Pembroke High School - Mattakeesett Yearbook (Pembroke, MA)

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THE WAMPUM Literary How They Won Their Motor. Jerry and Jake lived in the town of Bockville. They were both in their seventeenth year, and very much in- terested in all the latest fads. They had both attended the airship meet held at a neighboring town the year before, and had returned full of plans for an airship. They procured all the reading matter obtainable at the village library on the subject, and set to work. Their principal drawback was a work-shop — they both had small shops that would do for an average piece of work, but neither was large enough for their new undertaking. Jerry suggest- ed that the barn loft would be a good place, but as his father had already or- dered his winter supply of hay, that was out of the question. Jake had an uncle living on the next street who he knew had just the place in his attic that he needed, but the boys hardly dared to ask him for it. He was get- ting along in years, and did not like to be disturbed by boys meddling with such ' freaky things as airships; but nevertheless they asked him and were much pleased and more surprised when he gave them permission, provided they would only use the rear stairs, and make no more noise than necessary. It was a large roomy attic, extending the length of the whole house, and just the place they wanted. After they had built their airship, they could not get it out, of course, but there was a large flat balcony surrounding the syklight, and they planned to launch it from this. School had closed for the sum- mer, so all their spare time was spent in the attic, and the ship rapidly took shape. It was by no means a full sized ship, scarcely ten feet from tip to tip, but they had great hopes of its ability to fly. The only thing that disturbed them was the motor. The other mate- rials for the ship were not very expen- sive, but they could not secure a motor without considerable expense, but still they worked faithfully on and trusted to chance to supply a motor. At last, late in August the airship was completed. They still had no motor, but everything else had been completed. That afternoon they had taken it apart, and raising the pieces through the skylight, had set it up again upon the roof. That evening when the uncle returned, he seemed to be worried about something. After thinking awhile, he said, I have got to be out until late to-night, and I wish you boys would stay and kind of look out for things. You know Nellie has gone away for a few days, and I do not like to leave things alone. I have some very important papers in my desk, that I should not like to lose. Accordingly, the boys stayed over night in their uncle ' s house. The eve- ning passed slowly, and they turned in about ten o ' clock. They did not sleep in any of the chambers, but went up to the work-shop — perhaps they wanted to be nearer their ship which they were going to try out in the morn- ing. The boys were both tired, but the re- sponsibility they felt regarding the val- uable property below kept them from sleeping very soundly, and they both awoke with a start when they heard a sound of breaking glass downstairs. Somebody ' s after the papers, cried Jake in a hoarse whisper. Go tele- phone for the police. But as the telephone was in the same room as the papers, this seemed rather inconvenient just at that time. They listened intently, and heard indistinct footfalls below; no doubt whoever was in the house expected to find it entirely empty, for he did not hesitate about making noise. What shall we do? cried Jerry. We must hurry or he will get them and escape, and then won ' t Uncle Jake give it to us. You know he locked the library door before he left, so we can ' t get into the room, unless we go in the same way the thief did. I know ; the glider. It will hold me

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THE WAMPUM Editorial Behold ! A new Wampum has arisen. (After being discontinued for three years a high school paper has been printed, and though slightly smaller than the old, we hope the readers will find as much of interest in the new as in the old. We realize that times are hard and business dull at this time, and we feel that we owe the greatest thanks to the business men of this town and of other towns, who have financially lent their aid to the paper. The scholars have spent much time in preparing themes, essays, grinds, and so forth. The editors and teachers have worked together and produced a paper of which the readers are the best judges as to whether it is a success or not. Owing to the illness of the Athletic Editor, much of the work in that de- partment has been done by Walter A. Crowell. We are glad to see so many in the Freshman Class. It is the largest that the school has had for over five years, and we hope they will continue their studies and graduate in full force. Not long ago a certain college eleven was defeated by a team it should have outplayed. The students were some- what disappointed with the result, but at the same time they realized that then was the time to cheer, a time when the team needed all possible encourage- ment. Accordingly, nearly the whole school turned out at midnight and marched half a mile through the rain to welcome home their defeated team. That was school spirit. School spirit depends on each one doing his best for the good of the school ; it depends upon the loyalty and support of each scholar. At Pembroke it depends upon you. Stand by your school ! Since the Wampum was not printed last year, perhaps some of the towns- people have forgotten about it. If so, buy one this year, read it, get interest- ed in the school and its work; then come and visit us more, and see for yourselves what we are doing. Pupils will do better, if they are encouraged by the people in the town. The school needs the people ' s support and good will, and it is your duty to become fa- miliar with what the school is doing. If you are not interested how, the Wampum will help you get interested. The Literary Society was doing good work at the first of the year, and the members enjoyed the programs con- sisting of debates, recitations, piano solos, and school songs. The Society has discontinued its meetings now, ow- ing to the many duties of the spring term. Pembroke High ' s most needed im- provement is a basement. When the building was planned, it was thought that a basement was not neecssary, but as each year passes, and the school grows larger, its lack becomes more and more apparent. The entry, in which the boys eat their lunches, is much too small, and insufficiently ventilated. If a basement were built, it would serve as a place to eat, and a part could be fitted up as a gymnasium. It is hoped that some time in the near future, the town or Alumni Association will appro- priate a sum to meet this deficiency.

