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

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I8 , FRANKLIN ACAIJFIMX HIGH SCHOOL ANNIIXI. Did Someone Say a Snake? S anyone travels through this world he has a great-many experiences. It seems to me that I have had an unusually large number of-exciting ones. Among them is my Snake Experience. Always, from the time I was old enough to walk, I have been very fond of the woods, fields, birds and wild life. A few years ago on a bright sunny spring day I started for an all day's hyke. I wandered through the woods and fields amusing myself by picking flowers and watching the birds. At about half past twelve I became tired of wandering and think- ing it about time for me to eat my lunch, I went through a small field until I came to a lovely shade tree. It was a beautiful maple tree in one corner of the field. It was not very tall but the branches were very sprawling and shaded a great space. The grass around it was mixed with pink clover blossoms which made it smell very sweet. It was under this tree that I ate my lunch. VVhen I had finished it seemed almost too comfortable to go on. The light breeze made the limbs of the tree sway back and forth and the continual noise of the tree made me very sleepy. After I had become so sleepy that I could no longer over- come it I stretched out and lay down. For some unknown reason I fell asleep. How long I slept I do not know but when I awoke, to my great surprise, I found a snake entwined around my leg. Being very much afraid of snakesl nearly went insane. I did not know what to do. The first thing that came to my mind was to get up and run home but before I moved I thought I ought not do that because if the snake should become angered by my running it would, without a doubt, bite me. The next thought that came to me was to scream, but then I realized that I could not make anyone hear because I was too far from a house. I could not have touched the snake if I had been compelled to remain there all night. I began to get more nervous. VVhile trying to decide what I should do I heard a noise behind me. Turning my head I saw a neighbor boy com- ing and I knew he was after the cows because he always went after them on horseback. I was never so glad to see anyone in my life as I was to see him. I beckoned to him and he immediately came whereil was. It did not take me long to tell him what I wanted of him. He was off his horse and in about a minute had his hand around the snake's neck. After he had choked the snake, I rose to my feet, hardly able to stand up and whirled slowly around while he held to the snake's neck. It did not take long to get the snake unwound and it was a great sigh of relief that I gave when it was at last off. I felt as if that snake had been a burden to me for years instead of a few minutes and in fact I dreamed all that night that I was unwinding snakes from various parts of my anatomy. The fact impressed me not at all that this snake was of a harmless variety, I consider that to be a triv- ial detail. --lffrlfza G1'llrllv, '24.

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FRANKLIN ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL I7 If he hadn't been sufficiently punished already then he surely got it later in the form of intensive kidding from his various friends and ac- quaintances. For each one passing the house for weeks after would walk up to the porch, run his linger along a pillar, and say-- It's good, mnv- ver. Following with such remarks as Ever paint much, Carroll? just a little paint for my pancakes, or Try looking inside next time Carroll? --Edilh C'iz1rvbo.r, '26. Themes HEMES! To what High School student are they not a token of toil and disconragement? Among English classes theme day is rarely distingished for its popularity. At night, fully equipped with everything but the all important factor, ideas, we sit and disconsolately chew one end of an already worn out eraser, facing the very perplexing question, What shall I write, and how begin? The essay must be handed in the following morning, but what can be produced in the few moments remaining before bed time, that will even partially satisfy the demands of a teacher, who doesn 't have to sit with a dictionary on one side of her and a book of synonyms on the other. One topic after another is chosen, but two sentences easily cover all our ideas upon the subject under discussion. It is said that genius burns brightest during the night watches, but as far as ordinary mortals are concerned, it seems that originality wanes as the moonlight climbs. At last in despair,we attempt to add a few more sentences to the most promising of our previous efforts. Desperately we try to ward off that feeling of drowsiness that envelops our minds and if we are at all success- ful, in the course of time, some sort of composition is evolved. But our trials are far from over, for the theme must now be copied, and that is indeed a discouraging process. Misspelled words, incoherent sentences, paragraphs poorly arranged, all greet our eyes. The absurdity and llatness of many of our remarks make us declare, as once did a now famous short story writer, that nothing is waste paper until we have written upon it. All things must sometimes come to an end, so after another hour of struggle, we wearily lay aside our implements of warfare, and prepare for hed. Our minds are serene in the consciousness of a disagreeable duty performed, though a trio of unprepared lessons awaits us in the morning. --Clzlhariuc Cbrnfll, '23. Vile all know Evelyn Hall, For the boys she was ready to fall. She fell hard for one But got rather stung So now says, shejust hates 'em all.

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FRANKLIN ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL ANNFAI. IQ A Mirror of Bygone Days am covered with the dust of many years' accumulation and my former beauty has vanished entirely. My exquisitely carved mahogany frame no longer gleams under the careful polishing of loyal slaves. I stand in exactly the same spot that I did over half a century ago, among the tasteful furnishings of a typical Southern home. I was brought to the colonies by james Richardson, an English Cav- alier, who settled in Virginia. The family of which I was a cherished possession, prospered in the land of their adoption and their home was a center of colonial society. In time, I saw two sons of the house go forth to fight against the mother country, one of them never to return. During the years inter- vening between the Revolution and the war of secession, I reflected in my shining surface, the form of many a Southern belle and gallant, for the mansion was distinguished for its cordial hospitality. I The years flew by as on wingsg members of the family died and oth- ers were married in the stately drawing room where I now stand. As the inevitable conflict between the two sections of the country approached, feeling waxed strong among the people of the Old Domin- ion. As soon as the Hring upon Fort Sumter had aroused the people of both sections to immediate action, the eldest son of the family hastened to enlist. The rank of captain of cavalry was granted him, and he was indeed a dashing young Confederate officer. Needless to say, the family pride in him was intense. During the long years of war, the family lived in absolute simplicity, devoting every effort to the furtherance of their beloved cause. This plantation, like that of most of the Southern gentry, was ravaged by the invading army. As a result, the family became impoverished, but they found solace in the success of their son, who had on several occasions been distinguished by his remarkable bravery and daring. However, there came on one fall day, the news that he had been killed in battle. This was a crushing blow, but the family proudly declared that a younger son of the house, who had been too young to en- list at the outbreak of hostilities, should attempt to fill his brother's place in the army. Imagine their shame, when, after two days sudden and un- explained absence, they received a brief note from him, informing them that he had enlisted in a Northern regiment. His mother was unable to hear this disgrace, coming so soon after the death of her first born, and died in a short time. After her death the house was closed, the master of the house together with his daughters, having removed to Richmond. Since that hour, the house has remained unopened, my once beautiful surface is now shrouded in cobwebs and I have only to reminisce upon the glories ,of anti bellmn days. ' --Calha1'1'1n' li. Cbrurll, '23,