Reading Memorial High School - Pioneer Yearbook (Reading, MA)

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PAGE SIX THE PIONEER A HAUNTED HOUSE Translated from the Latin Once upon a time in Athens there was a spacious haunted house. Through the silence of the night the sound of chains, at first at some distance, next from nearby, could be heard. Soon a ghost, a long bearded and long haired old man, exhausted by hunger, appear¬ ed. He wore and shook chains on his hands and feet. There were gloomy nights for those who lived in the house; through the day the memory of the image remained; sickness and death followed. At last the house was deserted and wholly left to that mon¬ ster. It was advertised for sale, but none Avished to either buy or hire it. There came to Athens the philoso¬ pher Athenodorus. He read the post¬ er. He asked the price, learned every¬ thing; then hired the house. When night came, he ordered a couch placed in the foremost part of the house, de¬ manded tablets, a stilus, and a light, and dismissed his servants. He was alone. At first, the silence of the night, next cha ins were heard. The writer did not raise his eyes. The noise increased, approached, now on the threshold, now inside the thresh¬ old it was heard. He looked up and saw the ghost. It stood and beckoned with its fingers. The philosopher or¬ dered it to wait for a short time, and again worked with his stilus and tablet. He did not delay long; he lifted the lamp and followed the ghost. The figure walked with slow steps, because the chains hindered him. After the ghost arrived in the yard, he suddenly left his companion. Athenodorus placed a sign in the place. The next day he went before magistrates who knew about the ghost, and advised them to order that place dug up. There were found there hones and chains. These were collected and buried publicly, nor was the ghost ever seen or heard afterwards. B. J. ’32. EARLY SPRING IN OUR FIELDS and MARSHES Let us go to a swamp this early spring day and see what is to be found. After that we will take a trot through the fields, for it is now quite easy to discover birds due to the bareness of the shrubs and trees. As we come to the edge of the marsh, we notice that the lines of John Burroughs are quite true. He says, “First comes the redwings a chat¬ tering in the marshes.” What do we hear but a noisy clacking and many other strange notes among the cat¬ tails. See that gorgeous fellow perched on the tip-top of that alder, singing his fascinating spring song “o-gurg-o- lee-e-e.’’ We do not know whether the man is singing of his gladness in getting away from his wife or not. But the female does not come for about three weeks after the male has made his journey from the South. Look! They are not all redwings, There are some with a longer tail and a dusty color, with no red and yellow on the wings. We see the white eye that helps us to distinguish this friend as a Rusty—blackbird. There are also

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THE PIONEER PAGE FIVE tion, raced down the road and soon came upon a street of the outskirts of Cranton, the city, and dashed to a ’phone. With an excited, yet controlled manner, Ted told Mr. Merriton of his daughter’s message. The elderly man replied curtly, “Thanks.” Ted’s next move was to call the po¬ lice station. Breathless explanations to the captain resulted in the police laden touring car dashing down the road over which Ted had been saun¬ tering a few moments before. It was but a short distance to the crossroads. They soon came into sight of the ra ther dreary looking, abandon¬ ed building, before which an extremely dusty car was halted. With caution and speed, all hastened from the car, Ted and Mr. Merriton in the lead. “Open the door or we do,’’ shouted Ted. It was opened,—what a scene. No girl bound with ropes was in the hall, no crafty evil men with drawn guns, no shooting,—but, a wildly laughing group of Ted’s friends. Ann, weak ' with laughter, leaned against a handy table and shouted, “Oh Ted! Ted! what a joke! An initiation joke! Welcome “BELIEVE IT “Good morning, Jim,” said Dan Knox to Jim Cox one morning, “How are you feeling?” “Fine,’’ replied Jim. “How’s your arm?’’ “Fine.” “Good, go over and check in.” Jim strolled over to the operator’s hut and checked in. He was tall, fair¬ ly well built and good looking. “Well,” said the operator, “you are leaving at 9.40 for Buffalo with the mail. Any objections ?” “Nary a one,” Jim replied. “So long.” Jim went out to the line where the mechanics were tuning up his ship and looked it over. “A fine piece of work,” he thought, “and can she go?” Jim climbed into the cockpit, warmed her up and got ready to leave. As usual lie was a bit nervous before tak¬ ing off and anyone could tell when he to Z. X. Z. Dad, you here too? Oh!” The hall rang with greetings and laughter. - “What’s so funny about it?” Ted demanded sullenly,”—after thinking of myself as the rescuer of the beauti¬ ful damsel in distress, this is some let down!’’ Then the unexpectedness and humor of the situation struck him, and he grinned sheepishly. Mr. Merriton, coaxed into good hu¬ mor by his daughter, explained the situation to the police. Soon the wails of a saxophone and the tinkle of a piano brought dancing couples out on the floor. The society had rented the hall, had it repaired, and they themselves furnished the mus¬ ic and “eats.” The result was reviewed with satisfaction by all. Ted, the would-be-hero, and his hero¬ ine, Ann, swayed to the music, and were subject to “slams” and puns about “the kidnapping act.” Teasingly, Ted asked, “Well, I did hurry, didn’t I, Ann?” “You certainly did,” was the reply. M. D. S. ’31. ' or NOT” was nervous by watching the way he chewed gum. A peculiar chew you would think. He took off on time and everything was going fine until about an hour up. Then the motor began choking, and going thru the usual antics that a motor does when there is a leak in the oil line. Jim didn’t know what he wanted to do, but he didn’t like the way the ground was coming up at him. Then a happy thought struck him. He climbed out of the cock pit, got on the wing, located the leak, and then he took his gum out of his mouth and plugged up the hole. He got back into the cock pit, started the motor again, and rode on to Buffalo. Do not mistake my name for Ripley’s, for this is not based on actual fact. R. N. ’31.

