Samuel D Hanson School - Crescent Yearbook (Buxton, ME)

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I The Erzsrznt 17 an unreasonable idea like that into your head, all I can say will be of no avail to persuade you that you are wrong. Go ahead, and I'll bet my whole fortune that she'll be just as crazy over movies, joy rides and dances as all the rest of those wild young Happers that we see racing up and down the street. That night Aunt Martha wrote a letter to Mrs. Jones telling her of the whole plan, that it must be kept a secret as to the money, and asking her to see the girl as soon as possible and reply right away. Three days later came the answer. The girl, Alice Gordon, about sixteen years of age, would arrive bag and baggage on the night train. My stars! said Janet, that was quick work, but oh, how I do dread having her come! I can just picture her with rouge and a whole lot of that red stuff on her lips-lipstick, I guess they call it. Aunt Martha ignored this remark, as she always did similar things, to avoid unpleasantness. That night, as the train pulled in, found Aunt Martha and Miss Janet on the platform waiting anxiously for Alice. At last, down the steps came a girl whom Aunt Martha knew to be Alice. She was well dressed, but her face was minus both the rouge and lipstick, much to the surprise of Miss Janet. Now, Alice understood her duty fully and set about to fulfil it. First she went to school, from 8.30 to 12.30. From there she went directly to the soda fountain, where she worked until 6.30, at least, and sometimes until 9.15 o'clock. Then she went home, did her studying, and usu-ally was ready for bed by 10.45 or 11 o'cloek. Each week she handed over to Aunt Martha the check that she received, and she believed that to be what supported the family. Alice kept this up for over three years. Meantime, she graduated with honors from high school and was preparing her- self for college. About this time Miss Janet was taken ill and asked to see Alice alone. Then she told her about the great fortunes they both had, and explained why they had her work, making it seem that she was almost supporting them. She admitted then to both Aunt Martha and to Alice that she had had an alto- gether wrong opinion of young girls. She, as well as Aunt Martha, now thought as much of Alice as they could have of a daughter of their own. By the following autumn, Miss Janet had recovered from her illness, and all were living happily. MILDRED Towuz, '26, BETTER THAN EXPECTED It was a late September afternoon when three boys, Jack and Paul Sturges and Jimmie Winfield, stood in front of the little Mapleton post-office, looking wistfully at the dusty trail of the returned hunters. These hunters had stopped at the post-office and told of many unusual experiences in the Maine woods. The boys, who were among the many interested listeners, felt a great desire to

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18 Qtbe Girzscent experience some thrilling adventure. Jim- mie, the youngest, had never had an op- portunity to go on a camping trip, while Jack and Paul had accompanied their father several times. Suddenly Jack broke out with a loud voice, Say, boys, let's go on a trip up the river. We could start in two days and go by canoe. The others agreed. Jimmie was more than glad to have a chance to go with theseboys, for he knew quite well his parents would let him go. Now they all started to talk the matter over. At last the morning broke for their start. Not a brighter sun could any hunter wish for, and, bidding their par- ents farewell, they started off in their canoes. All went well until noon, when hunger overtook them, forcing them to land on a sandy beach, shaded by a large maple tree. Jimmie, let's not build a fire. As it is quite warm, we will eat some of .mother's sandwiches. We must travel as fast as possible so as to reach the lake before night falls. After resting for an hour, they packed the remains of their lunch and started on. Several hours of paddling brought them to the lake. After agreeing on a camp site, they landed and hauled the canoes up on the bank. They set to work to put up the tent and make ready for supper. The sun was setting in the west as they cleared away. Dusk soon overtook them, and being tired, they turned in for a good night's rest. Morning broke clear and fair. Each feeling rested, he was ready for any adventure. As soon as breakfast was over, Paul decided to take his rifle and see what luck he would have in obtaining some game for their dinner, while Jack and Jimmie finished unloading the rest of the supplies. Paul retudned in a couple of hours with two rabbits. The boys set to work dressing them. While thus engaged, Jimmie happened to glance out on the lake and spied a queer looking craft, but he did not say anything about it. The rest of the day passed unevent- fully. Jimmie, being first up the next morn- ing, went down to the lake to get water so as to be ready when the rest awoke. Hearing a noise, he jumped and looked up quickly, thinking some animal near at hand was ready to pounce upon him. Again and more distant came the sound. Turning in the direction from which it came, he noticed the craft of the day before only a short distance up the lake. Very much excited, he rushed up the bank, calling out to the boys, Wake up and come here, quick! VVe have com- pany and they have a queer looking boat. W'ho do you suppose it is? The boys, rushing out to see what was happening, noticed that the craft seemed to be empty, not a person near. This mystified them, so they stayed near camp and kept a close watch of the movements of the craft. Just as the boys were about to eat dinner, they noticed that the craft was heading for shore. Then a queer thing happened. ' Just when the boat seemed about to land, the bank was pushed back, and the boat passed into place again. These last few movements

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16 The Crescent would ring and drop down. At the base of the board was a plug, connected with wires and connected with the drops. These are fitted into the drops and are used to locate the fire. We were also told that the Station was to be closed January, 1926, for a short time during the coldest of the weather. After eating our lunch, we had a glorious ski race down over the hill back to Camp. We are coming home in about a week, and I will see you then. As ever, your friend JANE. MILDRED C. THOMPSON, '28. THE PROOF Now, the story begins with two old maids, Miss Martha Pentington and Miss Janet Williams, who were about sixty years of age and each with so much money that she did not know what to do with it. Miss Martha, or Aunt Martha, as she is known to her friends, is one of the jolly, goodnatured people always ready to do a kind deed, and one who believes in giving the young folks a chance in life. Miss Janet, on the other hand, is just the opposite type from Aunt Martha. She is very stern and seldom smiles. It would take the funniest of all funny jokes to make her crack a smile, to say nothing of causing her to give a hearty laugh. As to the young folks, she be- lieves that they are too gay, that they should have more work to do to offset the play. These ladies lived in a house of me- dium size, nothing very fancy, but a very neat looking place, where they might enjoy a quiet and simple life together. It seemed the previous night, as they were sitting before the fireplace, they had discussed money affairs. That is, who was to have their money when they were gone. Well, said Aunt Martha in opening the conversation that evening, I have a plan all worked out to see my money in good hands, making someone's future happy, and I shall also prove to you that there are young folks in this world to-day who have a little backbone and who think of something besides pleasure. Oh, said Miss Janet, I expect you're going to do some great thing, I might just as well listen now to your silly scheme as to wait a week, I suppose. Janet, said Martha, do you remem- ber Mrs. jones telling about that girl at Bantomville who has no parents or any- one to look after her P Yes, of course, but what has that to do with what we were just talking about ? just this, answered Aunt Martha. I'm going to have that girl come to live with us, pretending that we are very poor, that we can give her a roof to cover her head if she'll earn enough working after- noons and after school closes to help support us. Oh, dear, said Miss Janet, I can see how the house will be in an uproar all the time, but I know that if you get