Quincy High School - Goldenrod Yearbook (Quincy, MA)

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THE GOLDEN-ROD announced himself to Ramey as a candidate for the back field. Robert Carroll, for this was his name, had entered Sumner a week before this time. The new candidate proved his worth as a player from the very beginning and with his weight and all-round foot-ball ability was slowly but surely winning a place on the team. To his dismay Redding realized that if any one in the baekfield must make way for Carroll, it would be he himself, as Cushing and Hamil- ton. the captain, with Winslow, a veteran of two seasons, were playing the other positions. A week before the game with Hastings. Walter Ramey, the coach, with much regret, for he admired Redding’s pluck and determination, decided that it would be best for the team, to have Carroll in the baekfield. lie did not reach a decision until he learned that Hastings had an exceptionally heavy team that year. Cushing was at the opening of the story try- ing to console his rather discouraged roommate when his sympathizing words were rewarded in the manner described. Thanksgiving morning dawned clear, but un- usually cold. As the rival teams left the gym- nasium of Sumner Academy in the large barges for the field of battle, the sound of the cheering of the rival student bodies could be heard dis- tinctly. After a slight warming up practice and final instructions from their coaches, the teams lined up for the struggle. Sumner’s rather light team very soon dis- covered that the reports of Hastings’ having an unusually heavy eleven were wholly true. Her team was kept continually on the defensive in the first half and if it had not been for the wonderful punting of “Babe” Cushing, the re- sult would have been a large score in favor of Hastings at the end of the first period of play. As it was. Hastings, amid the exultant shouts of her adherents, scored a touch down toward the last of the half. Her over confident full-back missed an easy goal, for which he was extremely sorry after the game. The second half began with Hastings more confident than ever and Sumner determined to keep the score at least as it was. “Babe” Cush- ing had told Redding that he would surely get a chance to play part of the time, thereby getting the coveted “S.” Redding realized as he saw Sumner going down to defeat and Carroll play- ing a star game that his chances were very slim. These gloomy thoughts were quickly dispelled when in a second he was up on his feet yelling and waving a purple sweater. For Hamilton breaking through Hastings’ line had gained twenty yards and Carroll had followed with a run around Hastings’ left end for fifteen more. The Sumner side of the field was a mass of waving color. But the purple jerseys of the Sumner backs were unable to penetrate further through the heavy line of Hastings. After a consultation, Cushing was seen stand- ing ten yards from the centre. In a moment the ball came back to him and he sent it sailing over the enemy’s goal by a beautiful drop-kick from the forty yard line. The cheering had not yet subsided when the two teams again lined up for the kick-off. The score was now 5-4, in favor of Hastings, and Sumner still had a fighting chance. Sumner received the kick-off and by a series of forward passes and line plays worked the ball to the middle of the field. An on-side kick luckily recovered by Sumner’s left end brought the ball to Ilasting’s thirty-five yard line. Hamilton, seeing that this was the last chance to win. called on his team for a supreme effort. Aided by Carroll and Cushing, he began an ir- resistible advance through the heavy Hastings forwards. On the ten yard line the Hastings’ line would not give an inch. Cushing, in getting up after having tried an ineffectual plunge squarely into the huge Hastings’ guard, happened to see “Red” Redding jumping up and down on the sideline. Two more unsuccessful tries were made by the exhausted backs of Sumner Acad- emy and Cushing, lying on the ground, heard, with a sinking heart, the referee call out “Hast- ings’ ball, first down.” He thought of “Red” and then made apparent efforts to get up from the ground. In a moment Hamilton was at his side, “I guess it’s my left knee. Bill.” said Cushing. With much effort he stood up, and