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THE PIONEER PAGE SEVEN others of the blackbird family there, the cowbird and grackles. The pussy willow now peeps from beneath the case of brown that kept it warm all winter. When we look at the meadows we see that the hardy dandelions have first given to the beau¬ tiful world their share of color. What’s that! It sure did scare me. It is a bird with a peculiar zig-zagging flight. It’s a snipe ! It did not fly till we almost stepped on it. Last week I saw his cousin, the woodcock, in the damp woods at the north of the town. As we walk through the fields of grass, we hear the flowing or bubbling notes of the bluebird. See how busy he is, probably taken up with the duties of housekeeping. Yesterday while doing my homework out in a field, I noticed a flock of about thirty-five tree sparrows probably leaving for the mountains. The pine grosbeaks are also flocking together. Doesn’t the note of the song spar¬ row, in that scrub brush over there, cheer us up. His melodious notes are telling the whole world how happy he is. Look up in that oak. Do you see that purple finch? He is courting. His little pinkish crest is raised and his wings are hanging limply. Why, his entire body shakes like an ice wagon going over cobblestones. Look overhead. There are five sharp-shinned hawks and above them is a red shoulder or, as the farmers call him, the “henhawk.” The first hawk does some harm but the latter should not bear that fake appellation. That hawk catches more mice and other harmful rodents than any trap can cap¬ ture. The world is wonderful in the spring or any other season if one looks at it as our great President “Teddy” Roose¬ velt did; he writes: “It is an incalculable added pleasure to any one’s sense of happiness if he or she grows to know even slightly and imperfectly how to read and en¬ joy the wonder-book of nature.” Ross Chapin, ’32. A TELEPHONE CALL “Oh, my dear, did you go to the game last night? You didn’t? You certainly should have. It was the most exciting game I ever saw. There were some of the cutest boys on the opposing team. Most of them weren’t as good looking as our team, of course. “I really don’t remember what the score was, but I’m quite sure that we won. It will be in the Chronicle next week, anyway. “What did you say? There’s a fear¬ ful buzzing on this line. Oh yes, of course he was there. Why didn’t you come? Oh, I forgot you had that essay to write. It’s funny how teach¬ ers will pile up homework on a night when there’s a game, and it’s still fun¬ nier how anyone could stay home and do it. “Oh, someone is trying to get this line. Well, never mind. Let them try. What? Oh, no, it couldn’t be as im¬ portant as what we are saying. Do you think you can go to the movies with me tomorrow night ? Report cards come out the day after and I doubt if my father will let me go for about a month after that sad day. Oh my dear, you’ve got nothing to worry about. “I have an hour in detention tomor¬ row so I’ll be able to do most of my homework then, no doubt, if there are¬ n’t too many others there. My teach¬ ers say I talk incessantly. Do you know what that means? I looked it up in the dictionary but I couldn’t find it. I don’t think I talk much, do you? “Did you get any valentines? I got some, and one was fearfully cute. I won ’t tell you over the phone whom it is from. The verse was so cute that I learned it. It is: “Tell me quick, before I faint, Is I yours, or is I ain’t?” “Isn’t that cute? I’ll show it to you