Scarborough High School - Four Corners Yearbook (Scarborough, ME)

Page 16 text:

8 FOUR CORNERS yjixUmxxf. A LITTLE GRAY ROADSTER. On a deserted, muddy, country road, two miles from any buildings, was a small, gray roadster, sunk a foot or more in the soft mud. The car was covered with clay, which had dried and given the car a rather spotted effect. At the wheel sat a young girl clothed in a khaki cloak and cap. At a closer examination, one might see the locks of curly coal black hair which strayed from under the tight fitting band of the cap, and blew against her flushed and rosy cheeks. From dark eyelashes shone two bright eyes which appeared black, as one looked into their almost fathomless depth. From between fresh red lips shone two rows of even teeth. It was a beautiful face of a young girl, and every line of the face showed determination, courage, and a strong will power. But at present the whole face portrayed a picture of perplexity. For Mary Winthrop was a Red Cross nurse, ‘‘somewhere in France,” and was on her way to administer to the comfort of a trainload of American soldiers who were on their way to the front. Now every¬ thing seemed lost. She had driven her car too near the mud-soaked section of the road. The wheels had slipped in the wet clay; her car was thrown into the midst of the mud, where it seemed willing to remain from that time on, in spite of Mary’s many but futile attempts to release it. Discouraged, tired and muddy, she sank back on the seat of her car, threw her gloves on the empty seat beside her, cov¬ ered her eyes with her small hands, and tried to think of some means of freeing her car from the irresisting clutch of the wet clay. She would be too late if she walked to the station, five miles dis¬ tant. The houses for miles around had been deserted since the out¬ break of the war, so it was useless to go after help, and she certainly could not stay there. The only thing left to do was to walk three miles back to headquarters. She had almost made up her mind to do it, when the welcome sound of an automobile horn met her atten¬ tive ears. With an excited jump, she distinguished a large black touring car coming down the road at a breakneck pace, swaying first to one side of the road, then to the other. At the wheel sat a

Page 15 text:

FOUR CORNERS 7 city the unifonus of our country’s soldiers and sailors are seen in great numbers. America has experienced a rebirth of patriotism. Except in a few out-of-the-way places, intense patriotism is every¬ where in evidence, and nearly everyone is being stirred by the com¬ mon desire to serve his country—the country of freedom and democracy. True patriotism manifests itself in service, and an opportunity is offered to every person in the United States to exemplify his patriot¬ ism in some particular line of service. We are proud of the boys from Scarborough, who have gladly and unreservedly given them¬ selves to the service of the country, for thereby they are showing true patriotism in the extreme. But to all of us this privilege is not extended. Every patriotic American, if not privileged to shoulder the gun, should be asking himself, “What can I do? How can I help?” The answer is this. Show these boys, our representatives at the battle front, that we are with them heart and soul. Exercise a true patriotic spirit in giving to the many institutions which render service to them and to the Allies. This spirit has already shown itself in three great Liberty Loan subscriptions, aggregating several billions of dollars, in Red Cross and Y. M. C. A. subscriptions, in adherence to food and fuel regula¬ tions, and in many other ways. Scarborough has responded nobly in subscribing to the Liberty Bond issues. It has made a splendid showing in the Red Cross drive and greatly exceeded its quota. It has gone “over the top” on every call for the support of the war. The schools have been especially interested in the War Savings Stamp campaign and nearly every pupil in school has bought stamps. Several boys in Scarborough High School have already enlisted in the Junior Volunteers for work during the coming months. Last year several pupils made a substantial offering to the problem of food production through their home gardens and are planning to do more of this work this year. The only way to bring about an early and successful termination of the war is by doing such things as these, however small and trivial they may seem to be. As Americans, we all have a distinct duty to perform. Let us rejoice in this splendid opportunity for us to do our part. Any sacri¬ fice that we are called on to make, let us do it cheerfully for the sake of our country which we have learned to love as never before. Let us all be unanimous in our loyalty to our government, for in no other way can we make the world “safe for democracy.”

Page 17 text:

FOUR CORNERS 9 young English officer, whose face was a picture of excitement, anxiety, and pain. Opposite the little gray roadster, the car stopped, and leaning over the side of the car, the officer shouted, “A French hospital has been shelled, many are wounded, and I am after some Red Cross nurses, but I can’t find anyone at the Headquarters. What shall I do ?” Mary’s courage and tact arose to meet the occasion. She explained that all the nurses were at the station and gladly pointed out the way to him. But the officer, observing the condition of the car, invited her to ride back with him. When she had climbed into the car, she noticed that his right arm had been hurriedly bandaged and that his head was badly cut. In reply to her questioning look, he told her that he had been slightly wounded. Mary’s heart swelled with pride and pity when she thought of this brave young officer who had come all these miles driving the car with his arm lying helpless at his side. It was the work of only a few minutes for the skilled hands to bandage the wounded head, to apply splints to the broken and badly bruised ami. Then, pushing aside the protests of the officer, whose name was Lucien Dale, she took her seat at the wheel, and the car was soon on its way. In less time than I can tell, the car was speed¬ ing back over the road to the hospital, followed by a carload of nurses and supplies. During the two weary months which followed, it was Mary’s kind and patient hand that nursed Lucien back to life, for a terrible, slow and almost fatal fever followed the accident. It was Mary who administered to the wants and comforts of the soldiers. It was Mary who smoothed the death pillow and closed the eyes of many a brave young soldier. It was she who wrote back home to break the sad or good news to the mother. It was she who cheered the tired, overworked nurses and doctors, but what Lucien considers her great¬ est work was the restoring him back to life. Is it any wonder that Lucien Dale boasts that he is the proudest and happiest man alive, since he claims Mary as his own private nurse? Ruth Lincoln, T8.