Plymouth High School - Pilgrim Yearbook (Plymouth, MA)

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V PILGRIM STAFF First Row.' J. Hatton, B. Barnes, A. Riley. J. Broadbent. B. Brigida. R. Beaman, I Albrertini Second Row.' M. Treglown, M. Decker, A. Torrance, B. Stwdley. P. Godfrey, F. Kritz- matoher, H. Bastoni Third Row.' F. Scheid, L. Morton. A. Beaman. B. Coleman, L. Roberge, E. Mongan, V Kirkey Fourth Row.' E. McEwen, C. Handy, F. Canucci, Mrs. Raymond, R. Tubbs ! ... ..... . .... CJ 3 HONOR GROUP First Row: H. Guidetti, M. Cook, A. Riley, I. Albertini Second Row: J. Hatton, M. Cingolani, H. Belcher. F. Canucci. L. Lodi Third Row.' F. Scheid, T. Cobb, A. Branco, J. Tavernelli, L. Roberge, A. Galvani, R Pedrini s ur

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30 THE PILGRIM INCIDENT IN EARLY MORNING THE bed creaked as Irma twisted restlessly. It was time to get up even though it was only five o'clock. After all, her father had to be fed and Irma had to keep up the pretense of going to work. I'll have to tell ma soon, she mused. When I don't bring any dough home on pay-day, she's gonna start wonder- ing. But how can I tell her? She'll kick me out, I know she will. Ah, well, I might as well put it off as long as possi- ble. I'll tell her tomorrow. The sound of splashing came from the bathroom. Pa's getting up. He'll be hollering at me in a minute. She yawned once more, then reached for her faded wrap- per and, stretching, she took her clothes and went to get dressed in the kitchen where it was warm. Not long afterward Mr. Madarasz came lumbering in. Your ma don't feel so good this morning, so tell Anna to stay home with the kids.', All right, Pa, sit down and eat. It's most time for you to go. I heard a guy yesterday say that the factory was go- ing to lay off. You aren't getting it, are you ? Probably, you just worry about your job, Irma. That'll keep you busy. Is Mike up yet? No? Well, no wonder. He didn't get in till three. Said he was out with the gang. Pa, I don't like it. He,s always with that bunch and they're no good. Noth- ing but a gang of loafers and small-fry criminals. Why don't you do something? Make him stay away from them. Mr. Madarasz shook his head de- spondently, It's no use. I can't do nothing with him. He's wild. And now your ma's sick again I've got no time for his foolishness. There's the five- t.hirty whistle. Hand me my lunch- pail. Irma listlessly closed the door behind him and went to rouse Mike. She felt ages older than her twenty-one years, ages older than her kid brother, Mike, ages and ages old. It was horrible struggling for an existence, surrounded by people, hundreds of them, in the same groove as she in this Polish set- tlement. Her old man was working, yeah, but how much did he get? Not enough to keep six kids decently fed and clothed, and not half enough to give Mike a chance to get away from the tough gang he was traveling with, nor to get Anna the pretty things she craved, nor to buy Johnny the bike he wanted so badly and couldn't get be- cause every time he'd saved up some money from his paper route Mike bor- rowed it to pay pool debts. Helen and Maxine, the twins, were still too little to care about the small, dirty house, the greasy walls, the leaky roof, the broken steps,-but. they'd learn to care. It was up to her. Irma, to do something, anything, to get out of it all. I donit care about t.he others, she thought. They'll have to look out for themselves. But I've got to have nice things, lovely clothes. I want to be somebody. She stood looking down at her brother, thick-featured and sullen- looking even in sleep. She shook him roughly, staring with repugnance. How awful he looks, she pondered, after one of those all-night parties! Mike groaned and sat up rubbing his head. Wotta night, Wotta night. Yeah, I can imagine. How much did you lose? Nothing, so you can quit harping on t.hat right away. I saw Big Dan last night. He's promised me a job. Says he needs a guy with guts. I'm in the dough. Oh, Mike, you're not going to work for him. He's crooked, everyone knows that. Well, what about it? He's got a sys- tem that's oke. If that guy's behind you, you're all set. Set for where? Sing-Sing? Don't be funny. He has friends everywhere. You can't get caught. It's simple. All I have to do is go around and 'interview' the girls in the factory. I tell 'em they pay me 10211 of their pay or else, if they don't kick in, they get fired. The foreman's a friend of Big Dan's. He gets his cut, I get mine, the rest goes to Big Dan, and we're all happy. Irma went out of the room. She took her shabby coat from the overcrowded closet. Well, after all, was it Mike's fault? How was he to know that Big Dan had interviewed her only three days ago? She pulled on a hat. The boss was a friend of Dan's all right. After Dan had told him that she hadn't paid her 107 for two weeks, he let her go, didn't he? Well, that proved it. Mike didn't know. W'hat was the use? She softly shut the door and slowly walked away toward the river, just a slim out- line in the cold, gray light of dawn. B. STUDLEY '38

