Plainfield High School - Hermiad Yearbook (Central Village, CT)

Page 11 text:

THE HERMIAD 9 Yes, she returned, and went quickly to the desk and returned with it on a greasy slip ot paper. You had better eat your supper before you go out, said Hilda. But Milo's appetite was gone and he would not eat. He went directly to the junk peddler's house, and de- manded his violin. The peddler declared he did not have it, whereupon they both talked at once, with much waving of arms and shaking of fists. Then the peddler went into his house and came out followed by his wife and children. They all started up the street, with Milo close at their heels. Finally they came to a place where a cart was turned up- side down and junk scattered all around. A search was made for the violin, but it could not be found. Milo started for home, heartbroken. As he passed a certain block, he heard someone playing on a violin. He knew in an instant that it was his. He ran up a flight of stairs, opened the door, went in and seized his violin from the man who was playing it, and said, It be- longs to ine, ' and started running up the street, followed by the angry man shouting, Thief, thief! Milo was at length stopped by a policeman, and soon all the men who had anything to do with the violin appeared on the scene. Milo, Mr. Sabin the man from whom Milo had taken the violin. and Mr. Rubowitz, the peddler, were all taken tothe COl1ft to remain all night, and have their hearing the next morning. Milo wrote to Hilda that night, telling her that he had found his violin, and would be back early in the morning. The next morning, all three laid claim to the violin. Mr. Ru- bowitz said, I am the rightful owner I gave a lady five dollars for it. Sabin claimed it, for he had bought it froma lad who had found it. Well, said the judge, ' the only way to decide it is to see who can play it the best. He first offered the violin to Rubowitz, who said he couldn't play. He next offered it to Sabin, who grinned, took it, and played his only tune. It was hen handed to Milo, as the judge said, And now, Mr. Van Wynkoop, suppose we hear you. Milo tucked the violin beneath his chin and began to play. The ugliness vanished, and there appeared, instead, the charm of singing birds and sunshine, woods, brooks, and happiness. Evervone in the court-room listened breathless. The judge gave his decision without any hesitation, and a few minutes later Milo walked from the court room in posses- sion of his violin. He was trying to think of something to

Page 10 text:

8 THE HERMIAD up. Milo spoke again and asked him a question. This time the individual at the desk turned around, grunted an answer, and returned to his work. As Milo was going out hopelessly, he saw a violin on the table. Picking it up, he began to play. Immediately the whole aspect or the room seemed to change, as ii by magic. Instead of a place dreary with winter cold, the dingy old office seemed to be alive with the breath of spring, and the sweet notes of birds could be heard singing in the newly budding trees. Mr. Bloom turned in his chair as though a wonderful new idea had come to him, and said rather more courteously, W'here did you learn to play like that? In Holland, my native land, replied Milo. You return later, and I will talk business with you said Mr. Bloom, even kindly this time, Oh, thank you. I can't play this violin very well, but I have one of my own at home which I am more used to, and on which I can play very well, said Milo, as he departed. In the meantime, during his absence, his wife could think of nothing but the words he had whispered when he hung up his violin. Ah me, she sighed, he loves it better than he loves ine. She then knelt down and began to weep. Presently she heard a junk peddler calling. She got up, went to the win- dow, called to the peddler and sold him the violin for five dollars. VVith the money, she bought some food for herself and Milo. 'When Milo returned he could smell the good things cook- ing and it strengthened his appetite. It also aroused his curiosity, wondering where Hilda got the focd. VVhen he had taken off his hat and coat he sat down in his chair, and gazed lovingly up at the nail. His violin was not there! He began looking around the kitchen but could not find it. He was sure he had hung it on the nail, he had never put it anywhere else. But what had happened to it? He started up in a frenzy, Hilda. where is my violin ? Her face flushed, and she told him all. But I was hungry. she stammered as she ended thetale. Furthermore we needed food far more than you did your violin, she added. His face turned pale. and he started to go out. Milo, if vou will only forgive me. I will work and buy it back, Hilda begged. Before he got to the door, he turned and asked Hilda if she had the man's address.

Page 12 text:

10 THE HERMIAD tell Hilda and Mr. Bloom, when he came face to face withboth of them. Mr. Bloom, unobserved, had been sitting in the rear of the court room. Old scout, Mr. Bloom said. You did that very clev- erly. I congratulate you. You have a job for six weeks at 3150 a week. C'mon3 we're already an hour late for rehearsal. p THE HAUNTED HOUSE ELSIE RosE CNCE there was a man who earned money by selling a house and scaring out the people who had bought it, after they had moved in. He always said the house was haunted when anyone asked any particulars concerning it. When 2 person came to buy it, he set his price and asked him to pay fifty dollars down the first thing. Everyone thought it queer that he asked only fifty dollars down at Hrstg nevertheless, they would pay it and xnove in. Theyxhardly ever stayed more than the first night, however. The hrst two or three times, he sold it all rightg but soon people began to talk about it.. Still, other people, thinking possibly that they had more courage than the rest, would try it, hut always with the same result. The man earned quite a sum of money in this way, fifty dollars at a time, during the Space of a year. At last a man came along and said. I arn going to buy that housef' Perhaps you won't like it, said the owner. None of the rest have. You knowthe house is haunted, but 'haunts' vvon't hurt anybody. ' ' ' I am not afraid of ' haunts ', said the man. I am god ing to buy that house and live there. I am surely glad of that, said the owner, thinking that the man was iust boasting and that he could scare him as easily as he had the others. ' The man paid the fifty dollars down, but he didn't move his family in He brought what things he wanted for himself and spent the nights there. He was always home evenings, too. He wanted to see how and by Whom the house was' haunted. He had heard a good deal of talk about it and he desired to find out for himself., He stayed there most every night reading or tinkering on something or other to take up his time, but no 'haunt' appeared. ' At last, one night, rather late in the evening while he was reading, he heard a noise in the fireplace. He watched a few minutes and what should fall down into the ashes but the body of a man with no head on it.