Petersburg High School - Missile Yearbook (Petersburg, VA)

Page 19 text:

The Missile 13 (Htjp fmrting flritirrsfi. I n the days beyond recollection there lived a king who was very rich and handsome. He had a daughter who was called Neoma, which means happiness. One day, Princess Neoma, as she was wondering throught the garden of her father’s palace, heard a light knocking upon the gate at the entrance to the grounds and, disobeying her father’s strict orders, she opened the gates. Before her stood a little old woman dressed in black. “I have come,” she said, “to tell you that your father has been injured and you are to come down the highway with me and I will lead you to him.” Out rushed Neoma and the gates closed behind her. As she hurried down the road, she noticed that they turn- ed many curves, and she was becoming tired and half doubtful; so she stopped and said she didn’t believe that her father was injured and how would it happen that he would be traveling such a round-about road. Just then a large and gruesome ogre jumped out from the hedge. He grabbed the frightened girl and carried her away to a big tower which was situated in the old witch’s garden. The ogre took from off a great nail, which had been driven into the immense structure, a key one yard in length, and when he placed it in the keyhole, the large door swing open on its rusty hinges. The witch then led the princess up a narrow winding stairway and after what seemed to her an endless time, they came to a narrow iron door. The witch opened this and ushered her into a dismal little room with noth-

Page 18 text:

12 The Missile The Texas blew four quick blasts, signalling that she was backing the engines, but on she came. We swung just in time, and the Texas passed us not twenty-five feet astern, cutting our towing spar line in half. We felt very fortunate indeed. The fog lifted about seven o’clock. The Florida, Wyoming, and Texas were still together with four torpedo boats. It was the next day before we found the New York, Delaware, the other twelve torpedo boats, and our convoy. We carried our convoy safely to an English port and returned to Scapa Flow. We were never for an instant in fear of the German navy, but we did recognize the dangers of the North Sea fogs. (To be continued .) Customer; Waiter, do you know it is nearly half an hour since I ordered this soup?” Waiter: “Yes, sir; but you know turtles are slow.” Mary had a Thomas cat It warbled like caruso A neighbor swung a baseball bat Now Thomas doesn’t do so. FOREGONE. That man has never been known to tell a lie. Then no woman has ever said to him “Don’t you think I am getting thinner?”

Page 20 text:

14 The Missile. ing in it but a stiff-back chair and a very uncomfortable looking couch. After the witch had disappeared and the lock had fallen back into its accustomed place, the princess looked about her in despair. What would she do? How could she get out of this dreadful place? Should she call for help? No. That would only arouse the old witch’s anger, and besides the princess knew she could not be heard by any- body seeking to aid her; so she relapsed into a pout. As she stood looking out of the iron-barred window, she heard a slight rustling noise, and turning about she saw a dazzling fairy dressed in white, smiling at her. The minute she saw the sullen look upon the face of the prin- cess, her face also fell, but only for a moment. “Why, dear princess, I never saw you with such a look upon your beautiful face before. Have you forgotten that your name is Neoma, which means Happiness?” in- quired the good fairy. “Oh ! that word is only a mockery to me. Call me anything else but that,” replied the sullen captive. “Well, my message from the good fairies to you is, my dear, that you smile; it’s the only way you can be set free,” said the fairy. “Farewell, and don’t forget to smile.” After the fairy left, the once happy face of the princess became darker than ever. That evening the witch came to the door and gave Neoma a bowl of broth and a slice of bread and with a slight grumbling, shut the door and went down the long flight of stairs. The next day at the same hour as she had come the day before, the good fairy appeared and told the princess to smile and keep smiling, for ’twas the only way she could gain her freedom.