Pembroke High School - Mattakeesett Yearbook (Pembroke, MA)

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8 THE WAMPUM shotgims and showed the youths how to handle them. This took most of the morning, consequently the boys waited until after dinner before setting out, with instructions not to go beyond the cuttings and trail, profecti sunt. Both shot a rabbit a little way from camp and were so tickled that they retiuned. ' Next day they started out bright and early, but seeing no game, went back for dinner. In the afternoon the boys shouldered their guns and began again. When about two miles from the camp, Eddie saw a bear at which, with the ig- norance of a city bred youth, he fired. This so angered the bear that he im- mediately charged the two boys, Alvin fired both barrels at the face of the infuriated beast, but this merely accel- erated his speed, for the shells were only loaded with fine bird shot. Dropping the useless guns, the boys fled to a near- by oak and-pulled themselves to safety just in time. Thereupon the bear, after watching the stranded hunters for awhile, sat down on his haunches be- neath the tree. Well, we're in a pretty fix now, said Alvin, I donft just love the idea of spending the night up here? We gotta get out somehow, but Ifll be blamed if I can see the solution? I have it, exclaimed Ed, 'Tll take the wads and shot out of my shells and make a bomb. With his j acklmife he emptied all the shells and poured the powder into a box in which he had carried some lunch. He fastened two strings to the pack, one to let it to the ground and the other to serve as a fuse. Setting off the fuse he slowly lowered the crude weapon. The fuse sputtered, but did not go out. The strange con- traption greatly puzzled the bear, who pawed it around and finally, when the fuse had nearly reached the powder, picked it up in his mouth. Presently a terrible roar, followed by clouds of smoke, broke the stillness. When the smoke cleared, the bear was seen lying: on his side, dead, his whole jaw blown off by the force of the explosion The noise attracted many men from the woods, and they dragged Bruin back to camp. Here a half-breed skinned and cured the pelt. Three days later, tak- ing the trophy of the hunt and promis- ing to come again next year, the boys started their homeward journey. W. A. C. '1'7. WHERE WAS HIS KULTUR? In the southwestern part of France there is a small rich territory from which its inhabitants, a band of honest farmers, had been sending good-sized amounts of food to help feed the French troops. Then, suddenly, the Germans discovered this plot of unravaged ground and immediately sent a regi- ment there with the order to lay waste everything you can put your hands on, and kill every farmer you see. The German troops approached the village slowly without being seen by the busy farmers. They camped in the shel- ter of a hill on the eastern side of the valley, and on the next morning the general sent out several scouts to learn the lay of the land and to discover how great was the defending ability of the farmer folk. One of the scouts, a yoimg private, took up his rifle and started with an air which plainly said, Iam glad to get out of this camp, even if it is only for a day. He climbed to the top of the hill and thence into the valley. It was with a regretful sigh that he thought how this peaceful spot would look in a few days, and of the sujfering which would fall

