Rawlings Institute - Hits and Bits Yearbook (Charlottesville, VA)

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LYD I A. PON 1'CLlClllllg home from college for vacation my first - thought was always to make the few necessary prepara- tions tor starting to my grandthther's home, near S., in the dear Old Dominion. I, being the only grandchild, was the pet ot' the whole plantation. To be petted is one ot' the most delightful things in the world to a college boy who for nine months has had to tt look out for number one. How refreshing to stretch his listless length i' upon the coo,l, green turf, and day- dream, doze, or read tnot Calculus or Mechanics, but the volume of his ehoicej, or roam through the woods in search of' tiowers and rare birds l One evening I received an invitation from a friend ta college fraternity matej in NV. to spend ffhorse-show week with him. He was a fine fellow, one that we all loved, always in high spirits, always ready to help a brother out ot' a scrape, and always on top when exam. time came. i Naturally I was delighted, and made innnediate prepa1'ations for leaving. My grandparents regretted my leaving so soon, but, as my summer had been so quiet, they were glad for me to go where there was a chance ot' a little gayety before college reopened- NV. is situated in Piedmont, it is a town of about sixteen hun- dred inhabitants 5 its sidewalks are shaded and cool, and no one is in a hurry. I reached this ideal little Virginia town at about sunset. I was met at the station by my friend, Guy Dunnington, and it did me good to feel the old frat. grip and to note the expression of' genuine pleasure that animated his handsome face as he said, Park, my dear old man, how glad I am to see you I Ten minutes drive brought us to Lydia, the old family homestead. It was situated on a high hill at the edge of town. Standing on the lawn and looking toward the west, I saw the Blue Ridge, behind which the sun, which had left 'ta streak of glory in the sky, was sinking. Looking toward the north, I saw the Bull Run Mountains and the historic battle-fields, once so red with blood, now clothed in ve1'dure. Through a gap in the mountains the little town of Manassas could be seen as the last rays ot' sun- light touched the tin roots. In the east, far and dim, was the blue tide-water line, which, had I known nothing of geography, I should certainly have thought was the Atlantic. The lawn was large and level, densely shaded by ash, maple and aspens. The grass was closely cut, except in the southeaste1'n corner, where there was a terrace about ten feet high, covered with honeysuekle 5 a climbing rose and a wild grapevine had mingled over a stunted apple tree, and a mountain ivy had covered itself with pink and white blossoms. This corner of' the lawn was known to the inmates ot' Lydia as 'f Madison, getting its name from its rural aspect. The house was large and conveniently arranged, furnished more for eomfbrt than for beauty-large Morris chairs, old-fash- ioned sofas with an abundance of downy pillows, low tables and shaded lights. To the right of the reception hall was the library. At a desk, bending over a book, was a girl of about seventeen years of' age. Her dress was pure white, her eap also was white,

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ISTEN to the ringing of the bell- llising bell. O'er my weary senses stealing, With a plaintive note appealing, Rouse thyself from blissful slumber To thy duties without number g Dou't delay. Listen to the ringing of the bell- Breakfast bell. Hear the scurrying footsteps clutter Down the hall with laugh and ehatterg See the bright and winsome faces As they take their usual places - Round the board. Listen to the ringing of the bell- Chapel bell. Down the stairs now goes each maiden Wliith her arms with books well laden 5 Joins with happy zest the singing- llears the sweet tones upward winging, And the prayer. Listen to the ringing of the bell- Lesson bell. Now tl1ey're put through all their paces Some, alas, with blanching faces. As they feel that they are lacking, How their weary brains they're racking, All in vain ! Listen to the ringing of the bell- Dinner bell. Uh, what joy that sound is bringing! Books and cares aside we' re flinging. Dishes vanish as by magic In a manner that's quite tragic. Pass the bread. Che JBelIs. .0 Listen to the ringing of the bell- lllalking bell. Two by two, a long line making, Down the street their way they're taking Ilear their merry voices talking, V Chaperon sedately walking ln the rear. Listen to the ringing of the bell- Supper bell. Once again we eolne together. Be it bright or rainy weather, To the call all answer gailyg Tho' 'tis given three times daily, We'll be there. Listen to the ringing of the bell- Study bell. Learn your lessons for the morrow, Else you surely will have sorrow. Take great care in their preparing Lest sad faces you'll be wearing Hy and by. Listen to the ringing of the bell- The room bell. Each girl to her room is hieing, Along the l1all her good-nights crying. The day'snluties are all ended 3 What's been done can't now be mended. Meditate ! Listen to the ringing of the bell- The light bell. As the darkness all is cov'ring, Angel guards about ns hovlriug 4 Keep ns all from pain and sadness, That we wake with joy and gladness At the dawn. M K K

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with a little frill of lace on top fevidently her head had been shavenj, which was amazingly becoming. I had never before admired a girl with a bald head, but the dainty cap, the dainty dress, the dainty gi1'l ! She was not a queenly beauty, but a model of' a sweet Virginia girl. She was deeply interested and seemed not to hear us. Guy suggested that I freshen my toilet before meeting the other members of the family. I-Ie took me into a sweet little chamber which was entered from the library. A shaded candle was burning in my room, the eur- tains to the bed and windows were of white, the wall-papering was of' green and gilt, a vase of large red roses was on the table and their bright faces seemed to murmur 4' NVeleome. XVhcn we returned to the library the girl was not there. Guy said, 4' W'onder where Dollie is. It was she whom you saw when we came in. She put those roses there and lit the candle, nobody told me so, but it looks like her work. She is a strange combina- tion. Never hears anything when she reads, a typical book- W0l'lH 3 still as lively as a cricket. By this time we had reached a rustic bench and began to chat of' old college days. Soon his mother, father, little sister and brother, and Dollie joined us. Of all the homes I have ever vis- ited it seems to me that Lydia was the most charming in every way. After tea, Guy and I went to call on some girls from Baltimore who were spending the summer in IV. YVe returned at about eleven o'clock. As we entered the lawn at Lydia we heard the strains of Intermezzo and a sweet voice, trembling with emo- tion, singing as if the song were the embodiment of' its sentiments, 4 '4Avc Maria, hear my cry ! The song was almost finished when we reached the casement and saw, seated at the piano in the moon- light, Dollie! I heard Guy mutter something about '40, why will she sing that thing ? - NVhen she saw us she smiled gaily and began to play our Frat. Two-Step, then our 4' Rowing Song, 44 Boola ! The W. V. A. Two-Step, and the 4' Virginia VValtz. The grandtather's clock in the hall struck one, and we retired. The next morning I heard some one in the room above me. I looked at my watch 5 it was not quite tive, so I went to sleep again. Dollie seemed to read and write most of the time 5 still she was the housekeeper, tbr her lllOtl1Gl',S health was frail 3 she taught the younger sister and brother, who were devoted to her, and she seemed glad to do all she could to add to my enjoyment at Lydia, but never could I induce her to go with me to the show, or even to take a walk unless Guy went with us. Her devotion to him was beautiful to see. Une evening as we came home we heard the same pitiful voice singing, 4' Only to see you, darling. Before we reached the house she was out on the lawn to meet us. I-Ier dress was of white, the neck just low enough to expose a delicate white throat. Every now and then, as her gentle breathing moved the frill of lace, I caught a glimpse of a dainty gold chain, which seemed to extend under her dress. She paused by a rustic bench and said : llow sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank I llere will we sit and let the sounds of music Creep in our ears : soft stillness and the night Heroine the touches of sweet ll2ll'l1l0l1y.H