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

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THE HERMIAD 11 ADVENTURES IN LILLIPUT CHelen Hart-19281 OMMY was roaming through a strange forest. He had no idea how he came to be there, but he knew he was lost and saw no way of getting out. As he sat resting on a log he saw a strange band of little men coming toward him. These midgets were about six inches tall and half of them were riding on rats while the others walked behind. Tommy was astonished, of courseg but he soon found voice enough to ask them where they were going and if they could help him find his way home. n We are in luck, cried the leader dismounting. Here is a giant who seems friendly enough to help us combat the enemy. If you will help us rescue our queen, he said, addressing Tommy, we will take you out of the forest. Where is your queen, asked Tommy rising slowly. She has been stolen by our enemy from across the river and we must get her back today or her kingdom will be destroyed. Take me to her. I am in a hurry to leave the forest, said Tommy impatiently. Forward march! called the leader mounting his rat again. On they went for about an hour. It seemed very slow traveling to Tommy who took a step and then waited for the rest. The river which they had to cross seemed only a brook to him. The enemy were prepared for war, but when they saw Tommy they became so surprised and were so interested in him that they forgot to guard the queen and the leader seized her and ran back to his steed before they could realize what was happening. Now that the queen is gone, let's keep this giant in our kingdom, said one man. He is so large and powerful he could help us win our battles. Before Tommy understood their plans, many little men were binding his hands and feet with their stoutest ropes which seemed like cord to Tommy. He looked for his friends whom he had helped and saw them crossing the river rejoicing over the safety of their queen. The midgets took Tommy to their court house which was their largest building. Alas! he could not even .get his head through the doorway. It was at this time that they began to realize his enormous size in comparison with them. Fear suddenly seized them and not knowing anything else to do they called a meeting and decided that the quickest way to get rid of him was to throw him into the river. It took about a hundred and fifty men to move the protesting Tommy. At last they reached the river and threw him in, splash! When Tommy came to the surface again he opened his eyes and to his surprise found himself sitting on the fioor of his bedroom. His mother came in and when she saw him she cried, Why, what has happened?

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10 THE HERMIAD A BAD ERROR QWilliam Williams--1 9281 HE spirit of the huckleberry season had got into the blood of us two Wilbur boys, me and Dan,--my name is Jim. So one bright sunny morning, accompanied by two large pails, we decided to try these little fruits of nature. After a good long walk we arrived at the glorious huckleberry field. Perhaps you have read of huckleberry fields where the berries are as large as marbles, and any way one turns he is confronted by tall bushes, loaded with delicious berries. Every way we turned we were confronted by tall bushes, loaded with plenty of sharp stubbles that lacerated the skin as well as the clothes. Well, say, I believe we tramped those woods for ten miles and all the time the huckleberries kept getting scarcerg to add to our misery we ran into a herd of cows, at least Dan said so. He was a little distance in front of me and said an ugly looking cow was in the way. When I reached him I saw the animal-or rather her head-which was thrust through the brush. Up-on a second look the features of the animal changed from those of a cow to those of the male sex of that sepcies. I immediately informed my brother of the fact. He readily agreed with me and suggested we walk away. We had not walked far when I noticed a member of the herd following us. We accelerated our pace somewhat and I was surprised to find our pursuer did also. That was enoughg the track Work we did then was enough to make any coach proud. Dan suggested that we find a tree and ascend. If the huckleberry bushes had stubbles on them, I don't know what the tree I picked had on it. Anyway it didn't stop me any. I most certainly gave an imitation of a bird, and reached a safe perch before our friend arrived. When he did appear he must have had a good laugh to himself when he saw us up that tree. From the looks of him I doubt that he would have harmed a flea. Shortly after his arrival he departed and we left our tree. When we started for home we were accompanied by two large pails, both of them filled to their brims with air. What huckleberries we did pick we lost during our mad scramble through the thick underbrush. Thus was the spirit of the huckleberry season taken out of us two Wilbur boys.

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12 THE HERMIAD Where have the midget men gone? asked Tommy. You've been dreaming, dear. Jump into bed and go back to sleep, answered his mother. ffkffiie APRIL FIRST , QWitoldo Bakanowsky-19291 T was the first of April! A long, dreary winter had passed, and it was fishing time once again. It was a happy boy who left the old farm be- hind, and tramped across the fields in the direction of Pookigod Creek- famous for its speckled beauties. The mist hung over the pasture lands in heavy clouds as if an enormous blanket had been outstretched by some unseen power. But what mattered a little mist to a boy who had hibernated for four dreary winter months? At last the gurgling of the rushing water reached my ears. How good it sounded! How cheerful and musical !-Just as I had left it twelve months ago! It did not take me long to bait my hook. I stealthily approached the banks of the little streamg carefully I dropped my line into a deep, remote pool. No sooner had the bait reached the water, when, Splash!-a flash of gold, a sudden rush, the line grew tautg and the first trout of the season was hooked. What a thrill it was to feel the game little warrior at the end of the line! What a battle he put up too! Never before had I been so excited. At last the rushes diminished, his runs became weaker. He was captured, but not until his strength was exhausted. My hat is off to the noble trout- a real, game fish-he fights to the last. The hours slipped by unheeded. The sky was now a livid red. The sun, like a ball of fire, was just sinking behind a high hill. The day was over. It was not a discouraged boy who tramped home that eveningg it was not a boy exhausted by study or abuse. It was a happy boyg one who had sought Nature's Paradise, and had found it. He was tired and hungry, tired from God's labor--exercise in the open air. aiu? MY BEST FISH STORY fJoseph Samalus--19315 HAD been fishing all morning and hadn't got a sign of a bite. The pool had a reputation of having many large fish in it, so I began to investigate. I lay down on the bank and peered over the edge into the water. Lo! and behold-there were about a dozen of the biggest trout I ever saw wrang-