St Marys High School - Labarum Yearbook (Saginaw, MI)

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2 f 7' v u i w P A

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Cpporiunitq A Tide in the affairs of men, Which, taken at the flood, leads on to Fortune, Omltted, all the voyage of their Life Is bound in shallows, and in miseriesg And we must take the current when it serves, Or .lose our ventures. Life and its hereafter are determined by the good use we make of little opportunities. We should not be striving for that which is farthest from our grasp, even though it should add luster to our names, but should make use of each advantage day by day as it is offered to us. Everyone can recall to mind one opportunity which, taken at the flood, would have led to Fortune, but which unfortunately was overlooked because its value was not recognized at the time. It seems but natural for some to seek material gain in lands far distant, whereas greater opportunities present themselves at home. Not many years ago people from all over the United States rushed to the gold fields of Alaska in search of greater wealth when perhaps many of them would have been better rewarded had they remained in their own vicinity. The songs of poets tell us of untiring searches into other lands for gold, happiness, or pleasure and of unending profitless search for blessings that lie in one's own sphere of life. Lowell in his Vision of Sir Launfal tells of a young and gallant knight that undertook such a journey. Mounted on a beautiful steed he left his castle in search of the Holy Grail. He passed from the darkness and gloom of the castle walls out into the joy and gladness of the spring morning. Crouched by the roadside was a loathsome leper who begged of the Knight an alms for Christ's sweet sake, but Sir Launfal only scornfully tossed him a piece of gold and passed on. Years passed in vain, weary search of the Holy Grail when at last he was forced to return home, not as a knight in gilded armor but as a poor begger. Seated. in a lowly attitude out- side his own castle walls, Sir Launfal suddenly perceived a fellow beg- gar and recognized in him the leper of old. Changed in soul and with kindly sympathy he shared with the leper his crust of brown bread and gave him water to drink from his wooden bowl, when lo! ' The leper no longer crouched by his side, But stood before him glorified. Sir Launfal then understood that the Holy Grail which he had so tire- lessly sought in other lands, had been all these years at his own castle gate. Let us then resolve to make the best of our many opportunities, whatever they may be and we will do this if we ever bear in mind that whether we work, rest, or play the river of time flows on with the same restless flood and that it is only while the water of this river of time flows over the mill-wheel of today's life that we can utilize it. Once it is past it is in the great sea of eternity, and although other opportunities will come, those that have slipped by unused are lost forever. -Catherine Shea, '25

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Cfhe Ft-lmilq Umbrella. The end is as I expected-to lie here in a rubbish heap from now on, but it comes to us all so why worry about it. I have been a family umbrella all my life and my aim has been to avoid becoming a pessimist. I have passed through rainy and cloudy days, and cheerfully rendered service to others. My companion of the umbrella stand has met the same fate, but she has been a vain creature,-a beautifully colored silk parasol, ex- pensively trimmed,-and she has never seen any stormy days but has had the sunniest of lives. She was chosen to go out for pleasant times and in nice weather, while I stood by and was forgotten. When a rainy day came she remained in shelter while I faced the storm. Oh, when I think of it! I have been beaten by hail until I feared I would be cut and torn to shreds, and then in the midst of all these hardships was found fault with by my owner until I became thoroughly disheartened. When I was thrown into the rack after being out in a storm, how Miss Parasol scolded and shunned me lest I should spoil her appearance by my wet coat. This was a trial to me for I would not intentionally harm any one and she knew that I was not responsible for my condition, but that my disrepute was caused by faithfully doing my duty. She was made to be admired and in her vanity she often referred to my plainness in such a way that I knew this shallow creature and I could never be friends. Now that we are discarded, I have this consolation that although I suffered many slights and led a strenuous life, I have served others faithfully and what is worth more to one than the knowledge of an up- right and useful life spent in the service of others! . -Howard Rounds, '25 lllq Eliza maucl. I had an old rusty ford named Eliza Maud, And if you read still farther you'll think it all a fraud. Expenses are a nuisance we all know very well, I'll just enumerate a few to tell you what befell. I broke a fender and a door,-Bill 319.249 I smashed a lamp and paid a fine,-Bill 317.239, A winter top and spark plugs three,-Bill 951633, There were so many expenses, I almost lost my senses, And I swore, as deacons swore With an I dew vum and an HI tell yeou, That I wouldn't buy a Ford any more.