Vergennes Union High School - Blue and White Yearbook (Vergennes, VT)

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18 THE BLUE AND WHITE. lunch. 1 had not been seated long when I heard a very faint grumbling in the distance. I thought at first that it was thunder but soon realized my mistake as it kept coming nearer and nearer. Suddenly the truth flashed upon me that it was the grumbling of a lion who had happened upon my track and was following me by trail of blood. I arose quickly and looked about for a place to stand, for I knew that it was useless to run. Soon I discoverd a large rock and prudently determined to place my back against it so that I could not be attacked from the rear. mountain life doesn’t seem to agree with you very well. ' I offered to show him the carcasses but for the life of me 1 could not locate the place. Now when I tell my friends the story they laugh and gaze at me with such a look of pity on their faces that it makes me feel that I will always regret to the end of my days that I did not skin the lions in order to have something to show as proof. I had not long to wait for soon I heard a great crackling in the bushes some two or three hundred feet in front of me, and to my horror, I discovered not only one lion but three. They had stopped at several places to amuse themselves by tasting my blood, where it had fallen ou the ground in the greatest plenty, merely, as I presume, to give their appetites a whet for the more substantial food which they thought was to come. I took careful aim and the largest of the three fell dead in his tracks; I had been so excited at the prospect of finding a lion, that when I started for the rock I left my catridge box on the ground, therefore the gun was now useless in my hands. They began circling around me, lashing their sides with their tails and opening their ponderous jaws which appeared large enough to allow my passage with as much ease as I could swallow a pill. Retreating to the very edge of the level ground till they were within twenty or thirty feet of me, they then launchd up in the air and came towards me like the arc of a circle, the highest point being above my head so that they could descend upon me open-mouthed. But I anticipated this, thrusting up both hands into their mouths as they descended upon me with all their force and consequently my hands were driven down their throats. They tried to retreat but I thrust my lingers right through the oesophagus of each animal and prevented it. 1 was liaulcU about ou the ground till it seemed as if every bone in my body would be broken but I was soon rewarded by feeling their struggles grow weaker and weaker till at last they expired with a groan. 1 removed my hands from their jaws and began to collect my belongings which had .been scattered about somewhat freely during the encounter; then going to the top of a hill I tried to locate our camp. The theory I took was a correct one and I soon arrived tired but safe.. When I told my friend about my experience he looked at me queerly a moment and then said “I guess that we had better pack up and go home, this A Christmas Surprise. “Please mother, may I not have it?” Mary asked .eagerly. “Well dear,” answered her mother, “I suppose you can, but finish your breakfast and get ready for school. “Thank you,” said Mary, ‘ but 1 must ask one thing more. It is only a little more than a week before Christmas now, and, if 1 am to have a Christmas party, I ought to be making preparations. May I stay tonight with Louise Baker ? We could talk things over and write the invitations.” “Yes, I suppose so,” answered Mrs. Atwood. “Why mother, what are you thinking about anyway ?” her daughter exclaimed impatiently, “You don t seem at all interested. “To tell the truth,” her mother answered, “I was thinking about old Mrs. Stevens and her husband, and wondering what they would do for Christmas.” “Well,” said Mary, rather crestfallen,. “what difference does it make to us? They are too old to care about Christmas anyway, and don't expect anyone to think of them.” “When you get to be seventy-six years old, will you wish to be shut out from society, aud feel as if no one cared for 3 011?” asked Mrs. Atwood gently? Mary did not reply, but finished her breakfast, and, taking her dinner basket on her arm, started for the country school-house a mile away. In thinking about the coming party, she soon forgot about the old couple ou the hillside. Mary Atwood was rather an impulsive girl, and one of the brightest scholars at the school, which she attended. She was not naturally selfish, but, like many other young people, she often allowed her own pleasures to control everything she did. She passed the house where Mr. aud Mrs. Stevens lived on her way to school. It certainly did look lonesome, she thought, but then, the old people had

