Prattsburgh Central High School - Franklinite Yearbook (Prattsburgh, NY)

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I4 FRANKLIN ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL Again I was sitting under a tree by the side of the creek. I had fallen asleep. The sun had moved so that it was shining full upon me, and I was uncomfortably warm. I had a fish on my line and he had jerked the line so that the pole had hit me on the left leg. Since that time I have been swimming in that particular hole several times but nothing has occurred. I have called to Riga and his people in the language of the Finns but of no use. I have often thought that if I should dig away the bank of the creek I might find an underground pas- sageway. But I have since come to the conclusion that it was only a dream after all. --C7larlr.v liora'f'11, 25. The Haunted House T one time this dwelling was a spacious farm house but the constant weathering and age had hastened it to ruins. It is the common belief that formerly the Dutch settlers had occupied this house, but that they had moved because they said it was haunted. Few people ever dared to visit even the ruins. The land around this house was very fer- tile, fiowers and trees of various kinds growing there, which withered and died if taken up and planted half a mile away. The people said that even the ground must be haunted. There were two young people who lived in a city some miles away from this place. They heard about the haunted house, which was situated in the most beautiful spot imaginable. Adventurous, as most young people are, they longed to visit this place. One day the two started from home in a Ford racer. They took their lunch, intending to spend a whole day at the ruins, as it was sometimes called. They rode miles in the scorching hot sun with a cloud of dust floating over them the most of the way, and continually wondered what they would find. VVould there be anything to Brighten them? When they got within a half mile of the place the road began to get very shady, and the air seemed very cool. When they first noticed the change, the road was bounded on either side by large live oaks but as they went on they found the road lined, not by rows of trees, but by a regular forest. They found the house with no difficulty. The car was stopped, and as the girl was the more brave in searching haunted houses, she jumped out, thinking of course he was following her. As she drew nearer she noticed, that part of the house had apparently caved in recently. She said something to her companion as she pushed the door to one side, instead of opening it, be- cause long ago it had fallen from its hinges, and as she did not get any response to her question, she turned about to see where he was. There he sat in the car, the engine of which was still running. He was watch- ing her but acted. as though he was ready to flee at the first appearance of anything strange. This made her angry. She called out to him in a very

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FRANKLIN AC.-XIDIEMY HIGH SCHOOL ANNIX-XI. I3 4-I W my Visiting the Land of Vladimir T was such a lovely warm day in june that I concluded it was a good day to go fishing. Taking my rod and tackle, I therefore went to a nearby creek where fish were plentiful. I had just seated myself under a tree when I decided the day was so hot that I would take a swim in the creek. I soon took off my clothes and plunged into the stream. As I struck the water it seemed that something caught hold of my leg and I was dragged under the water, through a long narrow hallway and into a chamber filled with water. It was then that I was forced to take a breath, and to my surprise I found I could breathe as easily under water as on land. After I had made this remarkable discovery I turned to look upon the creature that had brought me there. My first glance showed me that it was a fish but another look con- vinced me that it was more than a fish. The upper part of the body was covered with hair. while the lower part was covered with scales. The creature had arms and a head like a man, except for the fact that they were covered with hair. The creature then addressed me in a language that sounded like the wind whistling through the pine trees on a cold winter evening. At the sound of his voice, other creatures like him ap- peared from all sides of the chamber. Some of them, I noticed, had bare faces and slimmer bodies. I learned afterwards tl1at the latter were the females and the others were the males of the tribe. just how long I lived with these people Qfor I learned that they were lnnnanl, I do not know, I did, however, learn their language and habits. They ate small Hsh, clams and oysters and slept on the earth under the water. Their entire time was spent in the water with occasionally a sun bath,on the narrow beach which surrounded the pool. Not knowing what else to do, since I could never find the passageway by which I had entered, I stayed with them. I learned that the people called themselves Finns and lived in the land of Vladimir. The one that captured me was named Riga and was the leader of the tribe. One day I spoke to Riga about his helping me to return to my native land. He became very angry with me and he said I did not appreciate what his people had done for me. I made a mistake by arguing the question with him. He went into a fit of rage and began lashing about in the water. It seemed that on account of his lashing or for some other reason, the water grew warmer. Then one of the leader's assistants picked up a stone and threw it at me, hitting my left leg.

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FRANKLIN AC.-XDElVIY HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL I5 ungracions manner, Oh! you sit there like a bump on a log. You don't care if I go in there and get killed by some awful ghost. Come on, here, you were just as anxious as I was to comef' Such words as these soon urged,-him out from his place of safety and he followed the girl. They squeezed themselves into the house. Oh! it was so dark and silent that they both shook so they could hardly stand up but each was too proud to let the other know. They felt their way around and found a staircase. The steps seemed to be safe, so they went up stairs. VVhen they were about half way up she asked him if he had any matches in his pocket. He found that he had only three. She said Keep them until we need them. VVhen they were on the floor they lighted a match and found the remains of an old spinning wheel. They saw something on the shelf just as the match flared out. When they lighted the second match a sudden crash sounded through the house and every board creaked. The match went out and there they were, frozen stiff with horror and left in the dark. They both started down the stairs, but while they were trying to find the stairs they hit the shelf. Something fell down to the floor with a resounding thud. The fellow gave a jump and landed down stairs on his hands and knees. Whatever it was that had made the awful noise chased him right down the stairsg and it was at the bottom of the flight before he got to his feet. He looked at it and it was white and was rnn- ning right around him. The girl stood at the top of the stairs screaming, 0h! come and get me. - ' - He yelled back at the top of his lungs, This beastly thing is chasing ine. It was only a minute before the Thing, as he called it, stopped and he made for theidoor, grabbing the girl by the hand as he dashed out? The sun was shining brightly outside and the world seemed peace- ful and still. They looked at each other shamefacedly and then, as by common consent, turned back to the house. I,et's take one last look, said he. Q ,, He struck the last match just inside the fallen doorway and looked around, and there trailing down the stairway and on the floor at the bottom was the track--not of a ghost but a can of white paint. , ' --C'harlo!lc:II!is, '26. There is a girl whom they call Esther They say 'she is rather a Jester She 'd be a good girl, If her hair did't curl, But she can't keep it straight like the rest are. There's one boy we all knowg that's Art, For he's broken full many a heart VVhen he goes to a party, They're all after Artie, And they almost tear him apart.