St Marys Academy - Chimes Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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PETER'S GIFTS FROM AMERICA ANY PEOPLE CAME to pay their re- spects to Peter. He had a host of friends because during his life, this generous German had befriended his fellow man whenever pos- sible. His love of humanity was nurtured by the memory of his humble beginning with its poverty and hardships. His family had been good and holy, and long ago, they had prayed for deliverance from their difficult life. One day, Peteris mother had said, t'Let us all sacrifice and save every bit of money possible, so that we can send our eldest son, Peter, to America, that he may have an oppor- tunity to rise above the poverty in which he has been reared. After many months of hard work and self- sacrifice, the ambitious family had saved enough money to send Peter on his great adventure. His father had contacted an old friend in the New World who would gladly welcome and pro- vide a home for his son. Nearly everybody in the village knew of Peter's forthcoming journey, and when the day arrived for his departure, all the villagers ac- companied the traveler to the station, where, after kissing and embracing all, our young ad- venturer boarded the train. There was scarcely a dry eye in the crowd as the small train pulled away from the platform. The excited Peter enjoyed the new experience of riding in this strange vehicle. As mile added to mile between him and his home, his joy changed to sorrow at the thought of leaving his family and friends, and he became fearful of the task confronting him-that of making his own way in a country far from his family. Is it any wonder, for our young traveler was but twelve years of age? The little train rolled along and after a day and a night, Peter arrived in a great city, with its large station, great buildings and wide streets. All of this Peter greeted with astonishment and curiosity, for he had read of such places, but had never imagined they could possibly be so magnificent. As instructed by his parents, he went to the information desk in the station and inquired ADRIENNE M. DONAGHUE, '58 where and how he could reach the port from which his boat would sail that evening. Follow- ing the directions given, he walked along, en- joying the shop windows and the busy, crowded streets. Finally, arriving at the proper pier, he was more astonished than ever when he sighted the huge ship. He boarded the vessel and was simply amazed at its wonders. After much excitement and many questions, Peter was shown to his fourth-class quarters which made little difference to him because each new step of his journey became more revealing. Peter was to spend many days in crossing the Atlantic Ocean, and, except for two spells of sea sickness, he enjoyed it more than anything else in his life. Finally, he sighted that wondrous land he had read about-that land called America. It was as he had heard, a country with many tall buildings, a huge harbor and most important, a Statue of Liberty, which seemed to express the many freedoms of his new home. As his boat drew alongside the dock, Peter anxiously sought Pop Zeitsinger, wondering all the time whether the old gentleman would recognize him. All of a sudden, he heard a deep, German voice calling to him, t'Peter, Peter, over here, mein liebchenf' The boy's attention was drawn to a rotund man, hurrying -to embrace the little foreigner. Peter, with tears in his eyes, put his arms around Popls neck and sobbed, You are Poppa's friend, no? 77 f'Ya! Ya! Welcome to America!'i greeted his friend. 'fDry your eyes, you shall come home with me to Anna and have a good supper. Away they went, arm in arm, each carrying one of Peter's old bags. Anna beamed when she met Peter and pressed him to her bosom. Then she took his bags and showed him to his room. His foster mother filled a basin so that he might wash his hands and face. Then, all sat down to supper. When the meal was finished, they went into the parlor and listened to Peter's tale of Germany and of his family. Then, Pop Zeitsinger told of his long-ago voyage to America, of their early

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down the cellar, he wouldn't have surprised me as much as those words did. More surprising were his following words. Ulf you want me to, Illl wait up with you, so you wonlt be so afraidf' That coming from HThe Menace was something to hear. Although I wanted him to stay with me, I realized my responsibilities and thanked him and sent him up to bed. Growing Pains bs UT, DAD, Suzie is still a babylll Mom exclaimed, 'fShe's growing up entirely too fast. Faster than I can believe. She will be thir- teen her next birthday, but to think she has come to this already, Dad said. f'Maybe, we're just plain old-fashioned! Suzie was upstairs finishing some of her home- work when she overheard what her parents had said. One word stuck in her brain. Old-fashioned! They certainly are. Here I am practically a mature young lady and not allowed to do anythingf' Suzie came downstairs to the living-room to champion her cause. She arrived just in time to hear her Mother say, UI don't want to hear another Word about it, at least, not 'til next year. She is still too young. Dennis had done much to alleviate my fears and soon after that his parents came home. To say that I was glad to see them, was putting it mildly. I was really overjoyed. I would have been a nervous wreck if it hadnlt been for guess who? You guessed it. My darling Dennis. I need not tell you that he is nicknamed THE MENACEW no longer. A BARBARA JARDEL, '55 LORRAINE CUMMINGS, '55 DOLORES GALE, '55 ffTo think I'll have to wait another year! Suzie thought, feeling sorry for