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THE WAMPUM until I get to the ground, I know, cried Jake. Don ' t you do it — you will break your neck, warned Jerry. It seemed different now when the time had come to actually test the air- ship, but his friend was already on the roof, so he followed quickly. Here! cried Jake, Help me lift this railing aside, then give me an easy push. Hurry! He did as he was bid- den, and Jake climbed into the car. Push when I say ready, he whis- pered. No wonder his teeth chattered; it takes a good deal of confidence in one ' s machine to go off of a three-story roof in the daylight; but at night time it seemed four times as bad. But he thought of his uncle ' s faith in him, and gritting his teeth cried, Ready! At first the glider fell like a shaft, then as the outspread planes caught the breeze, she slowed up a trifle and rode steadily down. Jake did not try to steer ; there was not time for that. He trusted to luck to land safely, and to tell the truth, that was about all he could do. But luck did land him right side up, and he jumped out long be- fore the car had stopped flitting across the yard. Hurry, Mike, get up! he cried softly at the hired man ' s window in the stable. There is somebody in the house. Telephone for the police, quick ! Mike, the man of all work about the place, responded quickly, and the po- lice were notified in a very few seconds. Then the man and boy ran around to the library window. All seemed as usual. The panes were not broken in, and everything appeared to be quiet. Mike was inclined to be skeptical. I don ' t see any thief, he said. Where is he? But Jake was not convinced. We ' ll go in and see, he said. He went around to the rear door, the key to which Jake usually kept in his pocket, as it led directly to the attic, and entered quietly. All seemed well in the kitchen, but as they turned on the lights in the dining room, they saw their thief in the midst of his spoils. There, directly in front of the sideboard, lay the frag- ments of a huge punch bowl; several glasses also added to the litter, several quarts of punch were flowing about the wreckage, and in the midst of it all the family cat stood innocently blinking at the lights. The boys had forgotten to feed her, and I suppose she thought she would see what she could do for herself. By this time the police had arrived, and were somewhat provoked when they learned it was only a fake alarm. The boys were still explaining to them how it happened when Uncle Jack rushed in; some one had told him his house was afire. He listened carefully to the whole story and grunted his approval of their conduct. He was a man of few words and seldom spoke unless absolutely necessary, but his gratitude was plainly felt when a few days later, Jake was notified that a six- cylinder engine had arrived, addressed to him, at the freight house. He guessed who had ordered it and hur- ried quickly to his uncle ' s house, but the good man would listen to no thanks, and concluded his outburst of gratitude by locking him out of the room. It is needless to say that the boys were much pleased with their motor and the flying ability of their airship. E. J. ' 16. The Latest Historian. Wherever there is a big fire, a fight, a war, or anything of importance, the man with the moving picture camera is much in evidence. He is usually a young fellow and a gentleman until you step between his camera and pic- ture, then his language is not all that could be desired. A future president of the United States, if he wishes to, can see the actual events which caused the holiday he is celebrating, for all important events are being taken on moving picture films and stored in moisture-proof, fire-proof, and dust- proof vaults. In the recent war with