Piedmont High School - Tris Yearbook (Piedmont, WV)

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The Qlutnhiugrapbp uf a ibennp Years ago I slept in the pocket of a rock in the Rocky Mountains. Once when I was lying quietly in my bed I heard a far off sound which seemed to come nearer and nearer. Suddenly I heard someone hammering and walking and after while someone took me out of the rock. I was put in a fire and heated until I was as round as could be. After while they sent me away to be stamped and then sent me on my journey around the world. . I never stay in one place long enough to call it home. One day a rich lady took me to a large store and gave me, with a lot of other pennies to a man behind the counter for some sugar. When the lady was gone the man put me in a drawer with other pieces of money and shut me up in there. Oh! how dark it did seem for a while. I lay there very quiet listening to the other pennies telling about the experiences they had during their lives. I was left in this drawer for a few hours, which seemed more to me like months. Then I was taken out and given to a little girl, who put me in her pocket book and left me there for two or three days. I was then taken to a candy store and exchanged for some candy. I was again put in an old dark drawer. I did not stay there very long before I was given to a boy who put me into his pocket. But he was a very care- less boy for at least I thought sol as he put me in a pocket that had a hole in it. As he was going along the street I dropped on the hot, dusty road, where I was soon lost from sight by the dust which covered me. I began to think that I would have to end my life in that old dusty road where the careless boy had dropped me, when a little child came along the road and happened to see me shining through the dust. She ea'- erly picked me up and wiped the dust off my face. How pleased she was! She said: I will go in the store and get a stick of candy. I was then placed in an old dark drawer again and here I was shut out from the beau- tiful, bright world. I lay here for three long days. Then the storekeeper gave me to his little g'rl to take to Sunday School. She put me in her pock- et and started on her way. When she reached the church she went in and sat down by some other girls and showed me to them. She seemed very proud of me. After while I heard a bell ring and an old lady came back to the class. She took up the collection and I was dropped into the plate. A lot of other pieces of money were thrown on top of me. Taking the money out of the plate, the teacher, which was what the class called the lady, counted it. As she deemed the collection for that day quite a large one, she seemed very much pleased, declaring that the pennies were what counted. I felt m.uch elated after hearing this statement, but my joy was short last- ing as I was handed to a large man who put me into a corner way down in hris pocket. He tried to get me out, but had a very hard time doing so. When he finally accomplished his aim, he asked: You little rascal, why couldn't I get you out before ? This man treated me very cruelly and I certainly was glad when I was given to anotlcer man. I wonder how much longer I must travel before I get to a place where I can rest for a while. A penny surely has a very hard life. ERMA TURNER '26 Page eighly-four

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VFZHSII A Huqzsl 1115132 Qhhenture uf a ikainhrup I remember as I lay in the ocean with regrets, floating in a cloud over land checkered with farms deep blue and lakes dotted with soils, the moun- tains rugged and serene with deep gorges and cool glades. Then I felt my- self falling to earth with millions of other drops to be sucked up by the thirsty ground immediately upon arriving. It was dark and cold as I jour- neyed farther down into the earth until finally, I joined many other drops and began traveling along with them to burst into a pure, clear mountain spring at last. It was a small spring with a little stream of water flowing from the outlet, towards which I felt myself being drawn and then go tumb- ling down the gully. Gradually other small streams began joining in 'till I found myself be- ing hurried along by a rushing, brawling mountain stream in which the speckled mountain trout loved to leap and play, or the fisherman with wad- ing boots on and large rod in hand, his kind face lighted with joy as he tested his skill with the husky mountain trout which he had hooked. I had a thrill as I rushed through the rapids and felt myself leap into the air as I struck a bowlder, to go roving on again. I felt myself falling until fin- ally I was just a mist through which the sun formed a beautiful rainbow, then the joining at the bottom of the falls, to go creeping slowly through deep virgin forests with the stars and moon reflected on the water. I heard the deer come down to drink, only to tremble and snort as it hears the weird scream of the mountain lion in the forest, or in the morn- ing the songs of the birds, accompanied sometimes by the singing of a tall, clear-eyed man as he passes swiftly over me in his canoe. Still other drops of water come in the form of streams, until finally I am in a mighty river, flowing stately between banks lined with tall trees or going around a bend and bursting upon a quiet village basking in the warm sun or in the moon- light to see two lovers sitting on the bank dreaming of happy days to come. As I flowed on with millions of other raindrops, a change gradually took place. Instead of wood-lined banks and swift canoes, there were farms and large steamersg then the factories, the wheels of which I made go around by my mighty force, and in this way became a servant of man and a help to the world. I was dammed up and made to turn mighty generators which sent a fluid which lights up the cities and helped to relieve the bur- dens of man. Then to arrive at the end of my journey, the ocean, over which the mighty steamer passed. I still lie here awaiting the call which will again take me to the white clouds which float over my head. I want to help mankind whom God decreed we should serve. NONRMAN HOIFFA '25 Page eighty-three

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Mary uf a Ileah 1BenriI Monday. My! I feel so good this morning. I am all dressed up in a nice yellow suit, and a nice red rubber cap is fastened securely on my head. I just arrived in Piedmont and the store man who bought me has put me in the window. Oh! It is so pleasant here and I can take in all the sights. I saw Sue Fredlock and Clyde Marker going down street, but, of course, they didn't notice poor little me. They seemed very happy. I wish them the best of luck. Tuesday. Well, I don't feel quite as good to-day as I did yesterday. The store keeper took me out of the window this morning and set me on the counter with some more of my brother and sister pencils. I can't see very much here and I am so afraid someone will come in and buy me and then I will be treated cruelly. Oh! What a noise! Who is coming? Why, it is Virginia Fisher and of course, she had to buy me. Wednesday. Oh dear, this is my first appearance in P. H. S. Of course someone took me up to the pencil sharpener and sharpened me. My! How that operation did pain me. I hear the sound of approaching foot- steps. Oh! It is Mr. Rhodes. Now, there is a rush for class rooms and someone had to take me along. I don't know who he was, but he opened his pocket knife and cut me part away. I am getting rather used to this op- eration as it is repeated so much. Well, I've just written and figured all this livelong day. I feel so old and I am afraid my life will soon draw to a close. I suppose everyone has gone and left me here on this desk, so I guess I will get a little rest for a while, because I surely do need it. Thursday. My! I had a good rest last night and feel refreshed this morning. Had quite an interesting conversation with one of my friends. But my! He surely must be rich because he wears a gold suit and by the way he talked he must be treated good. I often wonder why it is that some pencils are treated so good and I am treated so cruelly. I have led an un- happy life ever since my first day in P. H. S. when that operation was per- formed upon me. Friday. Something unusual happened this morning. I heard the most peculiar noise and what do you think? Someone said it was Eula Freeman playing the piano. Then, some boy came along and put me way down in his pocket. Oh! It was so dark in there. At last I found myself falling and before I knew what had happened I was on the floor. The next thing I knew I was with a lot of papers in a basket. Saturday. Just a few words this morning to whomever may read this diary. I was once long and handsome and as happy as could be, now I have grown aged and I fear my life is about to close. Oh! don't abuse your 'pen- cils, but handle them with care, and just think how you would wonder what to do if these friendly pencils could not be made for your use. RUTH TURNER '25 Page zighty-five