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32 THE PILGRIM ANOTHER SPRING ENGULFED in dreamy memories, Martha Hanley sat knitting in her old leather-backed rocker. The cheery sunlight was shining in through the bedroom window in a scintillating stream. A beautiful butterfly was just emerging from her winter cocoon, as the first timid shoots of the vernal season were pushing up t.hrough the warming earth. Twittering birds flit- ted gayly through the budding tree tops uttering joyous songs which gladdened many a winter-weary ear. In the streets and lanes below, the excited cries of children could be heard as they played at marbles or jump-rope or, perhaps, a little preliminary baseball. Yes, it was another spring! The old woman sitting so wrapt in her thoughts was not dreaming of this year's awakening, however, but of one long ago. She had been young then, and lovely, a charming belle in the quiet lit- tle town of Milson. All the gay young swains in the vicinity had buzzed round her like a swarm of bumble bees. Ah, indeed life had been happy then! She sighed deeply and the ghost of a smile flitted across her wan countenance as she recalled the distant past. In time, of course, Martha had made her choice. A good catch , too, the gossipers of the village were wont to whisper among themselves. Nathan Clarke was a man of considerable social position and prestige. His money was not to be sneezed at either in the ver- nacular of the townsfolk. Yes. indeed. Marthy knew what she was about all right! In spite of these suspicions. however, Nathan and Martha were reallv deeply in love. Theirs was an exceptional en- gagement, as they seemed to be in per- fect harmony while in each other's presence, in complete happiness. In their great love. they seemed a perfect match. Too perfect, perhaps, for mor- tal beings! The wedding had been set for the first day in May. Martha started for a second. awaken- ed from her revery. Yes! Just as she thought! Today was May 1! Another May! What great preparations for the com- ing event had been essayed! What an exquisite bridal trousseau had been se- lected from the most. fashionable stores of which the nation could boast! How many dozens of delightful wedding gifts had been presented to the happy couple! The preparations were over , all was ready! In the spacious Hanley mansion, everything was arranged. The bride, more lovely than ever before, stood in ecstasy, awaiting the propitious mo- ment when the great hall organ would peal out its solemn announcement of bliss. The pretty bridesmaids giggled nervously in the corridor. The guests stood and sat in the enormous front parlor, in terrific suspense. All was quiet. Martha, in her ivory satin and foaming, billowing, lace was never more in love than at that moment. Nathan, with his best man, started down the winding stairs as the organ began. Then suddenly pandemonium reigned. Horrifying screams for help were heard issuing from the back of the stables which st.ood directly behind the house. The organ stopped on a discordant note, the guests rushed to the windows, Na- than hurried down the stairs. A terrifying sight met the spectators' gaze. Little Adelaide Hanley, sister of the bride, still dressed in her beautiful flower girl robe, was running wildly through the stable yard. Behind her tore a mad bull. This bull was often pastured in a field next to the Hanley mansion, but Adelaide, not noticing him to-day, had opened the heavy iron gate and entered the meadow. She had been intrigued by the beautiful flowers which grew there and desired to get them for her sister's wedding. This was the re- sult! As everyone stood open-mouthed, too frightened to breathe, Nathan sped out the door, and with cne blow of his hand, knocked the tinv girl from the path of the oncoming animal. He had saved her life, but in doing so he sacrificed his own. Horribly gored, he lay in Martha's arms as he breathed his last. Her wed- ding gown was disheveled and stained with his life blood which was so quickly ebbing. In his own horrible agony, how- ever, his one thought, had been for Martha, alone. Writhing in pain, he looked into her tear-dimmed eyes and whispered, Don't grieve, my dear. I love you always, now and forever. We shall meet again. An- other spring! Until then, goodbye, my darling. Martha sat dreaming in the old leather-back rocker. It was another spring! .... J. HATTON '38