Piedmont High School - Tris Yearbook (Piedmont, WV)

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Zdettgfs Svacrifice Gertrude Wilson lived with her parents, brother. George and little sis- ter Betty in a city in Maryland. - Gertrude had graduated in the spring b-efore our story opens. She was a fine musician and wanted to take a series of lessons from a professor who was to be in the city only a short time. At the end of the Vwenty-five les- sons a Judge was to be appointed to select one to be awlalrded a prize. The DFIZQ was a purse of S500 or a course in any schcol she or he mright select. Gertrude asked her father one eviening at the dinner table if she could take the lessons. The twenty-five lessons would amount to one hundred and twenty-five dollars. b k Please, dad-dy, I'll work real hard and if I get the prize I'll pay you ac. . I am very sorry, my dear. I don't think I am able to pay out that a- mount at present. Your mother's illness and opetratiion have taken all I had saved up. Oh, daddy, I have told all my friends I was going to. and now what will they think? I must just get the money some way. Here is five dollars on it, sis, said George. I was going to get a foot ball, but I can do without it for awhile. Five dollars is only a. drop in the bucket. Thvankrs all the same. When are these lessons to begin? lasked mother. September 3, and this is August 25. Oh I can never get money to go as other girls. I think we have given you a good many advantages. Now there is yiour brother, for instance, he has givlen up a good many pleasures for you to continue your music. I would be ashamed to talk that way. If your fath- er isn't able to give you the lessons we W-on't say anythinig more albout it. Go to your room and remain there until you can talk better upon the sub ject. As the daughter left the room her mother said to her husband, What do you think of my pawning my pearls ? N-o indeed, We won't hear of such a thing, we will let the lessons go. Perhaps next year I'll be alole to send her myself. Now little Betty, five years old, was a silent listen-er of all this conver- satilon. She wanted to help her beloved sister very much. She made her way to the nursery and salt down by the fire. Taking her pug dog upon her lap she began to talk to him. Now, Beauty, we got to see what we can do. You are all I gwot I can call my own. Supposin' you and me go down and see the 'fesser man. May- be he will buy you, but oh, you d:arlin', I love you so much but I love sister Page .twenty-eight

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Q I em more. She has almost cried her eyes out now. We will gio to bed now and fink about it in the morning. The next morning while everyone was busy, they were not paying any attention to Bet-ty, so she slipped out and took her pup dog laflltd made her way down town. We'll find the 'fesser man. They walked on and she met a little boy. She asked him to take her to the 'fesser man. What 'fesser man? What are you talking about ? said th-e boy. Oh, you know the 'fesser mran' what gives the music lessons. Oh! I know who you mean, Professor Pirrie. Come on kid, I'll show you. He took her to the entrance of a large building and told her he was in there. Betty looked up at the large building and then at the boy and said. Open the door. So he opened the door. Betty Walked in and the boy showed her the man's room and left her. Betty knocked on the door and it was opened by 'a tall man with whiskers. He told her -to come in. Betty did so, looking around all the time. Take a chair, my little friend, said the professor. Betty sat down and took Beavuty on her lap. Are you the 'fesser man what gives music lessons? Yes, my dear, what can I do for you ? I come to see if you would give me one hundred and twenty-five dol- lars for my dog. For your dog? It must be a fine dog to be worth that much. Don't you love your dog? Most little girls love their dogs too well to sell them. Oh, I just love him dearly, but, you see, sister wants one hundred and twenty-five dollars to take lessons and daddy ain't got none to give her :and I love sister more than I do Beauty. Tell me about your sister, and what is youir name? My name is Betty Wilso-n and sister's name is Gertrude. Gertrude Wilson, ah! I have heard of her. So you want to sell your dog' for one hundred and twenty-five dollars to give your .sister for her mu- sic? Well, well, well, that is nice of you. And does your sister know you came to me? Perhaps she sent you. No, no, I runned away. Nobody knows I am here. Don't you want to buy him ? I don't know what I would do with him. Suppose I buy him sand you keep him for me. Oh, do you mean it? I'l1 take good care of him for you. That is settled then. Now I'1l give you na check. He wrote a check payable to Miss Betty Wilson and took her hlome him- lf. Se To say the Wilson family was surprised is to put it mildly. They had not even missed her. g ' The professor had an interview with Mrs. Wilson :and her daughter. The professor said anyone who had an unselfish little sister like Betty Page se-'uenty-nine Quai. W