Reed College - Griffin Yearbook (Portland, OR)

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yyyyo MTIa ?thins makes a Score Ah pulled his spade out of the loamy soil and sniffed. The spring breeze P was blowing from the kitchen and IiPaI' fancied it carried odors other than the sweet perfume of cherry blossoms and Violets. In fact, he was 6; sure that he could smell waffles. qu Ma ain't making waffles, my u w name ainIt Perkinsj, said he. I'Wonder if theyIs any chanct of getting a couple? He stood the spade against the hen-house and walked to the kitchen door, He gasped in amazement. HMaII hada whole platter of golden brown wafers and the mixing bowl was still three-quarters full. HCosh-aII-hemlocks, but Mas making Iem fast? tThis to himselfJ TheneHMa, thenis good-looking wafers you got thereewhat chanet of getting oneT' IIMaII wheeled around. uNone what-so-ever, Mr. Perkins. You just get back to your spading. These wafers are for the United States, Army. Waffles for the Army, indeed! Had IXIa gone mad? HIVIa, you aint out of your mind, are you7H HNo, IVIr. Perkins. I,m perfectly rational? When HPaH heard that word Hrationalf he knew his chances were slipping. In fits of determination, Ma always resorted to Hhigh-brow phrases, that bowled iiPaH over completely. IiYou neeant get so uppish, Ma. I just asked you what the Chances were? HAs I have remarked afore, there aint no chances. These waffles are going to a truck load of soldiers which is going by in. twenty minutes. As long as you aint a ilad in khakif Pa, you might as well move on.H HI joined the Salvation Army once, Ma, and I signed the pledge. DonIt that let me in? HDonIt get funny, Pa. I-Iumor ainit becoming in a man of your agef Pa changed his tactics. HI guess youIre right, Ma. I'm getting old fast. My lumbago bothers me considerable, and my heart gets kinda jumpy every time I put the spade in the sod. And I only could stand seventeen hot cakes this morning. Thats a poor record for me, Ma, as you know. Iim weakening fast, allright. HIVIaI, looked at her spouse in anxiety. This wasnt the Pa shed known. He had never complained. HYou ainIt sick, are you, Pa? she asked. Pa moaned faintly. IIDunnof he remarked. IiHere, set right down, Pa, dear, and let me get you a little brandy. And 111 give you a iHermanIs I-Ieart Ease Pillf You better have an egg-nog, too? i. IIPaH nodded feebly and said, HNever mind the egg-nog, Ma. Them wafersIII do. They got as much milk and eggs in ,em as egg-nogs has. lust pass me a couple, Ma, and the maple syrup and maybe this little weak Spdlnll pass over in a minute. 80

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l M L lmem- clll'liiL Lid as ? 4 Off days? . LMLQ ils that gm 3'; Mlllllelat :13ka i ilealover ; Limit ld withwtl i ilastlmli' lwn Hints iuietlyawayl ,, MMMl wassollili winthelpl: 'okenllwl, litedrCSS ll? :little CW1 therapll in glorioull . When she retired that night, how tenderly she had stuck the gum onto the bed POSt, 50 that ShOUld she feel the need of love and romance during the long watches Of the night, there it WOUld be a ready token. All she need do was to stretch forth one white arm, diSIOdge the wad 0f gum and feed her soul on romance to her hearts content. The essence of Spearmint, like some potent perfume of Old, WOUld bring back to her all the glory Of that one wonderful Sunday in her gray existence and transport her far above all petty things, But UOWaher tears began to flow anew. She had come to the tragedy Of it all. The next day while she was in the kitchen washing the dishes, cruel Henry had invaded her room, discovered the gum and sampled itladifiling it forever! He had run through the kitchen yelling back at her, llSay Tildy, you do know how to chaw gum. This ainlt half chawed yitfi In just rage she had dropped her tea towel and lit outl' after his retreatin overalls. But oh unlucky Fate! Malcolm was out in the yard talking to her father. just as she caught up with the culprit and raised an avenging hand above him, the horrid boy in fright and gulped down the precious gum and broken into a lit of coughingaand Malcolm had seen it allaand laughed. Oh, she could never face him again! Death would be sweet in the face of such bitter ingominy. She must end it alla-but how? Her wildly roving eyes lit upon the hay rope the men had left hanging down. In feverish haste she tied her braids around her neck and the ends to the ropeaand all was ready. uCourage, she whispered softly, H ,tis but for a moment,H-and swung one leg out of the window. HTildy, you come right down from there and do them ClisheslH rang out her Mothers harsh voice. She jumped. Dishes at a time like this! Couldn t she even die in peace? On why hadnlt she boldly jumped right out and then her mother would have seen her too late, too late, she thought as she sullenlv .. Climbed back and meekly went down to Tido upH the dishes. Never mind, she consoled her striken heart, she could wait until evening and thenm That evening myriad stars twinkled so brightly in the heavens and the black 3 ., trees silhouetted against the sky looked so beautiful. But it was a cruel, cruel 'v ? worl C1 to her and she went bravely on again down to the little stream. - . . il shall unbind mV flowing tresses and lie down to sleep forever 1n th1s quiet. 13001,: she said softly, wand perhaps Malcolm will find me here and maybe weep a ear. She unbraided her stiff yellow pig tails and took a step nearer. There was a Startled grunt and a bulky black form lumbered up in front of her. Matilda screamed and drew back. Oh, it must be only old Bess the cow, but how wall-eyed ., and big she looked! lMatilda and the cow gave each other one long startled look; en Matilda turned and fled, all suicidal thoughts oozing fast away as she ran .faSteF and faster up the path. When she reached home, thankfully she slipped Into bed, firm in the thought that she must be fated to livaaperhaps for a greater lfe,xwho knows? aLucy B. Gamble. 79

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HE GRIPPI bl i . W: BOYS tOne of the gems found in the unpublished collection of the late lamented tat W 5: BNtRi 555551635an9 I adore boys. ; They amuse me. i There are the Tough Guys. U58 3Hd walkway, They call each other Simple. I I kawi full. Mir; pJWMW emMmm mwmm gmm? M $' mmmw i to 'ihigI1-bf0555 r i. mMWWi 0 chances: I; meW5 They sit up all night to play bridge And look haggard and weary eyed Next day. They gulp down half a glass of Bevo. And smoke innumerable cigarettes In a languid fashion And think they're very Wicked. There are the Book Worms. They stalk across the campus With a preoccupied air. They scarcely have time for their meals But write English themes with one hand And eat their bread and butter With the other. They can spout Chemistry formulas By the yard And tell you the exact date Calthroanpieeous Crossed the Basaltic. They rush madly from one class to another A dozen volumes under each arm And they think they're terribly Busy. Then there are the Chronic Fussers. They are just saturated with dates, And tell you with a satisfied air They havenit gotten home before midnight For two weeks. They are simply suberb In the toddle. A faint aroma hangs about them As of attar of roses. They part their hair in the middle And glow resplendent In golf socks, riding breeks, and bow ties. Indeed, they're very Fetching. I adore boys. They amuse me. 'Li. M. R. e Q-W-vrr-