Sandy Township High School - Flambeau Yearbook (Du Bois, PA)

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SANDY TOWNSHIP fllO'n SCHOOL FI.AMBEAT 7 dnir Bessie!” Tln»n they thought of Hu picture and again a( if. Sun enough, there was a slight resemblance between 11»« picture ami Sarah. 1I»th Mrs. Drew and Sanili won so happy that thoy thought it ini|H)ssihli to wait until Mr. Dn w came homo to break the giMsI nows to him. Novor was thoro a happier man on earth than Mr. Drew, when lie foiiml out what ho had so lout: waited to hoar. ••lint , ho said after the greatest of the eon fusion was over, Wlmt is to ho done with that moan Perkins' family? Thoro is nothing too erne! to ho done to them, sineo they have kept Bessie so long from our sight. ’ This matter was attended to at onee. Perkins paid a heavy lino and tried to make an apology, hut eon Id find none suitable. After ho paid the required tine he was very inueli ashamed of himself and immediately loft the neighborhood. They wore never hoard of after that. It was still two weeks until school started. Sarah Brown, who had now taken her real name, Bessie Drew, had no m od to worry about getting to High School now. She was well dressed and ivceived the liest kind of care. Mary Join's and Bessie often paid each other visits. Well, aren’t you glad you took the eighth grade examination”. asked Mary, while visiting Bessie before school started. I certainly am,” returned Bessie. I am sure that if it had not Imimi for you I wouldn’t be thinking of going to High School this year, and more than that, mother and father said that I could' go to college, if I eared to.’ L. W. L. 22. dimit A iinmr Autmm thr JJinrs Over the beautiful green hills of New Hampshire, the sun was slowly sinking. The lieautiful illumination of the sky gave a promise of a nice day on the morrow. A girl came tripping along a path that stretched across her (1 rand father’s farm. She had long black curls, which hung around her head in clusters. Her face shone with smiles, and her blue eyes sparkled with joy as she ran along after her dog. Nellie Kodgers for this was the girls name I lived with her grandfather and grandmother in a little cottage far up among the old New Hampshire hills. This little cottage was hidden among some beautiful pine trees which reached far alsive the roof of the house. Inside sat an old gray haired lady, very busily knitting, as the last rays of the sun made their way through tin pines into the neat little room when she sat. She was very fond of her home and also of Nell, but list now she was not thinking of either her home or Nellie: but instead, of a little scene that had taken place in this very room just eighteen years ago today. She remembered it all very well. There in the farthest corner her son was kneeling licside tin-bed of his dying wife. His one band on her hot brow, and the other around the waist of his little daughter. Suddenly a beautiful smile lit up the face of the dying woman, and she whis|M»red, My Darlings.” and then all was still. She was dead. John lingers arose, placed his little daughter on a chair and lowered his head in grief. Presently his mother came into the room. One glance at her son told her that Lucie was dead. Six months later John Kodgers was culled to help his country. He left his daughter in his mother’s care. As he stood on the |s»rch he gently took his mother in his arms and kissed her. saying. Take care of little Nellie, mother, and don’t worry, I am coming home again.” Don’t forgot to write, John”, said Mr. Kodgers. in a shaky voice, but Mrs. Kodgers could only say, good-bye.” Eighteen years”, sighed Mrs. Kodgers as she folded her knitting and arose to prepare supjM r “Eighteen years and lie has ouly written once.” After she had supper started she got down a little box from the cupboard and opened it, she took out the yellowest and oldest looking envelope in the box and read : bear Mother, Father and Ihmghtcr:— Just a line to let f ou knoic I arrived safe and sound, and

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6 SANDY TOWNSHIP 11 Kill SCHOOL FLAMBKAT Sh told this to no one except Mary. Ono day she sat looking at a newspaper, Beading rapidly tin advertisement list, sin no ticed the following advertisement: Wanted:—dirt for doin j housnrork or famili of tiro, othiiiff too hard for a t irl sixteen to do. This greatly pleased Sarah, and sin at once made up her mind to go. Kven if it is too hard for tin . sin said to herself, • I don't m ed to stay. Surely 1 can find some other plaee if this doesn't suit me. There are ever as many plaees waiting for a girl to do housework. Oil the following day she made an exetise to Mrs Perkins to go to town. Her oxenso having been aeenptod she started to see alwuit her position. Drews', the people that she was going to si e, did not live in this town, hut in Bakcrtowu, almut fifty miles from where she lived. She hadn't money enough of her own to pay her way. so Mary gave, her enough for her needs and a little extra. Sarah arrived at the Drew home that evening about four o’eloek. She had never traveled mueli, hut by her intelligence, sin got along very nicely. She was a little hit timid about ringing the door hell, but finally she picked up courage to ring it. A tall slender lady answered the hell. Sin indeed had a very pleasing look. which at once caus« d Sarah to feel at home. “How do you do , said Sarah in a modest way. ( 1 mm 1 evening , said Mrs. Drew. •••Inst step inside here. 1 suppose you have come to answer that advertisement? •Yes , answered Sarah, “It is for you to choose whether you want me to work for you. I think I am capable of doing almost everything alsmt housework, as 1 have never done any other kind of work. Sarah was gladly accepted. She did not go back to Perkins' nor even write them where she was. Mr. and Mrs Drew listened very attentively to Sarah's hardship . Doth felt very sorry for her. and indeisl gave her the best kind of care. In the meantime Mr. and Mrs. Perkins were searching the neighborhood for Sarah, but all was in vain. They had not known what a help she had been until Mrs. Perkins wanted her to do the work while she rend a book, or did some other unnecessary thing. One afternoon when Sarah and Mrs. Drew had finished their daily work they sat down on the porch swing to rest. Mrs. Drew decided to tell Sarah her trouble. When I was a girl of your age. my mother and father were both dead, she began. I had no home, but just had to go wherever I could find shelter. At that time work was not as plenty as it is now, and a girl my age was not wanted to work. Finally I found a home where they took me in. more because they pitied me than because they m eded help. They had a hoy about my age. We grew to love each other, and at last were married. We furnished our little home and after several years had passed, a dear little baby girl came to bless our home. Tears were be ginning to creep down her cheeks, but she endeavored to continue her story. One day when our little Bessie was learning to walk, I allowed her to go out in the yard to play. I went to get her in a few minutes, but she was not to he found. We have never ceased to limit for her since, and have Iwen able to find not trace of her. No one knows how great my grief is. and if 1 don't find her in the near future I know that 1 shall lose my reason. By this time hoth Mrs. Drew and Sarah were crying. Sarah s«»relied her mind for soothing words. None could Is found, that were as tender as they should In . However, she managed to ask if they had a picture of llessie. Mrs. Drew imim diotcly went into the house and came out in a short time with a picture of 1 Jessie. Sarah declaml it to be the most charming picture she had ever seen. The child was very dainty featured and a little locket ornamented its neck, while a narrow bracelet add d beauty to one of the chubby arms. Tln se small pieces of jewelry reminded Sarah that she was once a small child, and had a locket that she had never In-fore shown to Mrs. Drew. As quickly as possible she went to her room where she had it safely hidden, and returned, bearing the small locket with the peculiar carving on it. Tills locket was all that she took with she took it because she loved it. I’pon examining the locket a look of incredulity swept over Mrs. Drew's face. Could this be her only child's locket? Then a look, as if all Iiojk had disappeared. pass d over her face and another |ti stion took the place of the first one. Could it he ]H ssible that there could he another locket like Bessie's? Surely this was not her own child ! Yes, it must be! She now remem hens 1 that she had had this locket carved different from any other so that it would be a way of identification if anything should happen to the child. “Why, my dear Sarah! she exclaimed. You are my own

