State College High School - Maroon and Gray Yearbook (State College, PA)

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MAROON AND GRAY 11 it. Run along and get ready for dinner now”. At five o’clock Barbara entered the liv- ing room where her father and mother were engaged in a deep conversation”. “Hello, little farmerette”, called out Daddy, as Babs entered the room. “Oh, Daddy, you will allow me to go, won’t you? I’m strong and healthy, so why couldn’t I work on a farm?” “Tell me more about your plans, Girlie, and then we’ll decide”, said Daddy, as Babs perched herself on the arm of Mr. Harding’s chair. When the dinner bell sounded Barbara had succeeded in winning her father over to her way of thinking. Mr. Harding believed that girls were meant for nature and that they should be butterflies Hitting about in the fields and meadows and not always flitting about the reception rooms and dance halls. He realized that truck farming under the supervision of Gerdy’s uncle would not harm his daughter, and it would at the same time be a good ex- perience for her. He was proud to think that she was willing to give up her sum- mer pleasures and respond to what she felt was her duty. If only more of her friends would respond in the same way, Mr. Harding felt that the cosmetic deal- ers would have fewer customers when Nature could use her painter hand. «»» » Two weeks later Babs and Gerdy were sitting on the porch steps of their new abode. “Babs”, began Gerdy, “This is the night of Mable North's big dance at home, isn't it? Don’t you wish we could be therei “No, I don’t”, replied Babs somewhat peevishly. “I would just as soon sit here on the steps and listen to the rippling of the little brook and watch the moon- beams dance over the water. I think we’re mighty lucky to have this exper- ience of farm life, and 1 wouldn’t doubt but that the majority of our crowd envy »» US . “Perhaps they do”. Oh yes, Uncle said we could invite the crowd down for a week-end sometime. They could make the trip in automobiles and have a joyful time”. “Let’s not invite them until we know a little more about trucking. I want to be able to tell the different kinds of vege- tables apart and show them that we real- ly are good farmerettes. Today your uncle told me to pick the peas and when I got out to the garden I wasn’t sure which were the peas and which were the beans. So I broke open the little case . “You mean pod”, interrupted Gerdy. “Oh yes—pod; well, I broke open the pod of one and then it just dawned upon me that peas were little round green things, so I hunted the garden over to find some plant with little green balls growing on it. Your uncle thought that 1 had lost something and came out to see if he could help me. He thought it was a good joke when I told him what I was looking for—but I know better now . “Be still, Babs. I thought I saw a black shadow over by that large elm tree”, whispered Gerdy. “I overhead my aunt telling uncle Joe that she though she heard someone prowling about the last two nights. Uncle Joe told her not to speak so loudly because if the girls heard about it they would want to leave. I slipped away because I thought I had heard enough”. “Oh, Gerdy, isn’t that fine now, we can be detectives as well as farmerettes. Let’s hide in the hammock and see what happens, because I do believe that shadow belongs to a living being. The house is all dark; I suppose your uncle and aunt

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10 MAROON AND GRAY quainted with all the particulars regard- ing “grandmother’s salad forks”. Since Nelle’s hat and veil had been blown away it was impossible for Cleo to follow the original plan and impersonate Nelle. Cleo did not know what to do and in try- to help her out of her difficulties, the old man forgot his own troubles and soon they were busily making a plan for future movements. By the time they arrived at their destination the plan was complete and both were entirely happy. As Mr. Caldwell stepped from the car Cleo gave him the box of forks and enjoined him to be exceedingly careful of them. This he readily agreed to do and then ordered the chauffeur to take Miss Cleo back to her home. A short time later Cleo entered the ball room in her own home town and was im- mediately the center of an excited audi- ence. A dozen questions were asked at once, but through it all Cleo retained her serene demeanor and replied to only that of Nelle. “Did you do it, Cleo? asked Nelle anxiously. “Yes”, said Cleo innocently, 1 did it”. And that was all she told of the affair. Some time later when Grandmother Skene was visiting Mrs. Skene she re- marked upon the success of the reception and said: “Thank Nelle for the trouble with the salad forks. Mr. Caldwell, my most distinguished guest, said they were sent with him—by the by, my dear, Mr. Caldwell made the most amazing state- ment that night”. “Really”, exclaimed Mrs. Skene, eager for a bit of gossip. “What was it?” “He said”, continued Mrs. Skene, Sr., in her most impressive style, “he said that he had taken a particular fancy to a little negro girl—negro, mind you—named Cleohatra think of it Cleohatra—and he is going to send her to college!” L. N„ ’19. GHOSTS ON THE FARM ELL, Momsie, I’ve dont it”. “Done what, Babs?” asked Momsie, as she busily knit- ted at her socks. “You sure- ly didn’t run into the garage door again with Daddy’s new roadster?” “Oh, no!” replied Barbara, as she seat- ed herself in' the arm chair opposite her mother and gave a sigh of relief. “I’ve enlisted. I’m going to be a farmerette this summer and develop a coat of tan and some muscle, so that when brother Bob comes home from France he can’t say that I didn’t do my part. I’m tired of after- noon teas, receptions and dances, and those will constitute most of the sum- mer’s program. Geraldine Martin and I decided that we would do something worth while this summer, and Gerdy has an uncle who owns a large truck farm in Maryland, and he said that we could come there. He had two sons, but both are in France now, and he really needs help, so we’re going”. But, Barbara, you have never done any hard work and you couldn’t endure farm toil”, replied Mrs. Harding. “Mother, can’t I get used to it? Other girls do, and so can 1”, Babs definitely responded. e will see what Daddy says about

