Tuscola High School - Tuscolian Yearbook (Tuscola, IL)

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THE PROPHECY By Gertrude Lewis. '09 It was growing late, and in the dusk, shadows had begun to play around the cave. All else seemed silent as the grave; but not deserted, for the dim outline of a figure in the farthest corner loomed up w'th a forbidding appearance. Here on the throne, sat in dignified state a white-headed, grey-bearded fortune-teller, enveloped in a long black robe; or was it one of the witches we heard of in the Salem witchcraft days? Behind him and around him, here and there, flitting about in spectral shapes, were the ominous forms of many sp'rits. In front of this man, and surrounded by these baffling shadows, was a long coffin-like box, which seemed to breathe out tales of war and prophecy; for guard ing the upper end was an immense black cat, whose red eyes seemed to gleam out in the darkness as living coals of fire, while opposite was a big, grey, wise-looking owl. From the outside came the sounds of merriment of many boys and girls. Then one head after another was poked in at the entrance of the cave until at last the entire crowd were huddled together on the inside Then came the sounds of suppressed gasps and long-drawn out “ohs,” and still closer communion of the group. This intense excitement lasted only for a few minutes, and long enough for their eyes to become accustomed to the gloom of the cave. “I feel as if I wanted to go home,” piped up one scared voice “Why, Willis,” joined in the chorus of others, “you were the most anxious to come.” “Well, I know, but I didn’t know everything to be so horrible as they pictured this. But say, let’s hurry up and get out of this. Who’s going to be first?” Not a soul answered. Deepest silence hovered over the place, no one moved; only the black cat batted an eye in surprise at the crowd in disturbance. But Wayne’s ever-ready eyes noticed manifest uneasiness of both the cat and owl, and perhaps he thought to himself—though he seldom did that, it was time to commence operations, and he spoke up: “Go ahead Faye, no use to parly about it.” Faye, with an inward sinking of the heart, walked to the edge of the box and was nobly backed up by the rest. “We wish to have our fortunes told,” she said, in a none too steady voice, because the sight before her and about her was enough to make even a strong man tremble. The man, if he could be called such, looked at the cat and then at the owl, who both immediately perched themselves on either of his shoulders. “Well,” rolled out, in a voice that made even the cave itself quake, “are you to be the first?” 1$

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CLASS HISTORY By Jessie Niles. ’09. It was in September of the year 1904 that this mighty band of strange beings appeared in the Tuscola High School. The ways of this class were very different from those of the upper classes, but soon they turned aside from their old ways and sought laurels of victory As Freshmen they were innocent and willing, but it would be difficult to describe them in their other classes. For four years the class of 1909 has won and lost collectively, joyed and sorrowed and has grown as a single body. ()f this large class only two have been together all through the r school career—Winifred and Jesse; only thirteen were Freshmen together, and nine belong to other towns. Of those who have quit school since this class started are Albert Bicknell, Icy Baker, Hutchison, Ray Smith, Mayme Maris, Corley, Glen Corley, George Bennett, Albert Stovall, Maybell Smith Vance, Elizal eth Cross. Pearle Hawkins, Guy Stivers, Mary and Ruth Wilder, Oliver Baskin, Harry Heacock and Edna Trigg. Some of our instructors in the other classes were Miss Hall, Mr. Thomas, Miss Roberts, Mr. Mull, Miss Church, Miss Wolfe, and Miss Lanz. One of the most noted events of this class was the Junior Reception, given May 16th, '08, at the K. of P. hall. Many honors have been won in athletics by members of this class, especially Ernest Moore in football and on track, Earl Williamson. Howard I uller in football, and Henry Wamsley, who has won eight gold medals and four ribbons on track. The basketball team for ’08 and ’09 was made up entirely of seniors and they have won many games. The officers of the Senior Class are as follows: First semester: President, Judson Owen; vice-president, Frank Bassett: treasurer, Earl Williamson: sargent-at-arms. Ernest Moore. Second semester: President, Earl Williamson; vice president, Henry Wamsley; secretary and treasurer, Ernest Moore. With few exceptions the whole class has done good work, trying to make this class the best of all and we think this has been accomplished. And now we are just at the threshold, to go out into the world each to his duties with a much better knowledge of life and the best things in it than we would have had if we had never entered the Tuscola High School. 17

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Faye, in a more frightened voice than ever, replied: “I will be.” The cat then whispered in his ear, and the man spoke: “I sec many admirers, but all depart, one at a time. The scene changes. I see a convent out in the woods, where you have taken refuge. Too bad. You were disappointed in love.” The excitement was great. Ernest now stepped to the front and after a good look at him, the cat again whispered into the fortune-teller’s ear. “I have peered into the mysterious future and find that von are to be a noted blacksmith. Judson now held out Ids hand, but with a gesture the man motioned it aside and began: ‘T see before you a great multitude of people, all straining their ears to hear every word. With wild gesticulating maneuvers you are trying to convince them that Christianity is the vital point of existence. Success be with you.” Winifred, urged forward by the remainder, now stood before him. He glanced once and began in a foreign, flowing voice: “Dancing and amusements, beautifully dressed people pass before me. At the ball one young lady particularly seems to be surrounded by a group of eligible young men. It is you. who appears to be the belle of the ball.” She steped back, amid the laughter of the rest, who were now becoming accustomed to the horror about them, leaving Willis standing in open-eyed wonder. “I see before me great farm lands, and in the rear of a large barn, which is surrounded almost bv cattle. Seated by the side of one I see a young fellow, with a happy-go-lucky expression on his entire face. In his hand he holds a large pail, which is brimming over with milk. Looks like you in your farm attire.” Edith now appeared and at one look the man extended his hand: ‘‘A sister in the great work,” he exclaims, for you are to be a scholar of mine, and after me you are to be the greatest living clairvoyant.” ith a last lingering look on Edith, he began again in an absent-minded way to talk to Della, who had stepped up. “A tall, straight young man from West Point appears at your home, but is met at the door by your father, and the same young man soon departs. 1 ime elapses. One night at midnight, gentlv stealing forth from the window, clothed in a dark suit and with a small bundle under your arm, you are seized by the same young man; after a hasty visit to the M. E. parsonage, you are just able to catch the midnight flyer north.” This recital caused considerable commotion and did not cease until Will stepped to the front. Laboratories rise up before me. Learned men consulting you. our assistant,’ and the man pointed out Ralph, “and yourself appear to be in that state of mind of a man who is just having a long-worked on scheme realized at last.” “Why, Jennie, do you suppose he is so absent-minded as to forget you in these chemical experiments?” was heard from the rear- 19