Quincy High School - Goldenrod Yearbook (Quincy, MA)

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THE GOLDEN-ROD. these glowing beauties, from the latter part of July until late in the fall. About eighty species grow in the United States, over forty of which are common in New England. But the different kinds are so much alike that many people cannot tell them apart. This species is very common, blossoming from August till some time late in the fall. It grows about three or four feet high, with rough, lance-shaped three-veined leaves, and with numberless heads of bright yellow flowers in a one-sided, spread- ing cluster. And now we may see this glowing flower “Bearing still the sweet impress Of unfettered loveliness In the field and by the wall, Binding, clasping, crowning all.” The golden rod is one of Whittier’s favorites. In “ The King’s Missive,” he writes of the “Royal plumes of goldenrod.” and again in his “ Prelude to Among the Hills,” he says that “Along the road, like the flowers of gold That tawny Incas for their gardens wrought Heavy with sunshine droops the golden- rod.” When he takes his “ Last Walk in Autumn,” he sees the whitening ornaments of the dying year, and among them “Trembles on its arid stalk The hoar plume of the goldenrod.” We read that some have claimed that it would heal wounds, and on account of this we have the botani- cal name, coming from a Latin word meaning to make whole. “When the flowers of summer days Droop and wither, one by one. Reaching up through bush and brier, Sumptuous brow and heart of fire, Flaunting high its wind-rocked plume, Brave with wealth of native bloom,— Goldenrod! ” From the Boston Transcript. DAVID, THE POET-KING. Before the kingly days of the kingdom of Israel, the people were governed by judges, the principal ones of whom were Gideon, Jephtha, Samson, Eli, and Samuel. When Samuel had become very old, the government devolved upon his two sons who, since they administered justice unfairly, and took bribes for their decisions, were not liked by the people. Thus it was that they began to clamor for a king to rule over them as other nations had, and so Saul was anointed first king of Israel. But on account of sin, his reign was not long, and Samuel, while he was mourning over Saul’s folly, was commanded to go to Bethlehem where he should find David, one of the seven sons of Jesse tending his father’s flocks, and him Samuel with the horn of of oil, anointed as king, the suc- cessor of Saul. After this Saul was seized by an evil spirit which only the sound of music could soothe. David being recommended to him as an excellent player on the harp, came and played before him, and so charmed Saul, that he made him his armor bearer. “ So, whensoever the evil spirit from the Lord was upon Saul, David took his harp and played with his hand and Saul was refreshed and was

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THE GOLDEN-ROD. branch of our education to be neg- lected? When shall we learn to express ourselves, if not now ! Edward Emerson tells of his father’s interest in the children’s declamations : “ On our return from school on speaking afternoons’,” he always asked: “ Did you do well ? ” w I don’t know.” “ Did the boys study or play, or did they sit still and look at you ? ” “ Several of them didn’t attend.” “ But you must oblige them to. If the orator doesn’t command his au- dience, they will command him.” We cannot all be Ciceros, but if we take a real interest in what we write or speak, it will doubtless be interesting to others. j. A little work, a little play To keep us going and so good-day! A little warmth, a little light Of love's bestowing—and so good-night! A little fun to match the sorrow Of each day’s growing—and so good- morrow ! A little trust that when we die We reap our sowing! And so good-bye! —George Du Maurier. Florence Thomas and Emma Curtin, both of ’97, took part in the Grecian Tableaux recently given at the Memorial Congregational Church, Atlantic. Things said false and never meant. Do oft prove true by accident. —Butler How happy is he born and taught That serveth not another’s will, Whose armor is his honest thought, And sample truth his utmost skill! — Wotten. bitei y T)epki ti]qeqt. f Mary McGuane, ’97. Edited j Rachel E. Johnson, ’97. by j Florence E. Thomas, ’97. { Mildred H. Sampson, ’97. GOLDEN-ROD. (iSolidago Canadensis.) COMPOSITE FAMILY. ‘‘Autumn’s earliest lamps I spy— The tapers of the golden rod. Its starry chandeliers burn bright All day; and have you noticed this— A perfect sun in every flower ? Ten thousand thousand fairy suns Raying from new disks every hour, As up the stalk the life-flash runs.” Lucy Larcom. Oh, the glory of the golden-rods ! How the strong, sturdy flowers delight our eyes with their wonder- ful golden-yellow blossoms ! They throng the roadsides, and cover the fields, and fill all the nooks and corners which they can find; some tossing their heads along the sea- shore, others decorating the low, wet spots, or parading themselves along our daily walks. Very well contented with themselves are the bonny blossoms, and we should miss them sadly, if year by year they failed to blossom in their well- known haunts. It is not strange that one of our States has chosen this flower for its emblem, because of its wealth of golden blossoms. Lucy Larcom writes that the golden-rod is “ As lavish of its golden light As sunshine’s self.” There are so many varieties, some blooming early and some late, that there is a constant succession of

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THE GOLDEN-ROD. better, for the evil spirit had de- parted from him,” Once when the army of the Phil- istines la}r encamped opposite that of the Israelites preparing for a de- cisive battle, one of the Philistines, named Goliath, a man of gigantic size, came forth, marched up and down, and scornfully challenged any man among the Israelites to contend with him in single combat and thus decide the contest. This action he repeated for forty days, when at last Saul promised to give his daughter in marriage to the one who would accept the challenge. So, David went forth, fought with the giant, and killed him by simply putting a stone into his sling, and striking the giant on the forehead. lie then cut off Goliath’s head, at sight of which the whole army of the Phil- istines fled in dismay. Wouldn’t you think that Saul ought to have been most grateful to David for this noble deed? But no. He requited it by the blackest ingratitude and was very envious of the fame David had acquired. Indeed so jealous was he, that he sought on every occasion to put him to death. But David in- stead of hating Saul in return, pitied him, taking every chance that offered of returning good for evil. We hear sometimes associated to- gether the names “ David and Jon- athan. Although Saul hated David most bitterly, Jonathan, his son, loved David as a brother, and they swore perpetual friendship. Finally, Saul was killed, with his two sons, in the famous battle of Gilboe. David when he heard of it, was deeply grieved and ordered the man who brought the news to be put to death, because he had said that he killed Saul hoping to please David. After Saul’s death David was proclaimed King by all. He chose for his royal residence the Castle of Sion in Jerusalem, and around this stronghold he built a city which he called the City of David.— Julia F. Ford. ’98. THE QUINCY HOSPITAL SONG. Tune,—“Our Public School.” The noblest use of skill and power Is found in easing Sorrow’s hour, And grand it is to spend man’s wealth In caring for the People’s health. So, mother City of us all, Dear Quincy, we have heard thy call, And to thy festival we throng With gifts of sympathetic song. chorus . Bring choicest gifts, none are too costly, To ease the ministry of pain, And with each gift bring something better, The love without which gifts are vain. And with each gift bring something better, The love without which gifts are vain. All may not share in wealth and state, The poor are ever at the gate; All may not win fair fortune’s smile, She is not kindly all the while. But even the unfortunate Must share the sadder gifts of fate, The orphan and the stranger too, Must bear their pain as well as you. chorus: Who knows the day when fell disease May rob our hearts of olden ease ? When sleep and death, those brothers twain, Shall struggle feverishly with pain ? The fate of others ours may be, No one is safe from woe’s decree, Then let the gracious work be ours To brighten suffering’s lot with flowers. Frederic Allison Tupper. The ’98’s have received their class pins.