Tarboro High School - Tar Bo Rah Yearbook (Tarboro, NC)

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Senior Class Poem The hour was late, the night was long, The fire did gently glow, The wind was shrill, all else was still, And softly fell the snow. My chair was near the glowing coals; The firelight played around, The wind blew shriller, all else grew stiller, Then strange the sight I found. Before my eyes stood Cupid dear, I listened while he spake, I ' m neither saint, nor love, nor ghost, But messenger of fate. He further said, with a nod of his head, And a wink from his merry eye, My child, good-bye, ' tis time for bed, Midnight is very nigh. A moment more, then he was gone, And fast did fly the night, Until the hour was near to morn, And quickly came the light. I thought of all that he had said. Of Fate ' s kind message, too — How to my heart it straightway sped, And now, classmates, to you I ' ve come to tell your history, And that of classmates, too, Of life you ' ll live in later years And great things you shall do. The fates declare that they ' ve a plan, And this is their decree, — That from this class as years roll on True Kings and Queens shall be. I pass it on ; for you alone Can mar or prove his words, In future years, when you may roam As do the little birds. May you be gentle, strong and true, In joy or grief serene, Heeding throughout the future years, The motto of ' 16. As the sportsman plays his game So character we must build Not for glory or for fame, But to stand for wisdom still. Poet 27

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end of this fourth year, when they were to pass through a thorough and searching examination. For nine long months these bacteria basked in the sunlight, absorbed food, and enjoyed life in general; but as the calm precedes the storm, as the pigs are fattened for the slaughter, so they were being prepared for their last and final test. On this eventful day they were to be proclaimed either good bacteria and sufficiently developed to be turned loose as preservers of humanity or they were to be doomed to a period of further preparation. As the results of the said examination would mean so much to humanity as well as to the bacteria, it was fitting that the test should be most severe and mi- nute, covering every point of the growth and development of the various species. If the scientist decided that the results showed the bacteria to be 70 per cent perfect, they were then to be taken from his care and given to humanity to do life ' s work alone. And it came to pass on the last day, that the scientist had the various spe- cies of bacteria placed on a large platform and a great multitude gathered to observe his handiwork, and they said, It is good. And the scientist was pleased, and turning to the audience, he said: Ladies and gentlemen, you see before you the result of eleven years of hard work. These bacteria are the product of the school system for which you spend so much of your money. Do you consider the result as worthy of the effort and resources consumed? I do not see how you can answer otherwise than in the affirmative. You have admitted by your ap- plause that their appearance is good. I consider them to be good as shown by the strong recommendation which I give in passing them on to you; but time alone will prove whether they are worthy or unworthy of the work we have ex- pended upon them. It has been said that a prophet is without honor in his own country; but we have a prophet that has honor in his own country. Under a great flood of inspiration he prophesied the future of these colonies, and it an- swered my highest hopes and anticipations; so I have no fear in giving my full assurance that these colonies of homo sapiens bacilli will prove an honor both to the institution which has reared them and to myself, who have spent so many efforts in their behalf. As the scientist retired, the audience applauded again and again. The bac- teria were then carried from the platform, and passed from the care of the scientist. This incident closes that phase of the lives of the homo which I am to relate. There are many other interesting incidents in their lives of which I could tell you. As the material is so fresh in my mind I could write volumes, but I feel that it would be a waste of energy; because I am sure that I have written enough of their history to make me and them famous. I am confident now that my name will be hailed from the housetops, written in the highest halls of fame, and passed from mouth to mouth as are the names of such famous men and women as Jess Willard, Mrs. Pankhurst, and Miss Council. So I conclude my history with this one little message to you: If my efforts on this work please you not, my friend, Cheer up! you will be glad to know that I have reached THE END Historian 26

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Senior Class Prophecy In a spot half concealed by clumps of bushes and a heavier back- ground of trees, stands an old log cabin. Often, tired and worn out with cease- less efforts to reproduce on canvas some of the beauties around me, I have wan- dered to the door and gazed out upon the towering Rockies in front of me. These snow-capped mountains, as they stretch up to the blue of the sky, make a scene that would thrill the heart of any artist. My gaze shifts and falls upon the blue lakes stretching themselves lazily into the distance. For years I have lived in this place of seclusion, hoping in its solitude to be- come a real artist. But yesterday, discouraged and feeling myself a failure, I pondered over my last picture and, deep in reverie, I soon began to lose consciousness of my surroundings. My mind slipped back over a space of twenty years or more, and I thought lingeringly of many happy events and escapades of my childhood and school days. As I did not attend college, naturally the companions of my last year in high school were clearer in my memory than any others. I was wondering what each was doing and what they had made of them- selves, when suddenly a hand fell upon my shoulder. I started; for just in front of me stood my dear old friend, Joseph Powell Bunn. Many questions and answers followed each other in quick succession. Joe, for several years after graduation, had felt called upon to use his remark- able vocal talent as a stage performer. He had joined a worldwide minstrel and traveled from place to place, finally reaching the nearby-town, where he learned of my existence. It may well be imagined that I welcomed this friend of my schooldays, and urged him to spend the night that I might hear news of the world that I had almost forsaken. We talked until long past midnight, and before we retired I had learned the whereabouts and life work of every member of my class. I was not surprised when he told me that William Andrews, after winning all the trophies of debate, left the field of oratory. Fate had decreed that with his manly beauty and graceful deportment, combined with his rosy cheeks, he should adorn the deck of a large ocean liner. He started as cabin boy and has now risen to a first class seaman. Catharine Cobb, having given up the idea of ever entering the field of mat- rimony, became reconciled to her fate of being an old maid, and is now leading the suffragettes of North Carolina on to victory. Alas, Erdine Cobb has disappointed us. We had always thought that she would uphold the dignity of our class. Imagine my surprise when I learned that she had actually become an actress. Although Madame Cobb has gained 2S