herself. She could restrain herself no longer. Mother, everyone else in school is allowed but me, I'm-.H H 'fSuzie, please go to your room until you can learn a little self-control. As she climbed the stairs to her room, the sad, young lady realized she needed someone to help her, someone to tell her troubles to, someone to intercede for her.. After she had finished her homework, she knelt down to say her night prayers: UGod bless Mommy, Daddy, Granny, Bobby and Dixie, and please donft forget to talk to them about a pair of high heels. Our Lady Cf The litany HROUGHOUT THE CENTURIES Our Lady has been known to be a Source of Help to those in distress, a Haven midst the Tempest, and a Refuge of the Oppressed. But to me, she is more than any of these. To me, she is the lighthouse on the shore, guiding those souls who have lost their way in the storm of sin. Mary is my Ivory Tower of Hope. As I journey across the sea of life, her noble counte- nance beckons me ever onward. Many, many times I have been overcome by waves of hatred and sin, but always she has come to my aid and, with her help, I have been able to combat these snares of the devil. No matter how lost and bewildered my soul may become, it will always find an abundance of light and hope within her ever Pure and Immaculate Heart. This heart, ' SHEILA ANN MACKIE, '55 so saturated with love for all mankind! If I always turn my eyes toward her lovable image that stands on the shores of eternity, what graces and favors I shall obtain through her in- tercession! Her love leaps out to all who call on her for assistance. And when at last the tide of life ebbs away and I find myself a stranger in that new life, it is she who will come forth to meet me. Taking me by the hand, she will lead me to her Son, and He will smile on me as one of His favored children, Then, Mary and I shall wait for others who will arrive in that life after death. For Mary will always be' standing on the shores of eternity to help those who need her. She is our Hope, our Refuge and our Strength.

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struggle and of their children, who now had families of their own. HNow, Peter, said Pop, Uyou will begin your first job with me, tomorrow. Peter was thrilled. But, where? he asked. At my shoe-repair shop, of course,l' an- swered Pop. The next day, Peter learned from Pop the art of shoemending, and before long, he was speaking English and mending shoes with equal skill. Peter soon had many friends and was learning -to distinguish between the successful people and the unsuccessful. These early ob- servations and his humble past filled him with the determination to be successful himself. Hard work and a frugal life, he thought, f'were the keys to success. He practiced this motto and soon he had, with Pop's blessing a shop of his own. In less than a year, Peter had sent home enough money to buy his mother new clothes and his father new farm tools. The little village was buzzing with Peter's success story. Those few who were not convinced had their doubts dispelled when they learned that he had now arranged passage to America for his bro-ther, Nicholas. Before another year had passed, their brother, Anton, was joining his older brothers in the travels of . . A penn? There they all lie in a copper mound. What memories in them are found? See this tarnished one, new in '48. It has seen worry, every form of fate. Bright, new, without any trace of wear, Clutched tightly in a hand, pink and fair. The child watches closely and lets it drop, As the pile mounts higher to the piggy bank's top. The gaunt, old man, tottering and pale, Assured it will clink without fail Into his battered, old metal cup, Knows soon, he'll have a morsel to sup. Carelessly it passes from hand to hand, To some it means less than a grain of sand. Others, it beckons on like a flame, Attaining its grasp is no easy game. So it has traveled among varied and many, This tarnished, this whitened, this tired, old penny. Suzanne Simard, '55 America. By this time, however, Peter was planning new ventures and greater successes. Soon, the three boys were able to move west- ward. Here, Peter's honesty, good judgment and hard work launched them into a flourishing business, which was to grow and prosper until it became one of the outstanding enterprises in the country. Its founder, the skinny. immigrant boy, became one of America's millionaires. Anyone less sincere might by now have for- gotten his friends, helping hands, and encourag- ing smiles, but not Peter. For, true to his promise of long ago, he brought to America all of his family and any of the townsfolk who wished to come. More than that, he befriended, literally, thousands of people, personally, and later, thousands more, regardless of race, color, or creed. Peter's only regret was that he could not live long enough to see the whole world recognize and 'appreciate the noble purposes to which the American way of life is dedicated. In his last will, dictated from his death bed, he said, HI leave to the government of my be- loved America, a sanctuary of liberty, all my remaining worldly goods, in appreciation for the good, happy and free life she has given me. May this land never perish from the earth!'l-Peter. My queue! I have a Friend who walks with me, Down the path of life. He is my Comfort and my joy, Through gladness and through strife. I always put my hand in His, And let Him lead the way. Soon I find that we grow closer, With each passing day. He kneels beside me when I pray To His Father up above, And helps me ask for many things, To give the ones I love. I guess you know His name by now, His Kingdom has no end. He's Jesus Christ, the Son of God, My Savior and my Friend. Mary jo Checchia, ,55