illimitably, also. Would it not be safe to say, then, that when you have once gained your goal lt is as beautiful to look backward as forward? But, remember when you were at the base of the mountain? when you down there wasn't very much looked to see. Everything was too close to you But as there to make a beautiful pattern. you gazed up the mountain, was a network of colors, changing so slightly in some places and so sharply in others. It was very beautiful to look up to the very tip where the blue of the sky blended with the mountain. How often do we find it more enjoyable to look up? When we are young we look upward and onward. There seems to be nothing around us so beautiful as what is above us. But when we get older we will look back and see the beauty of ithings that were too near us to seem attractive. Let us strive so that when we do look back the pattern will be beautiful.