Vandergrift High School - Spectator Yearbook (Vandergrift, PA)

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14 THE SPECTATOR THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A MOUSE Reading in the paper one day of a new building which had been erected, I decided to leave my peaceful abode in Shutt's Livery'and rent a suite of rooms in this wonderful building. So taking enough food to last the journey, I set out upon the inarch. The building, situated at the head of Franklin Avenue, is of white brick. I selected the most suitable rooms, considering the store houses, refrigerators, and all conveniences in general. These rooms are located on the third floor, fourth room to the right, front. There are six tables, three in a row and of course, two rows. Several cupboards are set in the walls and afford ample storage for all the food I may need. I enjoyed the privacy of these rooms for several days, but my bill-of-fare was very scanty and I was just about to depart from my happy home, when there arrived upon the scene of action fair maidens and boisterous lads, laden with many of the good things of this earth. They laid their burdens in one of the drawers of the table, and sallied forth from the room. Taking it upon my humble self to inspect the bundles, I had just reached the drawer when, alas, (but too late to keep the secret from me) the same boisterous lads and the same fair maidens entered, joyous and triumphant They set to work with a vim that was much unlike their usual mode of action. But this lasted only a few minutes. Then came the great issue of the day. Sandwiches, cake, popcorn, and candy were brought forth, all of it home-made except the candy. Then one tall slim young man furnished a quart of grape juice. I watched them long and silently, saying over and over in my mind, “Eat drink, and be m rry, for to-morrow you may die.” They ate and drank, and ate and drank, and I became worried as to whether there would be anything left for me. The first period passed; they still ate! The second came and went; and with it went that whole gormandizing class! Deeming it better that I should wait till evening, I partook of a few crumbs only. I. waited. The day passed slowly. Evening came at last and ’twas then that 1 feasted as I had never feasted before. Cake crumbs, bread crumbs, bits of chocolate candy, and grape juice that was left in the glasses—all were almost new to me, for I had spent the greater part of my days in the Livery Stable. That festive day is past but ’twill never be forgotten. Every night I pray that these same men and maidens may soon decile to feast again. Not till then shall 1 be happy! Paul Long—T9 -----oo------ GUIDING HEART STRINGS The Queen of Hearts leaned lovingly over Anne Martin this fourteenth day of February. But the Spirit of St. Valentine shook a warning finger at her, as she flipped Ann’s heart from suitor to suitor then let it slow up dangerously near the heart of Donald Roger. Anne, sitting before the fire in her cosy sitting room, made a beautiful living picture. The leaping flames and dancing lights from the coal fire lit the big room dimly, and threw tantalizing shadows on her bewitching little face, with its glowing brown eyes and fluffy hair. The soft clucking hisses of the burning coals sounded surprisingly like the faint sighs that escaped her gently-routing lips, and the dreamy atmosphere of the room was conducive to just such thoughts as troubled Ann's pretty head. Should she or should she not accept Donald Roger's proposal? Of course, Don’s future wife need have no fear for the more material comforts of life. He had everything a girl's heart could wish in money and position. But had she really forgotten John Wentworth? Was the love of that manly, blue-eyed soldier gone completely out of her life, just because of that foolish quarrel? Surely, surely he coud not really have forgotten the wonderful hours they had spent together in that faraway June two years ago. But he had not written; and her proud little head straightened resentfully at the thought. Furthermore she did

