South Hills High School - Lives Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

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THE SESAME 9 HIGH HATU The settlement was usually known as High Hat, not through any social activities of note, but because rumor had it that the first settler on the spot was a minister who had worn such a headpiece. It appears that he had there met a stranger and due to a misunder- standing had his existence shortened some- what, The Hat being damaged by the man who had helped him to the next world, con- sidered it a fitting namepiece for a settle- ment for which he thought the wild and lonely spot ideal. The judgment. so displayed was soon rewarded by the arrival of every tramp, miner, and desperado who had made the surrounding towns fthe nearest of which was a hundred miles distantj too hot to hold him. PAnd so High Hat existed, a deserted town by day when it's populace was robbing the earth's treasures or more frequently those of stray travelers, and by night an orgy where every inhabitant crowded to the Saint's Rest saloon, tried to outcurse every other inhabitant in every language save Siamese, tried to outdrink every other inhab- itant with bad whiskey which Black Jack Jones dispensed at twenty-five cents a swig, and tried to outplay the house at roulette or stud poker. Black Jack, himself a leading and characteristic citizen, cracked jokes or men's heads as the occasion might demand, and occasionally answered a call to the gam- bling room in the center of which hung a rope providing communication with a Chinese un- dertaker whom he had engaged for all night service, and whom he frequently summoned when accidents befell gentlemen found with five aces or other undesirable evidence on their person. Now in this connection it is interesting to note that the municipality had no doctor, that the first and last doctor who had pre- sented himself there had written a prescrip- tion and since no one was able to read the inhabitants mistook it for a joke on the sick man, whereupon they cursed doctors and learning, and threatened to shoot the next medic found in the mountains thereabout. One evening there rode into this thriving retreat a quiet, unassuming young man whose somber dress of the clergy caused a sudden halt in the pleasant activities of Saints Rest the minute he saw fit to enter that worthy establishment, and when he pro- ceeded to drag an old keg from a corner of the room, mount it, and start reading slowly from a Bible which he carried the boys crowded around thinking they were going to hear something which, though they could not read, might be of immediate interest to them. Very soon, however, the novelty wore off and the rioting commenced with added vigor, but above the cursing in all its varieties could be heard the monotonous reading of the stranger, who was soon referred to in a rather unfriendly tone as the Parson Many pres- ent began to complain that their conversation was being interrupted by his gospel, and sev- eral fights started over their inability to de- cide whether lynching or just plain shooting would be the most fitting means of removing the impediment. Having decided that the for- mer would pay more reverence to his clothes a few of the more skilled assassins moved forward to perform this duty for the com- munity, when a brace of ruffians, who had reached town but three days before, in which time they had done as much deviltry as the average cut-throat i.n a week, stepped- up,-an- nouncing that the little neck-tie party was indefinitely postponed, that if the Parson wanted to read he was gonna spit it out, and any gentleman doubting this decision would be pumped so full of holes he wouldn't hold water! The verdict thus stood, espe- cially when backed by two revolvers built on the general dimensions of a canon. Boys, drawled the stranger, looking up from his Bible for the first time, 'Tm going to teach you-all two things: First, this cuss- in's gonna stop, and second every last one of you is gonna learn to write yore name. If you refuse I'm gonna read this Bible every night till you-all will be able to recite her word fer word. ' Apparently this little oration struck no vital spot among the listeners, for the pro- fanity was doubled if such a thing were pos- sible, and accordingly the parson read on. Thus several evenings passed, the Bible be- ing unfolded chapter after chapter, in a dull monotonous voice, and a pronounced dimin- ishing in hilarity making its slow but sure appearance. The reading appeared about as desirable as a cry for help, and finally things reached a stage where the Parson might stand for minutes without uttering. a word and then an unguarded curse from someone would start him on a new chapter, while a groan went up from the crowd. In this man- ner the inhabitants had learned, after sev- eral weeks, that ideas may be expressed more or less definitely without the use of some- what colorful but totally unnecessary adjec- tives, and the preacher announced one night that he was ready to proceed with the writ- ing lesson. Here it appeared that trouble would start in earnest. A stray shot removed the hat which was his pride, and although he had good reason to believe that that little piece of

