Seven Hills High School - Yearbook (Cincinnati, OH)

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book, dated 1785. It was her great-great-grandmother's diary, kept on the long journey from Virginia to the Miami Valley. It began at the beginning of the journey westward which Elizabeth Lewis made in a covered wagon, with her husband and their three boys. Every day she had written of the hardships and dangers they had had to face from the moment they set out at dawn until they made camp at night. Pk if Dk X Pk March 13, 1785 a'Today three Indian braves, painted in a half a dozen different hues, boldly approached and stopped our wagon. The only thing that we could do was to allow them to go through our belongings, eating a good lot of our supplies, and finally making off with my cameo pin and ,lohn's silver watch, whose shine seemed to attract their eyes. As long as we allow these savages to do as they please, they seem not to harm usfl April 1, 1785 Wlloday, in a quiet spot in an unknown valley, we buried our youngest son, William Lewis, and pushed on westward. William was killed in the Indian raid two nights ago, a horrible and terrifying experience of which 1 shall not write.'7 April 23, 1785 HJohn says that if we have no more trouble with the Indians and God be- ing with us, we shall reach the Miami Valley in three weeks time. How 1 long to be settled and finished with this terrible journey, although no one knows what may await us at the end of it? The diary went on to tell of their trials when they did reach the end of their journey and how they had to live in the covered wagon until John Lewis, alone, could build a rude rough log hut for a home. It told how his brave wife stayed alone in the but while her husband went hunting and trapping. As time went on more settlers came to the little spot they had chosen for a home. A little settlement grew up. This was called Lewis- town in honor of its founder. The Lewises were typical of the early Ameri- can pioneer. This little book absorbed Edward with its day by day account of the pioneer,s life. He began to have a strong admiration for these courageous people who had done so much for their country. Edward thought of his own ancestors. If called on to make such a perilous journey and sacrifice, would they have done it? Very likely not. Aside from a few iine war- riors they were mainly courtiers and nobles, country gentry interested in YW. arm, 193 9 l68l

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lawyer who had been called to the Middle West on an important case. Edward had been planning to enter one of the large English universities, and had not wanted to come to the States. His father, however, had in- sisted. He maintained that it would add to Edwardls education to have a year of college life in America. From the very first, Edward did not like America, especially the boys and girls at the university. He con- sidered them loud and over-friendly. When he showed no signs of accept- ing any offers of friendship, they soon left him strictly alone. As his great uncle had a title and an estate in his home country, Edward felt himself superior to these boys who came from all types of families, and he did not felt. Thus he was fast becoming unpopular among his classmates. There was one exception to this-a vivacious, brown-haired, young lady. She was a cheer leader for the football team and assistant Editor of the annual. Every- body knew and liked her. Anne Lewis was her name and she was a typ- ical American girl. As Edward showed some ability for writing, he had been put on the lit- erary staff of the Annual. It was at a board meeting that Anne first talked to him and discovered some of his dislike for America. Anne was a born reformer and she now decided to take the job of reforming Edward and giving him an appreciation of America. Edward had decided to go doggedly through his first year at Miami and then present himself to his father with the information that he was definitely going back to England. He had spent much of his spare time thinking up arguments to give his father. But something changed all thatg he fell in love. She was the assistant Editor of the Annual and Edward was sure the most perfect person he had ever seen. Anne was, he thought, an ex- ceptional American. Anne, hearing the other boys joke about Edwardls famous ancestors decided to look into her own family history. While searching in the attic one afternoon, she found something with which she was sure she could con- vince Edward of Americais merits. Whereupon, the next day, she made a bet with Edward that she could prove that her family was just as good as his. To please her Edward took the bet, although he considered himself an easy winner. He wrote to his uncle in England who sent him a copy of the Hamilton family tree which went back to William the Conqueror. Anne read all of EdWard's information, which told of courtiers, brave warriors, and some titled statesmen. Then she handed him a small, worn Wiliam, 193 9 167 fl

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fine dress, fine wine and good hunting. There were, of course, some brave young commanders who had distinguished themselves at sea. Edward, how- ever, began to see America in a new light. He saw it a young, flourishing country, full of energetic people who, like their ancestors, are still upush- ing onf' After all, the boys at the school couldn't be so bad. If he made friends with them, they would probably return his friendship. And they were, many of them, descended from brave, hardy pioneers just as Anne was. Anne had won her point. She had convinced Edward that her lineage, although possibly not as high placed and not as cultured, was really as truly fine as his. Thus Edward came to admire and respect the United , S he treated Anne te-the . ' , was fully convinced that the only place to finish his education was in Ohio, in the same class with Miss Anne Lewis. MILDRED LITTLEFORD, 1940 To A Magnolia Heralded by the dawn, as it filters Through your tangled branches, Awake and once again unfold Your buds to the sun! Blooming as one huge bouquet Of colors skillfully blended, You fill the air with sweet perfume To last throughout the day. Let silver moonbeams softly dance Upon your snowy petals, Outlining a vision of rare beauty Against the cloudless sky. MARTHA ANN GooDYEAR, 1941 Wijfone, 793 Q I 69 l