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THE WAMPUM 7 constructed. Thus, in reading what is considered the best books, one must seek for pleasure not only in the plot, but also in observing English used to its best advantage. It is not always possible to obtain all the good points at one reading, but these books will stand more than one, and oftentimes the second is enjoyed as much as, if not more than, the first. LITERARY A VACATION ADVENTURE Alvin Nash and Edward Sawyer, or Eddie, as he was always called by his friends, had been playmates since childhood. Both were of about the same age and lived in the same neigh- bo-rhood. Although their homes were in the city, nevertheless, both liked na- ture and hunting stories, for that was the only way they got a glimpse of the outside world. Often the windows of sporting goods stores, with their moose and bear heads, guns, and other para- phernalia of the woods, held them spell- bound. How they wished 'they could have a chance to get amongst the deni- zens of the wild, away from the bustle and rumble of the city! It seemed as if Dame Fortune saw and smiled on them, for the 20th of November brought a letter to Alvin from his Uncle Henry, who owned a lumber camp up in the Great North Woods of Maine. It said that if they had not already made plans for the Thanksgiving vacation, he would be pleased to have them visit him. How the hearts of the boys were thrilled! Would they go? Surest thing you know, if they could overcome parental objections. So they revealed the con- tents of the letter to their folks and asked if they might accept. Mighty dangerous thing, letting two seventeen year old boys go trooping off so far from home, said Mrs. Nash, and her sentiments were echoed by Mrs. Sawyer. But luckily for the boys, their fathers took another view of the matter. It will do the 'kids' good to get into the open and be dependent on themselves awhile, said Mr. Sawyer, and Mr. Nash, and to this statement their wives finally acqui-esced. Then the boys began to plan for the trip and collect the necessary articles. They were to start the 22nd, and although it was only two days away, it seemed an eternity to the youths. At last, how- ever, with heavily laden suitcases they boarded the iron monster which was to convey them to Little Medicine Station, whence they wou.ld be taken to camp in a buckboard. O er hill and vale, past fields, woods, and villages, the train sped, until at dusk the engine came to a stop at Little Medicine, a fiaga station, and they piled out. As their letter had said, they were met by the buckboard and Joe, the cook. After a tedious ride over logs and brush, the boys arrived at the camp. Here Uncle Henry welcomed them and assigned a shanty for their use. They soon retired, for the long train ride had been very wearing. Both boys were up at daybreak to partake of breaHast and see the lumberjacks leave for work. Then Uncle Henry brought out two 1

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THE WAMPUM 9 in those homes. But he mustn't think of that, he would be unable to do his duty U1 if he did. He was still some miles from the village when he suddenly came upon a wall which surrounded a large field. In the middle of the field, which showed signs of a good crop to come, was a tall, slim Bgure clothed in blue blouse and overalls, bending diligently over its work. The scout dropped quickly to his knee and raised the rifle to his shoulder. The figure in the held worked on undisturbed. The Hngers which held the rifle crept slowly toward the trigger. 'Dhe Hgure straightened. The fingers which were now on the trig- ger seemed to hesitate. The figureis arms moved as if to drive away the in- tense heat ot' the sunis rays, and swept oif the large straw hat, a shower of golden curls fell over the straightened shoulders. The fingers which had hesi- tated for a moment dropped, the rifle fell among the leaves. The young Ger- man picked it up and stole noiselessly back along the wall, the vision of an- other golden-haired girl in Germany, flashed across his mind. M. M. D. '18. FRANCIS PARKMAN Francis Parkman was born in Boston on the 16th of September, 1823. His father, like his great gTandfather, was a clergyman, and his mother a direct descendant of John Cotton. As his health was very poor, he spent most of his time while a youth with his grand- parents, who lived in Middlesex Fells. Here he was wont to wander about the Helds and streams, collecting, in his lei- sure, birds, eggs and reptiles. At an early age he entered Harvard, where he showed a marked ability in composition. While a student there, he took a trip through the New Hamp- shire wilds for the sake of lifein the open and adventure. He graduated from Harvard in 18-14 with high honors. Having made up his mind to study wilderness life, he set out for the prair- ies of Nebraska, accompanied by his friend, Francis Shaw. From here, after months of hardships and privations, he managed to get back to civilization. Then, although very ill and almost blind, he wrote one of his most popular books, The Oregon Trailf' He also wrote other histories and stories of In- dian life. He died in Jamaica Plain, in 1893. He is remembered chiefly for his truth in depicting Indian life and customs, a quality which many romances of Cooper and other authors do not possess. W. A. C. ,17. THE BUSH-LEAGUE RECRUIT Timothy O'Connor had been a bush- leaguer for three years before McGraw signed him as a pinch-hitter. On one- occasion he had made a home run with the bases full, the following day he was hailed by the papers as a second Ty Cobb, and Tim thought the papers were right. Consequently, he asked the manager for a raise. The manager, however, thought the home run a mat- ter of pure luck, and told Tim if he didn't like the salary he was getting, he knew what he could do. Tim, of course, realized that this meant the bushes 'Tll show him, thought' Tim, what little he knows about base-- ball. All he does is warm the bench and hand the lineup to the umpf' The Dodgers were playing the Giants at the Polo grounds. Both were tied for first place, and the team that won would be in the lead. Up to the eighth inning neither team had scored. How--