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8 THE SESAME The door bell sounded and re-echoed, bringing her to her feet. A lump rose to her throat. Suppose Big Dan had been hurt-he was in Pittsburgh on the story of the nitro plant explosion. She smoothed her hair and reassuring her- self that no doubt it was only the neighbor's boy, she crossed the room. She stepped back as she saw the erect figure of a middle-aged woman in mourning, framed in the doorway. She switched on the light, and greeted the stranger wonderingly. The woman stepped forward and explained herself as a wanderer sent by the suburban innkeeper to her home because of the crowd- ed inn. The good man had told her that she was alone, save for the baby, and might no doubt take her in. Marie thought quickly-the big doctor bill, the slowly diminishing cupboard supplies and big Dan's shabby suit. Yes, Marie told her, you may stay. I'm alone and I like company. How long will you be with me ? Marie hung the neat black hat on the back of a chair. . Ten days or so. I'm at present without a home and in need of rest, she smiled, a twinkle in her kind blue eyes. Come with me. I was mending, and mending draws one closer to the other than a formal call, yes, Mrs- ? Burns, the woman answered promptly, following her to the living room. I would like to see your baby. My baby by all means. He's getting his teeth, and they come quite hard. However, I watch him carefully. And so began the friendship between Marie and Mrs. Burns. The daily bath of Danny was disputed. Each spoiled him in her own way. His bright little smile and quicker tears brought them closer together. They were becoming at-- tached to each other. Marie felt the pain in her heart when the day of parting drew near, and Mrs. Burns hid her tears in the nape of Da,nny's damp little neck. The night before she left Marie told her story. And so, she ended, I have never seen my husband's mother. Sometimes I hate her! But she is his mother-and my little son's grandmother. Oh, it isn't fair- it isn't fair! Why should she hate me? What have I done ? Marie turned her blanched face to Mrs. Burns. Suppose, dear little mother, the other's quiet tone went on, your Danny would fall in love with a chorus girl. Would you be willing to give him to her-to see your hopes for him trampled on ? She took the tremb- ling Marie into her arms. The young mother had not seen it in just that light. Slowly she answered: I-I-don't know-if she-were good, she argued, I should not care. But suppose Big Dan's mother did not know you as I do? Suppose she thought you were only seeking the Voorhees millions. Can't you see the hurt of Big Dan's mother ? Tears were in Marie's voice: Oh, I know, Mrs. Burns. I'll try to be patient if ' i' and some day she might learn to love me. 'Tm sure she will when she sees how fine you are and the boy. Everything will be like a story, Marie. The older woman kissed her. The next day she was gone. Marie, with Danny on her arm, waved to her as she rode away. The loneliness, the emptiness for Big Dan, for kind Mrs. Burns and I rather think, for her little mother back home, grieved Marie. Several days later Big Dan arrived, and was all interest when Marie told about her guest. When the white woolly dog was brought out, Big Dan gave a surprised Gosh! and speculated as to its cost. 'Not under two, Dan-imagine! It would have bought our meat for a week-we are be- coming plutocratic, dear boy! She brushed Danny's little cheek against her own and set- tled herself for a comfy reunion. The following noon-an unheard of time for Big Dan's appearance-he came hurrying up the walk. Snatching the startled Marie in his arms, he commanded her to read the open letter in his hand. She took the letter, dazed, and read: Boston, My dear Boy and Girl: Forgive your mother, who did not under- gtgnd. I adore Marie, and think she is splen- 1 . Tell her I love her, and to accept the be- lated wedding gift that awaits her and hers with open doors in Beacon Street. Love to you and Marie and my grandson. Mother. P. S. Tell Marie your father slept with his hands crossed. Marguerite V. Bahmer, Grade 1OB. Qalealeali

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10 THE SESAME , lead expressed Black J ack's feelings on writing, he looked once at the rope, realized that if the bartender pulled it not a man in the town would be able to sign his name in the next world, and said as much. However, un- complimentary remarks were passed his way and with them a few beer bottles. That night benevolent citizens amused themselves by dropping lighted boards on his shanty, but with his Bible he retired to a nearby wood, only to return the next night, and under the protection of his former bene- faitors, mounted his keg and started with Jo . Misery showed itself in the face of every listener, and a number took an unusually large amount of stimulant in an effort to drown the voice, but found that in this case they were not even able to think about their card games, which of course gave them only one other thing to think about and thus tend- ed to make matters worse. Eventually they consented to try their luck with the small instrument which has been termed greater than the sword. So they were taken, several each evening, and surprising as it may seem, interest soon became rife as to who could most readily distinguish an i from an e, and who could most capably write his own signature and correctly punctuate it. This interest soon grew to such propor- tions that the undertaker began to sense good days coming back again, but he was doomed to disappointment for the Parson had arranged a little contest wherein each man was to write his name tif he knew it, the correct one, if not, one of his own choicej on a sheet of paper and then he, the Parson, had promised to award that man doing this the best bottle of a certain amber fluid which he promised them would be in the nature of an expensive gift. Finally the night arrived. It had been con- veniently arranged for Saturday when they all collected their dust, earned by blasting hills or strangers' heads and deposited it in the small safe at the saloon, when they were thus placed in the best humor, and least likely to shoot the fortunate winner of the prize. At the last minute, as a final precau- tion, so to speak, the Parson decided that any man who wished to write must leave his gun outside the door, and readily agreeing to this request every man, save the two ruf- fians who had gone off on a prospecting ex- pedition, entered. A long sheet of paper with a goodly margin at the top was passed around, and although some labored under the difficulty of having to use tobacco juice as ink, every name was duly and proudly at- tached. Finally the document reached the Parson. He looked it completely over, and suddenly whipped out two guns! Boys, he g1'inned, 1 reckon I took you- all in. l'm not a preacher. I'm a patent med- icine salesman. Sell Maloney's Marvelous Mixture, an amber liquid. It'll cure anything from downright drunkness to auto-intoxica- tion. Heard how you treated your last doc- tor and thought you might need some. Had to get your -signatures to an agreement to buy it. l have them and each one of you will receive thirty-six bottles. And by the way, in case you wouldn't have liked to pay for it my two comrades have relieved you of the gold in the safe! With this he backed to the door where he was joined by the other two, and disap- peared. High Hat literally blew up. The medicine arrived and most of it was thrown into the creek, but some drank part of theirs to get their money's worth. David Rankin. ,,,,, ...'.g. - P PITTSBURGH ? Where the waters of two rivers Join to make a shining third, Stands a city, great and mighty, Whose voice o'er the world is heard. Girded by the Alleghenies, Hemmed by powerful mills and inarts, Pittsburgh stands, in power triumphant, Honored in her children's hearts. Great she is 5 industrial greatness Spreads her fame o'er all the land From the Gulf to the Pacific Where men work with brain or hand. Let her fame be undiminished, O'er the land and o'er the sea, Great she is, but even g1'62It91' In the future can she be. - Let us, children of great Pittsburgh, Keep her fame forever bright, See that she becomes a leader In the onward march for right. Mildred Grayburn, 12-B.