Pembroke Academy - Academian Yearbook (Pembroke, NH)

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.4 ...And This was gleasantville ' Harriet Williamson ' Plodding slowly along the dusty highway, the wcrouched figure went. The dust, coated his mouth, tasted like dry, clinging chalk. As speedy motored cars whizzed by it camouflaged his clothing: it en- veloped him so much he looked almost like a moving cloud of dust. His head was bent low, he was so weary. Turning a well-forested bend in the road, he ferreted out a stout stick. It was what was needed to uphold and upholster old Moses. ...Moses was once as is everyone. He was born in Pleasantville, one of those places one might call a one- horse town. When he was old enough to walk he discovered a place he afterwards returned to again and a- gain, a place he revered. It was the little wooden chapel, erected as a neighbor to the stately, white Puritan church. Another spot he took great stock in was McLeevy's General Store. Mr. McLeevy had an- other motive for calling this son of a very active, wealthy customer WSugar plu .W This embarrassed Moses when he started wearing knic- kers. Then, too, there was the brick grammar achool, huddled like a scared rabbit amidst the towering evergreens. Moses did not have much time to spend there. When Moses was old enough, his folks sent him off to boarding school. Moses thought when school closes, I can go back and see every one in my old home town. But col- lege was to come before that, Moses' father wrote to him as college com- mencement approached. ---nAnd so, Moses, your mother and I have ar- ranged for you to become a partner in 's firm as soon as you finish college,' That's how it went. Some days when Moses came home from the office, he often longed to 4. .' -.,. .., , . find his wife waiting for himfin' Pleasantville, not in this huge me- tropolis. It became an obsession, an ,ambiticn. If only he could stroll down the maple-shaded main street and walk into the General Store. How homey it, would be to hear the tinkly bell on the door! Well, by jove, he, and his wife, and now his family would go for a visit to Pleasantville. Yes, the next vacation from the office. But next summer his wife became ill. When the vacation time came, Mrs. Moses could not go. She was too weak to be moved. Mbses was putting flowers on her new green mound the week they had planned to be in Pleasantville. From one city to another Moses wandered. He couldn't manage his office job, so he had 'bean' 'gra- ciously discharged.n There was only one thing Moses wanted to do, re- turn to Pleasantville. His white hair and slow speech wcu1dn't stop him from getting a job in Mr. Mc Lewy's store, though it did every- whereuelse, On Moses went like a slowing up, jerky locomotive. Here he was on the last lap to Pleasantville. As he staggered into the Main Street, he felt a change. The cars still whizzed by like zephre trains. They had never done that in Pleasantville. 'Could you tell me how to get to Mc Leevy's General Store, please sir?' nNever heard of that. There isn't any such place in Pleasant- vi1le.u These seemed to be the answers to all his inquiries as he crept thru the thriving city of P1easantville.' If they had looked closer, they would have seen tears making awkward paths down his withered, dusty face.

