Somerville High School - Radiator Yearbook (Somerville, MA)

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SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR n Then we had to hurry in order to make up for lost time. Any one who lias ridden a bicycle on a country road knows that it is very tiresome, espe- cially when that ro.ad is very stony. Imagine our dismay when, upon hearing a hissing sound and glancing at Roy. we saw that young man, red- faced and puffing, jump from his seat and feel of his back tire. W e knew by the look on his face that it was punctured! He kicked it violently, as if it were the cause of his mishap. As he objected seriously to walking alone, and as It would be quite difficult to ride a punctured wheel, we were all compelled to walk, fairly lugging our bicycles at the same time. Weren't we furious when we learned that we were only about a mile from New- castle! A mile more would bring us to Eastgate. W ell, that wasn’t so bad, but it might be worse. It wouldn’t hurt us to walk that little distance, but we didn’t stop to reflect that a mile in the country is very different from a mile in the city. So. hot and dusty, we trudged on our weary way. drag- ging the bicycles after us. We met no one until just before we reached Eastgate. Then we met an old farmer, and eagerly inquired if he had seen a team answering to the description of Mr. Luttrel's. After scratching his head and talking to his horse for the space of five minutes, he answered: Wal. it seems to me I did sec a boss sumpitv like wot yeou say. Must be a purty good distance ahead now. Six miles, mebbe. Giddap!’’ Although this reply was somewhat discourag- ing. it gave us a little information about what we wanted. Leaving the wheels at a little shack, we walked on until we met another farmer, and after telling him our trouble, he said he'd turn back and take us half of the way to Derry. W e appreciated his kindness very much, but the hope of getting that troublesome scenery was growing dim. He let us off at a little railroad station half- way between Eastgate and Derry, and told us to ride the rest of the way. W e didn’t like to tell him that we had spent our last cent for the bicycles, so we bade him a cheery good-by. Then the question was: How should we reach Derry? W’e spied some water in the distance, so we walked down to the shore and asked a man to let us take his punt to go to Derry, lie readily consented, but our dismay was unimaginable when, upon reaching that town, we learned that no team had passed through there all day. No use! came from all lips at once. Dis- heattened and thoroughly out of sorts, we rowed back. Had somebody in Derry told us that scenery was to be had within the radius of twenty miles. 1 think we should have continued the search, but, under the present circumstances, nothing re- mained but for us to return home. 1 he man at the shore was quite angry when he understood that we had no money to pay for the use of his boat, but when his anger had somewhat abated, we managed to wheedle him into lending us enough money to reach the station where the farmer had left us. Then we walked to the bicycle shop, and found that the vehicles were all prepared for us. W’e told the man we’d send the money. He didn't quite like the idea, but there was no other way out of it. We rode to the blacksmith’s shop, regained the horse, left the bicycles, and rode the rest of the way home in ease. Mr. Luttrel was at the door, and just as we ap- proached. he hollered: Wal, young ’uns, here's your duds. You have larned your lesson. I had them all the time. We gazed speechlessly at each other for a full moment. Then Roy spoke. Well! I ll—be— darned!’’ said he. and we mentally echoed his words. But Mr. Luttrel only guffawed. Z. E. Club The T. B. C lub held its first meeting at the home of Miss Sylvia Aker September IP. It was de- cided to have a number of parties and dances dur- ing the coming season. ()ne new member was chosen. Miss Louise Hollis. Officers were elected as follows: President, Miss Marion Earle; treasurer. Miss Sylvia Aker: secretary. Miss Mar- jorie Sawyer. IPbt Hlpba The first meeting of the Phi Alpha Sorority was held September 27 at the home of Alice Baxter. Plans for the coming year were discussed, but nothing definite was decided upon.

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SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR B dbasc for Scenerv 36v? IDaroarct X. IRich, X., ’ll ELL, it was settled at last! We would give that play in the Town Hall. We had done something like that every preceding summer spent in Westgate, so win shouldn t we this time, and make it just a little hit bet- ter than the previous times? )f course we real- ized fully that before we had had no scenery, and that we needed it now in order to make our scheme complete. But why should we be dis- turbed on that account? W'e could obtain it the last day. if necessary to wait that long. The only things to trouble us now were the rehearsing and the bother about our costumes. There were twelve in our party, and they all en- tered into the plans with great animation. The townspeople looked forward eagerly to the per- formance. as they did to everything held in the Town Hall. The day before the great event we went up to Mr. Luttrel's house and asked him if he would attend to the business for us. He was a cross man. and very lazy, but he was the only person who owned any fittings. The only satisfaction obtained from him was this:— You young creatures don’t know much, do you? You need to be taught a lesson for leaving things until the last minute. Well. and he squinted one eye, as if he were occupied in serious thought, if you want them duds, you’d best drive to Berley just about as fast as that old nag Floss will take you. I sent my man over there with them. It is only seven miles, and you might over- take him if you hurry, but let me tell you. it won't do you any good standing there a-gawking at me. I’m sleepy. I miss my nap.” Seven miles! And two hours! What should we do? How could we overtake the team, when it must have nearly arrived by this time? Mr. Luttrel was one of those influential people of the town who arc apt to assume great inde- pendence and arrogance where strangers are con- cerned. We deemed it strange that he had sent the props to Bcnev. as we had heard of nothing that was going to take place in that town, but our minds were set at rest by even this unsatisfactory chance. Xot daring to question him further, lest he refuse us the use of his property altogether, we hurried back to our cottage, while one of the boys harnessed I‘loss. The drive to Berley was an extremely pleasant one. considering the circumstances. That part of the country is full of beautiful lanes, driveways, and trees, and we were very merry, in spite of our disappointment. I'pon reaching Berley. we drove through the main street, but saw nothing of the team which we were seeking. We knew that it would not be likely to go through any other street, as they were all very narrow and short, and did not connect Main with any other. There was no other street in the town running parallel to Main street, so we reasoned the wagon must be on its way to the next town. Newcastle, four miles’ drive. We whipped up the horse, and although some- what disheartened by our second disappointment, we were soon in high spirits. We were going so swiftly that we could not help overtaking the wagon soon. So on we drove, conversing hope- fully about our plans for the following day I here were only three of us. but we managed l( keep up hope, and watched every vehicle breath- lessly until we caught up with it. W'e were in the midst of an excited discussion, when my cousin noticed that the horse had slack- ened her pace considerably, and soon she stopped altogether. Then we made the pleasing discovery that one of her shoes was missing. What could we do? We couldn’t go back, now that we had come so far. e must be somewhere near Mr. Luttrel's props.” We had driven so fast, and a great lumbering, clumsy wagon such as would be required to truck scenery could not possibly go half as quickly. Spying a blacksmith s shop, we made arrange- ments with the muscular blacksmith to leave the horse and buggy with him until our return. Meanwhile he would shoe the horse. We asked him if he knew of any place where bicycles were sold or hired. lie told us that there was only one place in all Newcastle where bicycles could be had. and he wasn’t even sure of that. Ife directed us to a small shop a littje way ahead, and. luckily for us. we were able to hire three. Mv cousin was quite angry when he found that he must ride a girl's wheel or walk. But after fum- ing a while he decided to ride.

