Scituate High School - Chimes Yearbook (Scituate, MA)

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14 THE CHIMES THE LONE SCOUT Harriet Poland, ' 34 Toot — toot — toot — toot — etc. There, mother! How did that sound ? ' ' Perfect, came the reply. Peggy Dexter, tired out, sank down in a comfortable chair. No one could have prac- tised so faithfully as she had, day after day, on her bugle. She was a lone scout, without a captain, and in no troop. She ha,il to get her Girl Scout training by communicating with other scout leaders. The scouts were holding a con- test for buglars and drummers. Tomorrow was the day ! Where ' s that polish that I use for my bugle, mother? I can ' t find it anywhere. — Oh, never mind. I see It. Are you ironing my suit? All right. Peggy ' s head was all a whirl with bugles, suits and what not. She was very thankful when it came time for her to snuggle into bed and close her eyes. ' ' Wake up, Peggy ! Breakfast is all ready for you and it ' s late. ' ' Ho-hum! Why don ' t they make nights longer? She ate her breakfast hurriedly, and before long the clear notes of the bugle could be hea]i d from the music room. Mother, do you suppose Ell have half a chance, with all the other girls who are so much older and more experienced than I? Of course you will ! There ' s not a girl among them that can play as well as you. She asked such questions as these as she put on her suit, shined her Inigle, and tidied herself. Before she knew it, she was on the train and soon had landed at the building where the contest was to be held ! She was frightened when she, alone, went in among the crowd of girls. No one seemed to notice her. Everyone ])ut her had a chum to laugh and talk with. At last all were seated and everything was quiet. The drummers ' contest came first, but she didn ' t even notice that they w re playing at all. Next came the buglers.

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THE CHIMES 13 witnessed the trial of some whispering leaves tliat had gossiped among themelves. The boys had returned to the village an d reported that Peter Barlow had lost his m ' md. Then one bright morning some other boys decided to visit the estate and see if they too could get a glimpse of the ' ' crazy boy. They climbed noiselessly up over the wall and sure enough there he was in the garden. He had some- thing in his hand which looked like a wounded bird. The boys watched breathlessly as Peter bandaged the bird ' s wing. But when Peter turned his face up to the sky and asked, Mother, do you think he will be all right now? one of the boys laughed. Peter ' s large eyes became bright and his face white with ano-er when he saw the intruders. He clutched a large stick and ran toward the vanishing boys. He slipped; his head hit a rock and he lay very still until Benjamin, the old tutor, came out and carried him into the house. He tried to tell Benjamin about it. Benjamin, do yoit understand ? Thev were ogres and they came into my king- dom that was built for Mother, just mother, Benjamin, and people like her. That ' s why I was angry; I didn ' t want them to spoil it for her, they would frighten her T know. ' The child lay a while in the old man ' s arms. Then he said, Benjamin, there is an old man, Silas Marner, Mother told me about him, and he had been hurt by those ogres. They whispered about him. T must go back to my kingdom and help him. I must go right awav, Benjamin. 1 mus — I—, Mother. Benjamin ' s eyes were wet as he laid the dead child on the couch and knelt, with his head bowed in an attitude of pray- er. Perhaps he was praying that he too might go to Peter ' s land. A young lady entered a stationery store and asked for a can of floor wax. Pm very sorry, said the clerk, but all we have is seal- ing wax. Don ' t try to be siHy ' she snapped; who ' d want to wax a ceiling?

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THE CHIMES 15 ' Triscilla Spear! the judges called. She pla ed the calls selected hy the judges, and oh! the applause which greeted her at the end from her fellow-mates. Peggy idreaded the time when she would play and come back with no one to applaud her, for of sourse she had no troop to be cheered by. Several others went through the same process with loud applause. Peggy Dexter! ' ' She trembled as she came forward. She was assigned to play taps. The mellow notes sounded across the arena. Every girl stood at attention. There was no one to cheer her as the others had been cheered. She had come alone. Her heart sank. Again she was com- manded to play. At the final call the whole hall burst into a spontaneous cheer for the lone scout. There was no doubt in the hearts of anyone but that she had won the prize. She, a lone scout, ha4 won the long cherished cup. THE OLD SCITUATE LIGHTHOUSE Ruth Spear, ' 34 The lighthouse stands o ' erlooking the sea, And Scituate of it well proud may be, — The oldest lighthouse on the shore; There may be other lights galore; But its light has saved many men from death; When close on them was the ocean ' s breath. ' Twas this tower that hid the Army of Two When the lurking danger was known to few; — Erom out behind the granite tower, Cedar trees making a lofty bower : Came the sound of drum and fife, That in old Scituate saved many a life. Servant: The Doctor is here. Absent-minded Professor: I can ' t see him; tell him I ' m sick.