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12 MAROON AND GRAY have retired, so we’ll have the pleasure of greeting the visitor”, said Babs, as she crawled into the hammock. Be still Gerdy. The shadow is moving —it’s a man! He looks as if he has over- alls on, and Gerdy, 1 do believe it is neigh- bor Jones’ hired man. What do you sup- pose he wants?” asked Babs. ‘T wouldn’t doubt but that he is com- ing over to sing love ballads to Miss Bar- bara , answered Gerdy in a relieved voice. “Nonsense! What do you mean?” hen 1 was at the post office the other day some of the men were teasing him about dreaming of the light-haired farmerette, and it must be you, for my hair is dark brown. 1 wouldn’t doubt but that it was he whom my aunt heard”, whispered Gerdy. e'll fix him so he won’t dream about her any more. Gerdy, you slip through the open window on the side porch and get two sheets that your aunt just washed today. They are on the top of the clothes basket in the corner of the kitchen. Be quick and I’ll watch here”, finished Babs. In a few seconds Gerdy was back with the sheets. By this time the “dreamer” was within a few rods of the porch steps, so that the girls were compelled to lie quietly in the hammock and wait for the next move. Slowly and quietly the man walked around the front of the house and at the side the footsteps ceased. The girls conjectured that he had stopped be- neath their bedroom window. Now was the time for their work. Quickly they draped the sheets around themselves and stealthly slipped from the porch to the op- posite side of the house from which their guest was located. “Now Gerdy, you slip over by the elm tree and hide behind it until I send my friend over in that direction. He will likely come in a hurry, so be on the look- out. I hen if he seems inclined to hang around, which I doubt very much, make your appearance and follow after him un- til he is off the premises. Now hurry, and be ready for action”. With these words Babs started around the house. It seemed only a few seconds to Gerdy until she heard a muffled scream, and then a dark figure, followed by Babs in white, darted towards the elm tree. Gerdy was ready for action, and as she heard the panting near her. she made her appear- ance. Another groan of fright and the poor hired man made another dash for safety. The girls now heard sounds with- in the house, and glancing at the fleeing man and deciding that he did not mean to stop until he reached his farmhouse, they hurried back to the porch where the uncle and aunt were standing wrapped up in bed clothes. Babs was the first to regain her breath, and she gasped, “ e—thought we’d—have —some fun, but didn’t mean to frighten you”. Gerdy then came to the rescue and explained the affair. The uncle and aunt, after hearing the story, looked serious. Uncle Joe was the first to speak. “I’m afraid, girlies, you have had too much fun. I don’t like to have ghosts around my place, and if you are going to attract all the young men around here to come prowling around my house at night as you have in this case, I would suggest that you give up being farmerettes. Neither of you are much good as farmers and I can’t afford to waste my time show- ing you how to do things. Babs looked at Gerdy and Gerdy looked at Babs until their auntie said, “Let’s go to bed now and we’ll talk about it in the morning”. The procession slowly climbed the stairs to their rooms. When the girls were