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12 SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR Cbe MooMot if cub 3B ft. BSvancl ftatnes, )£., ’10 ATHEK, you know there has been no rain for nearly four weeks!’ ex- claimed Mrs. Porter. “Everything is as dry as chips, said Harold, “and the fire will run like lightning through the grass. That’s just the reason I'm goin' ter set it. was the reply. It's the smoulderin' fires that does the damage. The brush is so dry that it will blaze up and be out in no time. And, besides, the wind isn’t blowin’ any. Put if the wind should start up while the brush is burning, it would carry the sparks right over into Butler's wood-lot: and you wouldn't want to risk set tin' his property afire, even though you aren't the best of friends. Don’t worry about Butler, he’ll look out for number one, and taint my business it) look out for other people’s property. Anyway, the brush is on my own land, and I have a right to set it whenever I please. Come. Harold, you get the oil can, and we'll burn that brush, then vou can go off and do as you want, only you needn’t see that Jennie Butler, for I'm not a-goin to have a son of mine marry a girl of that----- But father!---- Xo 'But father' about it. I just won't have it. that's all. Harold said no more, but went for the oil can, knowing that this reference to a possible peril to Mr. Butler's wood-lot had only served to strengthen his father's determination to carry out his plan. Mr. Porter made his way toward the pile of brush, muttering as he went: Well, if Butler hadn't acted so mean about that wood-lot, things might have been different ' That wood-lot which he had always cast covet- ous looks upon! Its great trees—many of which he remembered as full grown when he was but a boy—how proud he would have been to own them! But when it was for sale, and he had told his dearest friend. Butler, his hopes to possess it, and how he had always longed to own it. to have Butler outbid him at the auction was more than he could stand. He saw the pines and spruces wave in the breeze, and here and there a red maple. It seemed all so peaceful and beautiful that he forgot, for an instant, his hatred of its owner; but he was sud- denly interrupted by a loud, angry voice calling:— Look out there, Porter! You ain’t got no business sett in’ fires when it is so dry, and so near my wood-lot, too! I he farmer lighted a bough and stirred the pile into a blaze, and then flung back: You mind vour business. Jim Butler, and I'll mind mine! The brush blazed up fiercely for a time. and. as he had said, quickly died down into a heap of ashes, from which here and there could be seen signs of fire, but which Mr. Porter did not notice. That night, to Harold's anxious inquiries, he answered: I hope I know enough to burn a pile of brush without setting the world afire. But nevertheless his dreams were disturbed by visions of flames which seemed to accuse him, and from which he seemed to shrink. Harold, having spent the evening with a party of young people, had just returned home. Xot being sleepy, he sat down by the window. His thoughts wandered toward the quarrel, and lie said to himself: 1 don’t see why father wants to be so obstinate about Jennie. 'Twasn't her fault, or mine, either, that her father got that wood-lot. And. as he looked in the direction of it, he saw seething flames leaping from tree to tree. He ran to his father's door, and called in frightened tones: leather! I'ather! Wake up! Butler’s woods are on fire, and the wind is blowing the flames right toward his house.” The farmer sprang out of bed and rushed to the window. It was true. The corner of the wood- lot was all on fire, and. favored by the wind, which had sprung up in the night, was sweeping in the direction of Butler’s house. When the two reached the house, the Butlers had evidently given up all hopes of saving their home. With the help of a few neighbors, they were carrying the furniture to a place of safetv. Ben Porter, with stern determination in his tones, shouted loudly: Here, neighbors! Aren't you goin' ter try ter check the fire in time to save the buildings?” “What's the use of trying? cried one man. The fire'll jump the brook in no time, and then everything'll go ’ A despairing groan burst from Butler, but the tones of his old friend renewed the hope which he himself had. and he shouted: Set the growth on the other side of the brook afire! The only hope is to fight fire with fire ’