Texas Presbyterian College for Girls - Larkspur Yearbook (Milford, TX)

Page 103 text:

as fs -.-ur egg s C l When lane Went to College V HE C-RAl'lAlVl'S were a large family of six children, two girls and foul boys and their mother, who lived in Kansas. Their house was about three miles from a little town! of about a thousand inhabitants, situated within twenty miles of Topeka, in the prairie land. Worth, as the little town was called, was a busy settlement of its size, and all its people and surrounding settlers were engaged in farming and wheat raising. At the time of my story, the year's crop had been nearly a complete failure on account of the drouth, and a great many people suffered from the lossy among the sufferers were the Grahams. Not only had they had misfortune with their crop but also a far greater one had befallen them-lVlr. Graham, the father of the family, had died, suddenly leaving them with comparatively nothing. Ever since her father's death, Betty, the older daughter, had been saving up money so she could send lane, the fifteen-year-old sister, to college, for as Betty said, although she was only eighteen, she was too old and settled in her ways even to begin studying and make anything of herself, but ,lane had worlds of talent in writing and greater than that, energy and perseverance. When Betty had announced to the family that she intended sending lane to college the following September, the one question, after the excitement had been overcome, was where should she go? Betty wanted her to go to school in Kansas. .lane would not, under any circumstances, go in Kansas. Mrs. Graham had an old school friend who was a teacher in a Texas college, and she thought it would be pleasant for ,lane to go there. lane was delighted with the idea, for as she said, I'll get to see a real cow-boy! The following day, Betty sent for the much-desired catalogue of T. P. College, Milford, Texas. While the catalogue was on its journey, lane spent five days of restless anticipation and longing for the book to arrive. Every day as Dick, her older brother, came from the village with the mail, he would see an eager, freckled face, little girl of Fifteen, perched upon the gate post which opened into a road leading from the house and thence to the village road, and he could imagine what she was waiting for. On the last day, Jane could stand it no longer and as Dick, in the big farm wagon, came in sight she lightly jumped from the post and ran down the road to meet him. , Before she reached the wagon, he, with a smiling face, held up a little package, Well, little Sis, l hope your pain is eased. Chl Dick, she exclaimed, has that darling thing at last come? With one bound she was up beside him in the big wagon seat and eagerly unwrapping the long-waited for catalogue. It is needless to say that Jane had devoured nearly all the information in that one book before she reached the house. ' Dick, said lane, l'm going to sit out here in the wood-shed and look over this dear book. No lane, you come right in the house and let Betty and Mother see it because they are just as anxious to see it as you are. lane's application was sent in about a week later and she was very much excited when the letter from the president of the college came and told her that she was to room with Gertrude Gray from Dallas, Texas. The remainder of the month of July and all of August were spent in preparing ,lane's wardrobe and as each new dress was finished, she would admire it and declare it was much prettier than the last. At last the day came when it was only one week until Jane should leave. She had just fully realized what it was going to mean to her to leave home, and while she was very happy over going, she had seen how hard it was going to be for her to leave all her dear family, as she had never been away from them more than two weeks in her life. The fateful day came when Jane was all dressed in her neat little black suit, holding her valise with a death-like grip, and standing on the platform of the station at Worth. Like all partings, it had been a sad one, with a great many kisses, hugs and tears bestowed uoon the departing girl. Dick had decided to go with her as far as Topeka and start her out safely on her long journey. l-le had wanted to go all the way with her but ,lane preferred to go alone and get broken in by herself. The trip from Topeka to Dallas, where she changed cars, was rather a long one--three days and nights: however jane found plenty to interest her as she watched 104

Page 102 text:

C A f iz s :ttf La-1XS ?:2, if ,S S ' SA U . his 6 ,rl coming. She made up her mind that when she had finished with her niece, Mandy would never want a new party dress or even dare to think of it. Mandy was gettin' entirely too flip here lately and needed a tonin' down'. She would get it too, beyond a doubt. The room was very still. Out under the doorstep a frog croaked dismally. It was growing late and the air was chilly. Miss Simpson shivered and drew her shawl closer around her. Her fingers unoccupied, her mind traveled back to the time when Ruth came to live with her, a thin wistful face confronted her. the white folded hands, the silent lips. Miss Simpson glanced over toward the little rocker by the window. It seemed almost as if Ruth was there now. She used to sit in the dark little parlor, hours at a time, waiting, with patience heart-rending to see, for one who never came. Her unoccupied manner was maddening to Miss Simpson who used to exclaim, For I-Ieaven's sake, Ruth, do pick 'up your knittin', your're gettin' lazy these days. Even now she fancied she could see the bent head and quivering lips when she was reproac-hed for idleness. Then she remembered one day how the chair was empty. She could see Ruth's pleading eyes raised to her's. She could hear that low- quivering voice, saying, Take her Emma and be good to her for my sake, won't you? That was long ago, she knew, and now Mandy was growing into womanhood, tall and slim, with her father's great dark eyes and her mother's thin, delicate face. Did Mandy enjoy any recreation from her work? Were her opportuities equal to those around her? Miss Simpson questioned herself closely. Then she thought of how often she, herself, had been ashamed of Mandy's shabby shoes, her faded dresses and made-over hats, what would Ruth say to all this? She remembered too, the tidy little sum in the bank. Was there reason why it should not be, put to use? If she had any doubts on the matter in question, they left her now. I'm a selfish old woman, she whispered to herself, shivering in the cold night air. The lamp burnt low and the clock crept on towards twelve. Mandy would come then, she would not stay a moment after twelve. Mandy! whom she intended to punish severely. She recalled the great, wondering eyes raised to her's only a few hours ago, the quivering lips. What a world of love lay beneath the quiet little face if she only chose to possess it. And if I live I shall, she murmured. It's not too late to love her as I should. Then a peace she had not known in years came creeping over her. A peace which came to her ibut once before when she lay beside a tiny infant and knew that God had spared er. The clock struck twelve and soon after footsteps were heard on the gravel walk. A voice, low and kind, floated out to her. Good-night, little girl, and the quick response, Good-night, Joe. The door opened and Mandy rushed in. She stood for a moment, gazing in wonder at the light in the parlor, then running to her aunt, she knelt before her, crying: Oh! Aunt Em' I'm a wicked, wicked girl, ain't I? But I did so want a new dress-it was so hard! I'll get some new curtains just like them, Aunt Em', I will. I won't be bad any more, honest, I won't. A hot tear fell on Mandy's clasped hands. She looked up in surprise. O, Auntie! Don't cry, she pleaded, I'd rather you'd whip me. Then it was that Miss Simpson spoke. I ain't goin' to punish you child, she said softly. I ain't goin' to scold- but I am a-goin' to love you. And lifting the girl's flushed face in her toil-worn hands, she kissed her, not once, but many times. EDITH BORDEN. ju ef , lf! N il' f GH: Lv W lll ' 1-.a S-5 Xt a 103

Page 104 text:

6 C i f he PT T-If Llsmgazl g 4-' C the different changes in the country, and spent most of her time in planning what she would do in T. P. C. and how she would write stories and be a great pride to her family and teachers. When she, at last, arrived in Dallas and hnally was safe on the train bound for Milford, she could hardly realize she was but a two hours' ride from the place where she had planned to become a genius. When she had gone but a few miles she heard three very nice looking girls, across the aisle from her, discussing school, how anxious they were to get back, see all the old girls and teachers and have another society meeting, etc., and from this she knew they were old T. P. C. girls going back to school. After mustering up a good deal of courage, she went over to the girls and introduced herself. They were all very nice to her and by the time the conductor yelled Mil-ford, she was acquainted with the girls, upon school and had promised to be a Philotesian. ' About a week later, Betty received the following letter: T. P. C., September 24, l9l2. My Dear Betty: This is the grandest place on earth and I'm so happy! Of course I got here 'safe andgsound' and had a delightful trip. At Dallas three nice girls came on the train and were lovely to me. They told me all about my room-mate, teachers, studies, and asked me to be a Philo, which I am proud to say, I already am. All the girls have not come yet, but so far, there are five hundred and there are certainly some pretty ones. My room-mate came the morning after I did and she is a dear-very pretty, smart, stylish, sweet and everything nice and I'm sure we shall be the best kind of friends. She has already asked me to spend Christmas in Dallas with her. We have fixed up our room, and it is really the cutest one on the hall. I am glad to say, matriculation and assignment of studies is all over, and l'm actually a Sophomore. fSo is my room-mate.J I shall write you a longer letter soon, but now must finish unpacking my trunk. Give worlds of love to all the family. As ever, your loving sister. JANE. Some months later, Dick was very much surprised and pleased when he received this letter: T. P. C. December, l0th, l9l2. Dear Old Dick: The bomb has exploded and my remains are here to tell the tale. Dr. White announced in the dining-room last night, that your own little jane had won the prize story for the Annual. I was happy when the Oracle accepted my first two stories, but to have the best story in the Annual-well, I'm so happy I can't write, that's all. Tell Mother and Betty and all to write to your lucky little Sis. JANE. -By Florence Claiborne. 9 Nfl 105