Piedmont High School - Tris Yearbook (Piedmont, WV)

Page 103 text:

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

Page 102 text:

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

Page 104 text:

I H 3 Qlihz Blank Bihar A large vision rose before meg it was a ghost dressed in a large black robe and with large staring eyes which shone like fire. I am not a coward, but yet the sight of this strange visitor made me tremble. In my fear I reached out a hand toward it and uttered: Do you wish something from me ? But not a sound was heard from the strangerg it seemed to repeat everything I didg it reached two arms toward me. I rose from my seat and left the room to see if I could not get away from my un- welcome friend. Upon reaching the next room I found that my friend was there before me. He greeted me with a sign of the hand and bade me sit down. I did as I was asked for I was afraid not to. While sitting here my visitor gained his speech. He wanted to know if we were alone and if I would go with him to his cave, which was called Black Pit. I was afraid not to say Yes, but the thought of entering Black Pit made me shudder. People had often wanted to go in but dared not venture because of the mysterious enchantment of the place, and because Black Rider had warned them not to come near. As I was dazzled in thought I glanced nervously to the stranger and, behold here I was in a house with the Black Rider, faced by a long sharp knife. I was not long answering his questions, for to everyone I was com- pelled to answer: Yes. After I promised him I would go and would tell no one of his visit, he disappeared. How glad I was he was gone, but what would I do about visiting Black Pit? This was the question which confront- ed me. I was sure that death awaited me. Having put in a restless night of sleeping, I rose and prepared for my dreadful journey. I was no sooner ready than my visitor came leaping up to the gate. He was disguised in a long black coat and a little old felt hat was drawn down over his forehead. I was put on the horse by the strang- er and we started for Black Pit. Before going far I looked back to see my home before meeting my doom. The stranger saw that I was dreadfully frightened and questioned me on what I thought Black Pit was. I told him about my hearing it was the place where death awaited those who ven- tured in and of every detail of the Black Rider. He gave a few snarls and spurred the horse with his heels and said: People seem to know a lot a- bout other people's business in this towng there must be a stop fput to it. I would not talk except when questioned, then I was just able to mumble. The Pit was soon reached. We were surrounded by a number of cur- ious looking fellows, who resembled the rider in every Way possible. These fellows looked at me as if they had never seen a person before. Page eighty-six