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THE SPECTATOR 13 such as this, reveal his care and sympathy for the common soldier. He would say, “Perhaps the man is poor and friendless. If he has no friend I will be his friend”. But Lincoln also knew that trying to attend to the troubles of all the soldiers would be like trying to bail the water out of the Hudson river with a spoon. Because of his sympathy and kindness to them, the soldiers named him “Father Abraham”, and surely no one deserved the name more than he. Margaret Clawson—’23 ------oo------ CUPID’S VICTORY Mirandy was in the kitchen making cookies to take to Daisy Slocum’s party that night. She was all excited because Ephriam Jones, her sweetheart. was to accompany her to Daisy’s home. All at once she heard the dog barking and she knew the postman was passing. She was going to go out, but her cookies were almost ready to come out of the oven and if she left them, they would bum. Her little sister, Dorothy ran to get the mail. She brought the letters in and laid them on the table near the pet parrot. Jerry’s cage. Among the letters, was one for Mirandy from Ephriam, but Jerry could not read and he seemed to be aching to get into mischief. He stuck his claw out through the cage bars and clutched the letter. Ah. what a tragedy! He drew it into his cage and was soon very busy tearing it into an infinity of shreds. That night. Mirandy waited and waited, but Ephriam did not come. She wondered why Ephriam had not come. Could he be ill? Could something dreadful have happened to him? Ephriam would not stay away without some good reason; but why did he neglect letting her know? Two days passed and still no word from Ephriam. Finally Mirandy’s patience was worn out and she declared she wouM have nothing more to do with Ephriam Jones. Ephriam. on the other hand, wondered what had happened to sever the relationship between them. Then he remembered that Valentine Day was soon to come, and decided to send Mirandy a Valentine. He flew out of the house and into the barn where he saddled his fastest horse and off he rode. The minutes seemed like hours, even though his horse broke all speed records of the countryside. He finally reached a store where valentines were sold. He selected one he thought most suitable to carry his love message. He did not notice the booklet attached to it until he was home, but decided it was just the thing to make amends for anything wrong he had done. Poor Dan Cupid had been at his wit’s end to know how to mend the broken friendship. He was soon put at ease, however, when he discovered Eph-riam’s plan. He simply guided Eph-riam’s choice in the selection of the little booklet, the verse in which ran. thus: “The little note I send to you. 1 was compelled to send by Fate. And though you are the one I woo. You have turned away in Hate. E’en though your love has wandered away, My love for you will never stray.” On Valentine Day. Mirandy received the valentine, which saved her from becoming a spinster for life. She sent Ephriam a note filled with love and forgiveness and Dan Cupid knew then that he had won the victory. Hazel Henry—’21 ------oo------ THE GREATEST AMERICAN It is a deep tragedy to America that the death of Theodore Roosevelt should come at a time when our country needs the help of its best trained minds. Therefore, it is the wish and duty of the American people to pay him tribute. Roosevelt embodied the American spirit. He was ever ready to respond when the call to arms came. He gave willingly to the poor, and never tired in his work for the progress or humanity. He would go quickly to the aid of a stricken enemy. He loved children. Roosevelt was in every sense a true American. Evelyn Swanson—’23

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THE SPECTATOR 15 rather like Donald, the catch of the season—and there was no doubt of his liking her. But she could not think cf Donald at all, when the laughing, six-foot John seemed so near. Strange, the tricks memory will play upon us, when we think we have forgotten and been forgotten. If she refused Don the girls would think her peculiar— but with a wee tightening of her heart, she felt that surely one more day of freedom need not matter. As if in answer to her thought the clatter of an express wagon told her that here at least was some positive proof of Don’s caring,—roses, red and white, in such profusion that their heavy fragrance weighted down the air in the room and banished her mood of reverie. They were everywhere a-bout her. They seemed to typify what her life with Don would be—roses and luxuries in such quantities that they stifled all the happy, homey thoughts she had. And then she knew—knew she could never forget the old love, now in France, and that roses cannot make love. The Spirit of St. Valentine nodded approvingly as the Queen of Hearts drew Anne’s heart closer and closer to John’s gallant soldier heart. And Dan Cupid chuckled and clapped his hands as they settled slowly down beside one another. In the last mail that evening Ann received a tiny red valentine with the words: “Just a kiss from France For a love both old and new. Won’t you be my Valentine And let me come to you?” Louise Bortz—T9 ------oo------ OUR THREE GREAT WAR PRESIDENTS Our three great war presidents nam'ely, Washington. Lincoln, and Wilson, are put down in history as among the nation’s greatest men. When we stop to consider what it must have meant for these men to be at the head of the nation at such critical times, when the country was in turmoil, we shall not hesitate to consider that they were fully worthy of the honor which is bestowed upon them. Washington, our first war president, was elected to this office just at the time when our government was being formed, so was naturally called The Father of His Country—a man such as our country needed most at this time. During his whole life, Washington did all he could to help the country along, especially after he was made president. When it was said of him that he was “First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen”, a great truth was uttered. When the Revoutionary War broke out, he was one of the first men to organize troops. When peace was dawning Washington was one of the first who was in favor of establishing peace among his coun trymen. Lincoln, our second great war president, was elected to this office just before the Civil War. Unlike Washington, Lincoln was reared a very poor boy an,d had a hard struggle all through his life. But in spite of all these hardships, he rose to be one of America’s noblest and most honored men. It has often been said of Lincoln that he had the kindest heart that the world has ever known, and if we stop to reflect upon this statement, we shall find it to be true. During the great war, in spite of his anxiety, his worry, and many other troubles, he would take time to visit and comfort the wounded soldiers, as well as to give aid and comfort to the mothers who came to him concerning their boys. All through his life. Lincoln showed great kindness to everyone and performed his duties so well that when he was assassinated, it was no wonder that the South as well as the North mourned his death. Wilson, our present executive, is our last war president. When we consider what he has done for us in the present war, we do not hesitate to say that he has fully done his duty. In spite of his desire to keep us from getting into the dreadful war which has just passed, when we did enter it, he did all in his power to carry the war through to a victorious end. In respect and honor to these three great war presidents, and great and noble men as well, we pause during these busy days to give them a tribute from our grateful hearts. Evelyn Love—’21