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THE GOLDEN-ROD Alleghanies and the Smoky Range, perchance you would find a stalwart young woodsman whose only companion would be a wrinkled old Indian. This is “Boy” and the “Chief” dwell ingtogether beneath the shade of the mighty forest, and waiting the call of the Great Spirit to the happy hunting ground, where once again they will be “Old John Dean.” the “Chief.” and “Boy.” R. II. Marden, ’09. Chums “I know it’s hard luck, Red, but what is the use of worrying now. when the game doesn’t come off until next week? Why. mv boy, you can't tell what will happen in that time. I’m liable to break a leg Bob Carroll----” The reason why “Babe” Cushing stopped so suddenly was not that breath failed him, but a good sized pillow from the bed. upon which Herbert (Red) Redding was sitting, came whirl- ing through the air. and striking him squarely on the chin prevented him from finishing his sentence. “Red” followed up his successful attack by tipping his surprised roommate over, chair and all. and sitting on that much-abused individual’s head. “Now. young man. no more of that kidding from you. I am going to make that team if I have to beat you out.” With this declaration of war he left his seat and allowed his van- quished enemy to regain his feet. Herbert Redding, better known throughout Sumner Academy only as “Red” on account of his bright red hair. had. since the opening of school in September, one great ambition con- stantly in mind. This, no doubt, the reader will think was to be a lawyer, as his mother fondly hoped he would make, or a doctor, which his father was and wanted him to become. But it was neither of these. 11 is one great desire was to make a position on the Sumner Academy foot- ball team and play in the big game of the year, that against Sumner’s greatest rival. Hastings Preparatory School. Redding had entered Sumner Academy four years before this time and hoped to graduate the following June. The two preceding seasons he had attempted to gain a place on the school foot-ball eleven and had failed. lie had come to Elmwood in September more determined than ever to win a place on the team. The reason for his failure the year before had been, not lack of ability or grit, but his size. Redding weighed only one hundred and twenty- five pounds and this by the coach Walter Ramey, an old graduate of Sumner, was con- sidered altogether too light to put up against the heavy team which Hastings always brought out. With the few pounds extra weight which he had acquired during the summer Redding felt that his chances this fall were good. His three year’s experience, together with his knowledge of the game, won for him a place at half- back on the team during the preliminary season. Redding had lost his room-mate the preced- ing year, that inconsiderate young man having graduated. Thus, on the second day after the opening of school, a youth, six feet tall, with massive shoulders, and an extremely good na- tured and good looking face, strode into Redding’s room and announced that his name was John Cushing and that he was Redding's new room-mate. From that day on Redding and his huge room-mate were inseparable friends. Cushing early acquired the nickname “Babe” which up to this time had clung to him. The students not satisfied with christening the two individually called them the “Heavenly Twins.” Cushing had tried for and easily made the position of half-back on the school team. He was, in fact, the strongest player on the Sumner Academy team and great things were expected of him in the big game against Hastings. Redding’s Waterloo came when one fine morn- ing toward the last of October a finely built youth presented himself on the foot-ball field and

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THE GOLDEN-ROD a little reluctantly was helped oft the field. On the side line Ramey, the Sumner coach, was shaking his head and muttering to himself, “Looks mighty queer, I have never seen that fellow leave the game while he was able to stand up.” Redding's opportunity had come. Stopping only to inquire of his friend’s injury, he was in his position in less time than it takes to relate it. Standing on his goal line the Hastings’ full- back prepared to punt. Redding had noticed throughout the game the opposing centre’s poor passing. He moved up from his position of defensive half-back to one directly behind his own left tackle. The moment the ball was passed he was through the Hastings’ line, having gotten in in some unexplained way, (a way which he could not explain himself after the game.) As luck would have it, the pass was poor, the opposing full-back being compelled to reach for it on the ground. Rqdding was upon him before he had straightened himself and by a fierce tackle threw him across his own goal line. For a moment there was a great silence all over the field. Then, the Sumner contingent broke out into wild cheering which did not cease until a few minutes later, when the game ended. Cushing had had sufficient time to escape the mob of wildly cheering youths, but not so with Redding and the remaining members of the vic- torious team. As rocking periously on the shoulders of two youths of his own age he gazed at the score board upon which the figures, Sum- ner 6—opponents 5. met his gaze, he proudly felt that lie had indeed won his “S.” From his comfortable position in the barge half lying on the sweaters and cushions. Cush- ing saw the red head of his chum triumphantly leading the procession. He felt that he had done the right thing by him and as a result felt happier than he had ever felt before. I'll have to put on a limp for a month or two so as not to spoil it.” he thought. For a month after the memorable game, “Babe” Cushing was an object of sympathy to all the students with his sometimes exaggerated limp. A. J. Jobin, ’09. The Coral Drops It was such a gloomy day without, that Marie begged her mother to allow her to take the treasured jewel box from the old cedar chest, so that she might amuse herself by looking over its contents. She was granted her request and huddled among the pillows in the large leather-cushioned arm chair before the open fire, she looked through the old gems one by one. Last of all she picked up a small dusty box and found in it a coral drop. She ex- amined it closely and seeing the dainty carv- ings upon it she asked. “Mother, what is this?” “Why, Marie, have I never told you about that dear old coral?” Her mother hesitated, then went on: “It was one of your great grandmother’s earrings which were given to her by one of the nobility of the English court. “When my dear grandmother died, she gave one of these drops to each of her daughters. She expressed tin desire that these jewels be carefully preserved and after three generations, one drop should be given to a son of one fam- ily and the second to a daughter of the other. My dear grandmother's wish will be faithfully carried out with regard to this drop which is now to be yours. I have no knowledge of what has become of the other coral as our family is so widely scattered. It may be that it has been lost or its story forgotten. Who knows ? “But. deary, think no more about it. it is merely a pretty tale, and only illustrates one of the many odd ways of the dear old lady.” Marie was allowed to wear the coral as a pendant and as time passed by many of her