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8 sandy township high school flam beat hopiny all arc m il. as I am ai present. W ell mother. I mast soon leave fur the battle front, hut don't worry about me. for if it is the will of the Wise and 1 miyhty. I ill come hark, and if not I nill stay here, hut nevertheless there will be more mothers and fathers left without sons before this irar is over, so yon won’t be alone if it is (Sods will for me to stay here. Well I will eaU this yood for this time, tmt if spared will write yon a lonyer letter after the oat tie. With a hearts best lore, and kisses for all, Your loriny son. JOB'S .1. ROIHIHRS, Mattery It. Mrs. Rodgers eyes were very misty as she neatly folded the letter and plan'd it in thcl ox again. She thought as she often had Indore, that he must have been killed or he would have written after the battle. She plan'd the letter box bark in its plaee and sat the table. •hist as she finished Nellie drove the cows into the barnyard and closed the gate. Then calling her grandfather from the field she went into the house. “Supper ready grandma? asked Nellie as she entered. Yes, dear, ail I is ready”. Mr Rodgers then entered and soon they were seated at the table. Mr. Rodgers had just returned thanks for their daily bread when there was a timid knock at the door. Nellie aruse, ojiencd the door and was surprised to sec a tall man standing there. “Is this where Harry Rodgers liven, lady?” It is. sir, please step in, replied Nellie, and the stranger obeyed. Mr. Rodgers arose and in his simple hospitable manner asked. Won’t you sit down to supper with us stranger? I will, thank you, as I’ve been on the road since morning '. he answered. Nellie hastily sat another plate on the table while Mrs. Rodgers poured his colVee and soon all were enjoying the evening meal. After supper was over they went into the parlor. The stranger and Mr. Rodgers smoking while Mrs. Rodgers again took down her knitting. Nellie did nothing in particular blit watch the stranger and admire his steel blue eyes and his dimples. Stranger you might as well stay all night with us , said Mr. Rodgers. 1 shall In glad to do so if it will not be too much trouble for Mrs. Rodgers , he replied. milk the cows, but as he took down his hat he said, Nellie go up stairs in John's rmmi and bring down the pictures and show to our friend until I have returned.” Nellie arose immediately and went up and brought them down. She placed her chair up beside his and began taking them out one by one until nltuut half the pictures had been shown. Then she lifted out the picture of a beautiful woman, saying, This is mv mother, she has l»een dead almost eighteen years; Don't you think she has a sweet smile? I certainly do, she smiles just like you. little lady , he answered in a shaky voice. Here is my papa , she said handing him the next one. lie had it taken just Wore he went to the war. and oh, lie had such nice dimples too, something like yours 1 imagine. Now lien is my picture, see I am awfully sad there, my mamma was dead and papa was going away too. and I was cry ing. As she finished talking she looked up at the stranger’s face and was very much surprised to see large tears sttiding in his eyes. “Are you sorry for me”, she asked, but did not wait for a reply, for Mrs. Rodgers, who had been watching the stranger since Nellie s|s ke of his dimples now began to sob. Nellie went and put her arms around her neck and said. What is the matter grandma?” .lust then Mr. Rodgers returned, “what is the matter? he asked, looking from one to the other, but Mrs Rodgers said in a clear voice, Nothing only ibis stranger made me think of .John”. “That’s just who it is, mother,” he answered doing up lie took her in his arms and kissed her tenderly as he said, I just wanted you to guess awhile mother dear. lie kissed his father and then taking Nellie in his arms he said, My baby! How much like your mother . After cverylmdy’s excitement was over, Mrs. Rodgers said. John where have you been all these years, and why haven't you written home to us.