Santa Rosa High School - Echo Yearbook (Santa Rosa, CA)

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8 THE PORCUPINE only Tuesday, but the whole of next week. Such is the reward of faithfulness. When you return, 1 shall raise your salary. Your “Wanderer” certainly promises great things. Continue to write and to improve your ability, but this week especially, exert your influence in your brother’s behalf.” While Mr. Eversham had been writing these few lines, Tom had returned home. He had been welcomed with great fervor by his sister Jessie, and had seized the opportunity to draw her aside and whisper, “I have given up my evil companions. This change has been wrought by a sailor lad, who won my confidence, my admiration, and my respect at once. He, Harry Nolan, is going home for a week’s stay with his mother and sister, who, how- ever, do not expect him until Tuesday. How joyfully surprised they will be!” The name had conveyed to Jessie Eversham more knowledge than her brother supposed. Aor: ————— — — LEE eeeeeeee it 7 —s

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THE PORCUPINE 7 a magazine. good?” “Yes, mother,” cried a fair-haired girl appearing in the doorway, “Lydia Nolan is the authoress, and you would actually believe that she had once influenced a wandering brother or friend, for she describes his return to virtue so vividly. I,really lived amid the scenes of the story while reading it; and, mother, dear, I quite determined to take a greater interest in. my brother Tom’s affairs. You know ‘Tom is falling into bad ways.” This last was uttred in a low, Sad tone. “Yes,” said the mother tearfully... “And your father, too, will be gratified to learn of this:new. resolve, and will aid you as far as possible. Hark, I hear foot steps. Run, dear, to the door.” Jessie obeyed, and a moment later. an elderly man entered the room. It was Mr. Eversham. . He appeared to have left all cares at his office, and his. genial ;counten- ance quite dispelled thoughts of gloom. Jessie settled herself to study, and Mrs. Eversham further discussed the “Wanderer,” which she declared promised great things for its author. “And husband,” she continued, “Jessie has been spurred to a brave determination concerning her brother Tom. She hopes to convince him of his error, not by precept but by example, by the very purity of her own life. What a blessing it would be should she succeed. A sister’s influence is more precious than gold or silver; its value cannot be estimated in coin. It should not be regarded lightly.” Mr. Eversham started. He remembered Miss Nolan. How selfish his conduct had been. Truly, he had esti- mated the value of Miss Nolan’s influence in coin. He recalled his worldly conversation with a feeling of euilt, The next day, Miss Nolan received a note from Mr. Eversham. She read the following words with great joy: “You may be excused from your duties at my office not “Jessie,” she said, “was this‘Wanderer’

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us THE PORCUPINE 9 By a Lover of the Sea. The last ray of the setting sun had slowly receded into: the vanishing glow of evening. The vessel rolled quietly to and fro in the waning light, the power- ful engines driving her with a tremor, into the billows,. which ever rose at her bow. Looking over the rail, it seemed as if one were swinging silently above a vast yawning pit into which one was about to be hurled at each lurch of the vessel’s hull. Yet there was a soothing thrilling sensation as this great ship rocked in the night air, cool, refreshing, and free from the dust of cities. It seemed that, under the dome of the sky, with nothing but the dull deep blue of the sea on every hand and stretching into the infinite, the vessel must be lost, must toss about in a baffled attempt to find some guide. Even the forward lunging of the vessel seemed in itself to speak the hopelessness of the task. Yet she steadily plowed her way into the west, pursuing the sun, as it were, like one fearful to be left so alone in the night. With the change of watch, which had taken place shortly before nightfall, the red and green lights had been placed on the vessel’s sides and the clear peak light at the masthead, sent out a warning beam that stranger craft might know of our approach, though it seemed that it would be strange to meet so far out upon the ocean. As I stood, I heard the officer of the bridge grumble a few inaudible words of instruction to the chief at the wheel as he passed by the open window of the pilot house. From where I stood beside the forward companion way, I could dimly see the man at the wheel outlined in the glow of the binacle light. It was an impressive scene and one long to be remembered. The ship, being a freighter bound for Signapore, there was none of the- clamor and commotion customary aboard passenger