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

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14 THE RED AND WHITE was his past life from his boyhood up. He had lived in this simple little house ever since he could remember. His father, Whom he could little re- member, had always been a drunk and had died in one of his drunken stupers when John was but a small lad. Many was the night when he would come home drunk and beat up John's mother without mercy. That was one thing John could remember very clearly. When he got his week's pay he would go out and spend it all on liquor and would even gamble or go into debt to get what he wanted. If it had not been for J ohn's mother's father, his grandfather in other words, who would send them money or food, the family would have starved to death. His grandfather, a tall, strong, bronzy man, had been a wealthy sea captain. About five years after John's father died his grandfather died also, ending the source of help. Before he died he gave his daughter, John's mother, the big oak desk which now sat in the living room tell- ing her to go to it if she was ever in trouble and needed money. This J ohn's mother had done many times. She would search it from top to -bot- tom in time of sorrow but all was in vain for no money was to be found. In the meantime John had had to leave school as a young boy and go to work so as to support his mother and pay his father's debts. This he did faithfully all his life and in his mother's last days he had even gone into debt to buy her medicines and have the doctor for her. Now she had died and all he had left was Tad who stuck close to his master's side. Now someone had come to claim him or else he would have to pay 35100 for Tad. There was no question in his mind as to the choice he would make, but where was he to get the money? This is what his mind had constantly dwelt on since that stranger had ar- rived and claimed the dog. Finally an idea popped into his head. He hated to do it but what other choice was there when he was determined to keep the dog? So at last he decided to clean out the old desk and sell it for it would bring quite a price for the antique it was. He had cleared all the drawers and crevices out of old papers and was about to pull it out and dust it when all at once he heard something drop. Turning, he picked it up and found it to be a long brown envelope sealed on one side and on the other side was written, To John and his Mother. Opening it up he found 55,000 in bills. He was so excited he hardly knew what to do but then after collecting his thoughts he knelt and thanked God. Now if you should go down a cer- tain dirt road in a certain part of New England you would probably see this little old man, sitting on his porch in the still of the evening with his close companion and pal at his side. HOW TRUE Mr. Tucker: Where is the capitol of the United States ? Johnny: In loans all over the world. HIGH OPINION Tubby Pozzi: Tall girls are nice, but the short ones look up to you. FAIRY STORY Dick Stuart: Mind if I turn off the hall light? Mary Lou: Not at all. Dick: The ceiling light ? Mary Lou: Why, of course. Dick: The floor lamp ? Mary Lou: Yes, Dick. Dick: Now that it's dark in here may I ask you a question ? Mary Lou: Yes, dear. Dick: Do you think this luminous watch is worth six dollars and forty- nine cents ? S

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THE RED AND WHITE 13 The leaves iiuttered to the ground and the music grew softer, finally dy- ing when the first hint of light glanced across the sky. The sun, peep- ing over the horizon, saw the empty limbs of the trees and, not knowing of the fun and frolic of the night be- fore, proceeded to awaken the world. The Old Oak Desk ALICE CHAPMAN, '54 Among the rolling hills of that sec- tion of the country called New Eng- land lived a little old bachelor in his small white bungalow which was sit- uated by a dirt road on the outskirts of a little village. From the road a narrow little stone path led up to his front porch where patches of colum- bines -tangled in and out of the fancy wooden railing which seemed to dis- tinguish this house from all others around. Among the foliage surround- ing the house were four tall sugar maple trees which were tapped for maple syrup each spring and served as good shade in the summer. Then there was mother's old flower gar- den with flowers of all varieties and in the rear of the house were a few scrubby old fruit trees from which, in the fall, mother would gather crab apples, plums, and wild cherries with which to make jams and jellies for the long winters ahead. All around the house a thick green carpet of grass spread its natural beauty from the road to the adjoining forest in the background. ' Now for a glimpse of the interior of the home. In the kitchen was a set of rough wooden table and chairs, a black iron sink, an old black wood stove that cooked the food and also provided heat for the whole house, and a cupboard with a few small shelves and drawers. The walls were a dull gray which seemed to cast a gloom over the whole room. In the living room was a meager couch at one end, one discolored overstuffed chair, and a small oval walnut table. But the pride and joy of the family had always been the big oak desk which had been passed down through the family since his great great grandfather and there was even a tradition about it. Besides this, there were two bedrooms in the rear which were furnished with odds and ends of bedroom furniture. Although this house had simple furnishings it was always neat and tidy. The man himself was of English descent and was in his late fifties. He was quite short and stocky, with a fair complexion, and his hair, which was once a coarse golden brown, had faded through the years of toil into a grayish white. John Blackfleld by which he was called from birth, was a rather quiet, religious man who seemed to live in a world of his own and was as honest as the days are long. Still on the other hand he was very spunky and spry, not in the least bit lazy, for the lines on his face and hands gave out the secret of his la- bors and trials in the past. It was evening and the shadows of darkness were slowly creeping on and the little windows of heaven were be- ginning to light up. Old John was sitting out on the porch, as he was often seen doing at this time of night, with his old faithful collie dog, Tad. Tad was a strong, brown furred, kind, collie dog that had filled a great place in Old John's heart. He had come to John as a little pup about a year ago. No one claimed him so he stayed on. Tonight John was not happy sing- ing as he usually did. Instead his head was bent in sorrow and deep thought, for this past week his mo- ther had died and now all he had left was Tad, his faithful old pal who seemed even closer to him now. Tad was the only one left to whom he could tell his troubles. It was not the death he was thinking of now. It

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