Spaulding High School - Red and White Yearbook (Rochester, NH)

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THE' RED AND WHITE 7 then the door opened slowly. An el- derly man appeared in the doorway. He was ragged and tired looking. A shameful look was reflected on his troubled face. Butch spoke first, very quietly, We saw you trying to steal those chick- ens tonight, Mr. Matthews. Mr. Matthews bowed his head in shame as he ran his fingers through his loose white hair. He looked at the boys for a quick second, then he cov- ered his wrinkled face with his long hands. Then he paused, as if to search for words, and then he said in a whisper, I'm sorry, boys, I deserve any pun- ishment you see fit. But why did you do it?,' asked J ip who was a little more sympathetic. Why? When I moved here I couldn't find a job and folks seemed to be afraid of me. But of course that is no excuse for me stealing but I got hungry, and I had to do some- thing. The boys looked at each other for a long time, each seemed to read the other's thoughts but not a word was spoken. Finally, Butch broke the silence. We're not going to tell anyone if you promise never to do it again. The boys started to turn to leave when Mr. Matthews said, Boys, you have made me realize what a coward I have been. I will try again tomor- row for a job and keep on trying un- til I find one. I know I will. Thank you again, boys. I intend to pay for everything I er-bor- rowed. Goodnight. J ip went over to Mr. Matthews and shook his hand and said, Can Butch and I be your friends? We would like to come and see you once in a while. Mr. Matthews could not hide the tears as they streaked down his face. He shook both boy's hands and said determinedly It's a deal, fellows! Jip and Butch walked home slowly filled with many good thoughts. They had just made a new friend. A friend to someone that needed friendship. The boys walked back over the hill very proudly. For them it was the beginning of another day and they both knew that everything would go well for Mr. Matthews. Oh, isn't it wonderful to be young and be able to help people! Compensation Dressed in ragged and torn rags, with a long white beard, the old man trudged up the lonely path, hurrying to get back to his hut before night- fall. Now and then a chipmunk chit- tered angrily at being disturbed, or a bird would chirrup saucily. He was a hermit, living high in the hills, with no company save that of a faithful but feeble hound, and the animals and birds of the woods. He wasn't lonely, he led a contented life to be envied by any man. He had no worries about money, he had no worries about food, he ate only the vegetables and berries from his neat- ly cultivated garden. You might call him eccentric, but who are you to pass iudgment upon him, you who live in a filthy, noisy, bustling city? Yesterday his dog disappeared. No trace of him could be found, try though the old man might. Usually if the hound wandered away he would come back at twilight, howl and scratch at the door of the hut, but last night there was no howl, no scratching, no noises save that of the grasshoppers and crickets as the-y chirped in the dooryard. This morning he arose early, with the sun. As he went to the door, he could see grass and leaves all sparkling and glistening with dew. A lone mosquito whined sadly about the dooryard, while a far-off crow cawed harshly. fContinued on Page 225

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6 THE RED AND WHITE Fifteen minutes later, two figures crept stealthily along the deck, their RED Sz WHITE 10-2B stooped bodies silhouetted against the moon. Then a cry! Someone had seen them! After them, men! Catch the prisoners 1 And two figures splashed simultan- eously into the serene harbor. Lanterns flashed here and there, and broken cries and pounding feet broke the stillness of the tropical night. Two hours later, the mutineers stood silently watching the limp body of their captain stretched on the deck. Even in their rebellion, they had not planned his death. Their faces re- flected a grudging admiration for the man they had overthrown. And as Aaron and the man they had hated and plotted against were silently slipped overboard to their watery graves, Barnacle Pete exclaimed, f'Well, boys, he deserved to die fight- ing. Heroes in Miniature ANNA MINICUCCI, '49 There he goes, get him!', yelled Butch, now's our chance! Jip jumped over the fence and aimed his sling shot at the running iigure. The stone floated through the air, but the figure disappeared into the shadows. Gosh, I must've missed himg we'll never find him now. Mr. Ford said he stole three chickens last night and suspected he would come again to- night. Just think, if we had caught him, we'd be the heroes of Meadow- brook! There had been a series of robberies in the small farm area. Both J ip and Butch, who were not more than ten years old each, had decided to put a stop to this marauding and to be heroes in the making, hid in the bushes and lay in wait for their vic- tim. It was la dark night but neither would admit he was frightened. Many hours dragged by before they heard a rustling in the bushes. Here he comesg what'll we do? whispered Butch with a big gulp. Let's wait a few more minutes and then we'll catch him red-handed ! answered Jip, trying to sound brave. They waited patiently. The con- stant peeping of the frogs could be heard distinctly from the nearby meadow. Jip and Butch took turns looking through the bushes. The mysterious figure was just leaving the coop and tip-toeing across the farm yard and began to hasten his step. Let's go now, but be careful, Jip, muttered Butch shakily. s They started to chase after the figure. But now it was all over and their plan had failed. They were ready to give up and go home, downhearted and disappointed when Butch spied a worn brown hat on the ground. Look what I found. He must have lost his hat when he was running, Jip! Butch examined the hat and yelled, Gosh, there's initials in it, J. M.-why, that stands for John Matthews. He is the new man that lives in the old shack. Everyone always talks about him and says he never goes out, added J ip excitedly. We can't tell on him, he is awfully poor. Well, let's go pay him a visit and see what he has to say. They ran side by side down the little hill and across the green field. As they approached the tumbled shack, Jip said, Maybe we should come back tomorrow. It's awfully dark in there. No, announced Butch sternly, we've got to see him tonight. They crossed the worn lawn and tapped on the door. They listened tensely. There was a long pause,

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8 THE RED AND WHITE A Few Definitions Adams: The only wolf who couldn't use the gambit, Haven't I seen you somewhere before ? Adult: A person who stops grow- ing at the ends and starts to grow at the middle. Alimony: The high cost of leaving. Bubble bath: There's no place like foam. Love: One darn thing after an- other. Meteorologist: A man who can look into a girl's eyes and tell whether. Skunk: A pussy cat with a secret weapon. Spring: The time when a young man's fancy turns to the girl that he has been thinking about all winter. Here's a new variation of a very old one. There were two cannibals strolling down Fifth Avenue. Who was that lady I saw you with the other night? asked the first. That was no lady, the other as- sured him. That was my dinner. They tell about the inebriated cava- lier who boarded a taxi at 42nd Street and Broadway and, pointing to one of the revolving signs on the Times Building, said, Driver, jush follow that sign. In darkest Brooklyn a pupil re- ported to his nature teacher, Dis morning I hoid a boid choipingf' No, John, corrected his teacher. You heard a bird chirpingf' Funny! commented John. I coulda swore it was a boid choiping. A Scotsman leaned against a mid- town bar holding his stomach and moaning. Sick? asked a friend. Verra, verra sick, said the Scots- man. I'm afraid I've got yoors. What's 'yoors' ?,' asked the strang- er. The Scotsman brightened immedi- ately. Make it a scotch and soda, he said. A Dutch Treat Club quartette broke into an impromptu version of When Irish Eyes Are Smiling. A guest broke into tears. ' I didn't know that you were Irish, said his host. 'Tm not, said the guest. 'Tm a musician. A modest girl never pursues a man. Nor, so they say, does a mouse trap pursue the mouse. Do you know how to make anti- freeze? Sure. Just hide her red ilannelsf'