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,I IHE ACADEMIAN g ,gp ns! Y , . Jrllreil., ll, ,. , . I I 1 l . .JU-wr 1 ,., , ,, I. lluli V, , Pleasant Street Suncook, New Hampshire February 26, 1945 Dear Eunice, My selection from the Book-of- the-Month Club arrived last Wednes- day. The name of it is NOur Hearts Tere Young and Gay.' It is written by Cornelia Otis Skinner and Emily Kimbrough. They relate their trip to Paris in the early twenties when they were not twenty themselves. Many funny incidents occur be- even begins. their ship, Ehen they fore their trip abroad While they are aboard there is a shipwreck. reach Paris, they see many famous people, although they acquainted with them. Since Cornelia has before, she likes to tell Emily all she knows about the ship. Your interest in humerous books led me to believe that you would thoroughly enjoy reading this true story. If you cannot obtain the book, please let me know, and I shall send you mine as soon as I Cane Let me hear from you soon. Love, Betsey do not get been abroad Epsom, New Hampshire February 26, 1943 Dear Jeanne, Thank you very much for sending that book to me, I certainly en- joyed it. I have just finished an- other book by Nevil Shute called, nLandfa1l.n It is an excellent English novel, and I'm sending it to you because I think you will en- joy it as much as I did. It is the love story of an R.A.F. pilot who sank a British submarine by mistake. Because of this error he gets into many difficulties. In the meantime he falls in love -with a ber maid and through her interest, loyalty, and wisdom, he is cleared of the charge brought against him. She proves to the high officials that it was not a British, but a German submarine that he sank. There is a lot in the book about airplanes and the sea which make it an exciting war-time storya H.. we When you have finished it let me know how you liked it. Please try and get it beck to me within two weeks because it will be due at the library soon after that. Love, Jeanette --.-11-.- HEVEILLE IN WASHINGTONA Author Margaret Leech A ' Compton French '43 - Washington vas e country capitol stretizhed out in a muddy valley along side the Potomac river, It became a prize for which two armies contended. On its stage was played a mighty political drama of a nan tion divided by rebellion, This city was made up of all kinds of people, crooks, contractors, reports ers, spies and foreign adventurers. The book tells of the lady spies, Rose Greenhow and Belle Boyd, of the Union Generals, and also men- tions Clara Barton along with many others. . At the opening of the war, W P.Sh'vr ington was a barrack over-run by soldiers: a gay resort in which men and women laughed and danced and drank. This book describes life at the White House, and the struggle cf Mary Lincoln a proud woman in an unfriendly community. I would not advise everyone to read this book, Reveille in Washing ton, because of the lengthy descrip- tionz 'lf a person likes descrip- tion and history, then by all means it. read

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. THE ACADEMIAN THE LAST LETTER Bettye Silks The girl who sat in the bright, sunny room was a lovely little thing. She had small perfect fea- tures, cool green eyes, and a smooth shining cap of black hair. She was writing a letter to Michael, her Michael. How she loved the souxd of that. In a few days she would see him again--gallant, tall, handsome Michael, the flyer. As she sat at the desk writing she would stop once in a while and think of the grand times that they had had together. How well she re- membered the first time she had ever seen Michael. Surprising as it was, she had hated him, for he had laughed at her. but as she had grown to know him better, she began to like him, and finally they had discovered they were in love. It wasn't long after that, that war was declared. Michael had never been one to stand for anything cruel and ruthless, and so he had enlisted in the Air Corps. At first she had thought that he should have waited, but as time went by she rea- lized that it was right, that it was his duty. She also remembered the first leave that Michael had. How could she forget for it was then that he had given her the diamond ring which she now so proudly wore. They had promised each other that if nothing happened, they would get married in Juneg and now, it was June and everything was so perfect. Michael was coming home on a two week leave, and they were to be married as soon as he arrived. The letter was almost finished, and she could hardly wait to mail it for this would be the last letter for awhile. Soon she would have Mi- chael himself, not just letters. Finally the letter was finished, and she sealed it put everything away, and went downstairs to tell her mother that she was going to the post office to mail the last letter to Michael. She opened the door and went out into the bright sunlight. The next day two small items ap- peared almost side by side in the local newspaper. HIT'RUN DRIVER KILLS LOCAL GIRL' ' June 6-- Marsha. Collins, 20, only child of Mr. and Mrs. James Collins was killed yeaterday by a hit and run driver. Marsha was well known around town and was engaged to be mar- ried to Lieutenant Michael Coom- bes. LOCAL FLYER KILLED IN CRASH A June 6-- Word was received today that Lieutenant Michael Coombes, 22, son of Mr. and M s. Charles Coombes was killed in a crash at Randolph Field. Coombes, just recently commis- sioned, was expected home on leave, at which time he was to be married to Miss Marsha Collins . SPRING By MyrafPalmer A The air is fragrant with the springg The sky is bright and clear The sun shines over everything, And summer seems so near.