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THE BLUE ANI) WHITE. 17 ing. “The desk has been broken open and forty thousand dollars in cash are missing.” “What of it?” snapped the Professor, his nose stuck in a pile of papers, which lie was busily correcting. “What of it?” he repeated. “I can’t stop now, these papers must be corrected.” “Mighty busy all of a sudden,” thought the banker, “I guess I know what is the matter with him.” “Say,” aloud, “Won’t you let me have some money to do business with today ?” “I suppose I can do that, but you had better hunt up the other as quick as you can. Here’s ten thousand.” He reached his hand in where he supposed the money to be. He began to feel around. His face turned pale as he made one last search. “There’s no money here,” he finally gasped, “I’ve been robbed.” “Well no matter,” laughed the banker, more at the scared features of the Professor than at anythiug else, “The next time you want to play any tricks on other people, you’d better look and see if they are around.” “Well, so long, wish you a Merry Christmas,” and he was gone. MEULWER, ’07. result. Sometimes those at her desk would ring the bell or throw waste paper. Noons were spent pleasantly; the boys played tag or Caraway or wrestled, and the little girls played dolls. Margaret enjoyed sliding down hill or playing Fox and Geese in winter with the children; but she never took much part in building the snow man. She was bound for home as soon as her term of school would permit. Mother met her at the door with a happy smile and father looked off his paper to say, “Good evening, our brave hearted Margaret.” Margaret told her mother later on that the school went well and she enjoyed it, “But it’s only a beginning, mother,” she said, “I shall go back next term, and do better.” Ernestine Bristol, ’09. A “Mid-Summer Night’s Dream.” A Short Sketch of Margaret’s First School. Margaret Fulton rushed in to her mother with the reply to an application for a school, which said she might have the position. Margaret was young, with dark hair and eyes, and a determined purpose which was made stronger every time she took a step on the ladder of life, just as Antaeus received new strength every time his foot touched the ground. I11 two weeks she was mistress of her first school room, among twenty-five boys and girls. There were seats for ouly sixteen pupils and she looked anxiously about, puzzling her brain as to where to seat them. The largest ones were given the desks, while others were put at her desk, on benches and in corners. After the books were given out and things were put in some order, she heard a few lessons which were very poor, so she sent the children back to study. Often times a mouse would creep out of the woodshed and eat crumbs left from the children’s lunch. This always caused a bit of scolding on Margaret’s part because the children laughed and had bad lessons as a Last summer my friend and I went on our annual hunting trip through the Adirondack mountains and it was while there that I had the thrilling experience which I am alxnit to relate. It was toward the close of a day unusually hot and fatiguing; our labor had been of a most tiresome kind for we had been obliged to wind our way over a tall mountain completely covered with trees and so tangled with brushwood that, but for our personal strength we would never have gotten through. We quickly made our evening meal, which, by the way, I always enjoy with peculiar satisfaction, pitched our tent and were soon asleep. We arose bright and early the next morning, cooked our breakfast with speed, for we wished to get an early start, cleaned our guns and started out for the day. We separated, my friend- going south and I north, for I saw that the woods were thicker there and that I would stand a better chance of getting game. I had gone but a little way however, when I discovered that I had made a mistake in choosing this direction for the woods were so thick with thorns and underbrush that every step of my way was marked with blood. I tried to retrace my steps but to my amazment I could not tell from which direction I had come. I knew then that I was lost. I wandered about all the forenoon without success and then as I was hungry, I sat down to eat my mid-day

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TIIE BLUE AND WHITE. 19 had little to do with social life in the neighborhood for many years, and what could they care ? She quickened her pace and soon reached the school-house, where she found, much to her disappointment, that the friend, with whom she had intended to spend the night, was absent on account of sickness. So after school, Mary turned her steps homeward again. Just as she was passing the home of Mr. and Mrs. Stevens, she slipped and fell. Her cry of pain brought the old man to the door, and, seeing her plight, he hurried to assist her. He found that her ankle was sprained, but managed to help her into the house. Both the old people were very much concerned about her injury, and Mary was scon lying on a couch before a bright fire, feeling as comfortable as possible under the circumstances. Indeed she almost forgot her pain in looking about her. The cosey room was very neat and clean and a few pictures hung upon the walls. A table, upon which lay the family Bible and a few papers, stood in the middle of the room, and, in one corner, there was a small book-case filled with well-read books. Mr. Stevens had worked hard as long as he was able, but the long and fatal sickness of an only sou several years before had obliged him to sell his small farm. By strict economy lie now lived on the interest of what remained from the sale of the place. lie was respected by his neighbors, but, during the last few years, had been neglected by most of them. When a social event took place no one thought of the old couple attending. But on their part, Mr. and Mrs. Stevens had never lost interest in what was going on about them. They did everything possible for Mary’s comfort, asking questions meantime concerning the affairs of the neighborhood. Mary began to wonder how it would all end. She knew her parents would not expect her that night, and she also realized that her many hopes for Christmas would have to be given up. But could she not help these kindly people to enjoy their Christmas ? Suddenly an idea came into her head. “I'll do it,’’ she murmured, “Mother will help and I’m sure the neighbors will take hold too.” With this thought, she fell asleep and did not awake until late the next morning. « ♦ « The clock struck seven. Mr. Stevens and his wife were seated side by side before the open fire-place. Each seemed buried in thought. They were going over events that had happened long before. “And only think,” sighed the old lady, “this is Christmas eve.” “It don’t seem like it used to be,’’ the old gentleman rejoined. “Think of the good time we had the year before Henry died,’’ he continued, “life was worth living then.” He closed his eyes and sank back into his arm chair. “Cheer up, my dear,” answered his wife gently. “We are all alone, but we have each other yet.” “Yes,” sighed the old man, “but I can’t help feeling how lonely we are. We used to have a part in what was gding on around us. We’re growing old, growing—” There was a rap at the door. Wonderingly, Mrs. Stevens arose and opened it. “Meriy Christmas, Merry Christmas!” shouted a dozen cheery voices, and, without waiting to be invited, they all filed in laughing and talking. “Come right in this way, and take off your things” said Mrs. Stevens, her eyes shining. “John stir up that fire. These people must be cold after their ride.” Such an evening as they spent. The young folks played all kinds of games, and the old people visited. Mary herself sitting in a great armchair, seemed the happiest of all. A new light shone in her eyes, for her own Merry Christmas had come after all by making others happy. Finally a Christmas tree, loaded with gifts, was brought in, and everyone received something. At eleven o’clock, the party broke up, having spent a very pleasant evening. It was after twelve o’clock but still John Stevens and his wife sat before the fire. “We have not been quite forgotten after all,” said the old lady softly. “No,” returned her husband “this reminds one of old times. What a splendid Christmas eve we have spent this year.” “I don’t believe it could have been happier” she agreed, as they prepared to retire. That night, as she rode home, Mary Atwood thanked her heavenly father in her heart for the happiest Christmas she had ever enjoyed. Woodburn Harris, ’07.