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

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20 FRANKLIN ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL Nancy excitedly, Thats China. I was just sure we'd get a furrin coun- try some day. Each night Aunt Nancy and Uncle josh retired precisely at eight o'clock so their radio programme was a continuous round of bedtime stories and weather reports. They stood their disappointment for a month, but one day when Aunt Nancy returned from a Ladies' Aid meeting, she discovered that the radio had vanished. Josiah was tardy in offering an explanation but Nancy never men- tioned the subject. Finally he said, Nancy, I sold that radio to Farmer Conrad today. I hope you didnlt care. Josiah Hezekiah Doolittle. she exclaimed, that's the first sensible thing you've done in thirty yearS. I've been thinking as long as George XVashington and Abe Lincoln never had a radio, I guess we can get along without one, too. Anyhow, our old phonygraph'll do me for a spell yet. THE SEARCH FOR THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH By VALENTINE PRATT, '28 NCE upon a time a general in the Grecian army, became ill, on ac- count of overwork. He called his sons to the bedside and asked them if they would do all in their power to help him to get well. They replied that they would do everything possible to help him al- though only the youngest son was sincere in his promise. Then he ask- ed the eldest son to set out to find the Fountain of Youth which was sup- posed to be somewhere in Turkey or in the ocean near it. He gave the son some money to pay his expenses and he was to bring him back a flask of water from the Fountain so that he might regain his health and vouth. . So the eldest son started out and traveled a long way. Finally he came to an island where he saw an old witch sitting on a rock. He asked her if she knew where the Fountain of Youth was. She replied that she did not, but that some of the sea animals nnight know. So saying she clapped her hands three times and all the animals of the sea Swain up to the island. She asked them if they knew where the Fountain of Youth was located. They all replied that they did l1Ot except one old grandfather porpoise. He said that he knew where it was and if the young man would get on his back he would take him to it. However the son did not want to endanger his life by riding on the back of a por- poise so he turned back and went to Constantinople, where he stayed awhile, spending the money which his father had given him. Meanwhile the father became worried because his son had not come back. So he sent the second son on the same errand that he had sent the first. He also told him to look for his brother. So the second son set out and came to the island and turned back just as the tirst had done.

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FRANKLIN ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL 19 UNCLE JOSH AND AUNT NANCY INVEST IN A RADIO By MELVA WARREN, '25 T was a cold winter's night. The fire in the fireplace burned brisk- ly as Uncle Josh removed his rubber boots and placed them be- side the andirons as had been his custom for the last thirty years. Suddenly he straightened and spoke to his sister who was knitting steadily, Nancy, did I get any mail today? Yes, Josiah, you did. Nothin' very important though. Just a cir'clar about radios. I don't know what they wanted to send you one of them things for, Well, replied Josiah, I was hoping I'd get something to read. Where is that cir'clar, Nancy ? The advertisement was reluctantly delivered into the hands of the owner. Uncle Josh perused the paper diligently for several minutes and then gazed into the fire. Nancy glanced at her brother, reading his thoughts from his facial expression. Josiah Hezekiah Doolittle. thundered Nancy, don't you go get- tin, no new fangled notions into your head about a radio. Your father lived to a ripe old age without any opery selections and I guess you can, too. Josiah's face -resembled that of a cat that had been caught stealing cream. but he was determined in his purpose. It was in vain for some time that he pleaded for a radio, as his op- ponent was iirm in her decision. Finally, when he argued that they couldn't afford to be behind the times, Nancy gave her consent. Not to be up to the minute, in her opinion, was the last straw. After evenings of debate on which to buy, Uncle Josh went to the village and invested in a radio which was duly installed. The first night after the radio became a member of the Doolittle household, was cold and clear, an ideal night for good music. Aunt Nancy, being a curious creature, thought she'd attempt to manipulate the radio before Uncle Josh returned. When he entered the house he was confronted by a very irate woman. Well, now, Nancy, what's the matter? he drawled. Matter enough, retorted his sister, The spring on that radio is broke already. Broke? replied Josiah incredulously Yes, came the reply, those things what the book says are dials turn so easy like. I tell you the spring is broke on all of them. Uncle Josh spent the next fifteen minutes patiently explaining to her that the dials weren't supposd to be stationary. Later they heard bed- time stories and weather reports. Well, I'd like to know why we'd like to hear bedtime stories. I gues we're not in our second childhood yet. As for the weather, I can tell that as well as anyone, commented Aunt Nancy. The next night being unusually warm, there was a great deal of static when Uncle Josh attempted to tune in. Oh, Oh, cried Aunt

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FRANKLIN ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL 21 He then went to Constantinople, also, and joined his brother. The two then enjoyed a gay life, spending their father's money. Again the father became worried and sent the third son after the water from the Fountain. This son was brave so when he came to the island, questioned the old witch and found out that the porpoise would take him where he wanted to go, he gladly accepted and climbed onto the back of the porpoise. It swam on the surface until it came to a small island which was thickly wooded. VVhen they reached the island the son saw a beautiful maiden sit- ting on the sand, combing her hair. He asked her if she would show him to the Fountain of Youth. She replied, I will if you wish. So saying she led the way through the woods to a small clearing. There, in the center of the clearing, he beheld a large fountain from which flowed a stream of water as clear as crystal. The youth then filled a flask with the precious water and hurried back to the shore where he found the porpoise waiting. Stopping only to thank the maiden, he jumped on the back of the porpoise and was carried back to the island where he boarded his ship and sailed for home. His father greeted him joyfully and drank of the water which his son had brought him and became young again. Some time later the two elder brothers came home after they had spent all the money which their father had given them. Their father was so angry with them that he sent them away, telling them never to let him see their faces again. So they complied with his wishes, going to 'Constantinople where they finally died in poverty. The youngest son was walking along the Seashore a few days after his brothers had gone away when a porpoise swam up near him. On looking more closely he saw that it was the same one that had carried him to the Fountain of Youth. The porpoise offered to take him to the island so that he might get the maiden and bring her back for his bride. The youth was delighted with this so he climbed on the back of the por- poise, as he had done before, and. after a thrilling ride, he arrived at the island, took the maiden back to his home, married her and lived ever afterwards in peace and content. VVere you in chapel QWHENZD Marion Crean didn't look as though she were holding a TCCCPUOU as her friends went by? Everybody was in time? Frances was in time? John took his right seat? Austin didn't move back three seats? We sang a song we knew? Misses Bedwin and Harris weren't' the first to stand? Prof. smiled at Miss Flaherty? -Neither were we.