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

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6 VERGENNES HIGH SCHOOL Abner left the office after thanking Mr. Jones, and then hurriedly opened his envelope. Yes, there was a three dollar raise. Abner’s progress was very rapid thereafter, but the cause of this has not been determined. Was it due to his radio exercises, folks, or the Shakespearean quotation? SNOW STORIES Lois Bristol, ’32 When going home in the twilight, And watching the new fallen snow, I see small tracks in my pathway And I wonder where they go. The rabbit’s tracks are the largest But then, there are squirrel tracks, too, And there are the birds’ tiny footsteps, Too small for a star to view. Some footsteps lead to the old pine, And some to deep rock caves go; I read a meaning in every track, A romance in the snow. Some tales are of a narrow escape, And others a search for food, While others are simply of going home To see if the babes have been good. I think of each little creature. As I wander in twilight glow. And then I wonder if they are true— These stories I read in the snow. THE SECRET Katherine Ryan, ’30 “I wonder if any one will find it out. I hope not, anyway. If they do, they will surely take me for a ride and make me walk back, or something of the sort. “Why, hello Bob. Why the worried look? Have you robbed a bank, or what? You have a guilty expression. What ails you any-

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BLUE AND WHITE 5 But don t get excited, folks, for following this command came a series of many others, such as “Punch forward! Left—right— one—two.”, Yes, you guessed it right, for that is just who it is, yes, the radio exercise announcer, giving his daily drills. And say, I nearly forgot to mention it, but that is our hero standing in front of the radio, taking and following the commands— Abner Smith himself. Abner had been doing these exercises regularly for the last week, which surprised his parents, since Abner was a slow young man. He was doing these exercises for an unknown reason. All right, if' you so insist, I’ll let you in on the secret, but promise not to tell. Well, this is it. Abner was trying to get up enough courage to ask his boss for a raise in his salary, and he thought this way was as good as any. Mr. Jones, Abner’s employer, had been noticing a remarkable improvement in Abner’s work for the last week, but he had no knowledge of the reason, as you and I have. The end of the week came, as it usually does, but this was an unusual one for Abner. The last day Abner was. busy every minute, and then when the time came he fixed his tie, straightened out his suit coatj and walked up to the boss’s office. At the door he was overcome by a little nervousness as he read: Frank Jones, Manager—Private. He opened the door, stepped in. and was there greeted by a pleasant smile from Mr. Jones. “Mr. Jones,” he started, as if he wished to have it quickly over with, “I would like ta ask you for a raise in my salary. A time ago I was like one to whom Shakespeare referred when he wrote: ‘I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself and falls on the other side.’ Now, I feel inspired to ask for higher wages.” “What! A raise?” questioned Mr. Jones, “Well, my boy, I am sorry but you are too late.” “Too late! Why, what do you mean?” ‘Just that!” replied Mr. Jones, “I have already given you one,’’ and he handed Abner his pay envelope and with it he gave him a paper on which was written a motto of Elbert Hubbard’s: “Those who never do any more than what they are paid for, never get paid for any more than they do.”

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BLUE AND WHITE 7 way? Come on, confess,” jollied Jack, as he met Bob entering the schoolhouse. “Why nothing, Dick, only I haven’t prepared my chemistry very well for today. Maybe that accounts for it.” responded Bob, evasively. “Well, maybe, but you look kind of funny to me,” answered Jack suspiciously. The first two periods passed uneventfully, but Bob kept picturing what the gang had done to John Lark last month, and I’m afraid he didn’t answer many of the questions the teachers asked him. At recess, as Bob was buying some candy at the Junior’s candy sale, he noticed all the fellows of the gang gathered and conversing earnestly. What could they be talking about? Could they have found out his secret already? Were they making plans so soon? Bob wondered all the rest of the morning. He didn’t eat much lunch at noon and on the way to school as he passed the club house, he saw a bunch of the fellows carrying queer looking packages into the house. He hailed Jack and asked the reason for all the bundles. “Oh, you’ll know tonight. Just hold your horses. Don’t forget the special meeting.” Now what was the meeting for? Were they going to chastise him at the club house? What was the meaning of all the packages? Bob got through the rest of the afternoon somehow, but as he entered the club house that night he wondered what his fate would be. Had anyone found out? He had sworn his mother to secrecy. As he entered, the matter of the bundles was explained. The gang had decorated the room for some guests, he discovered. After the club had been called to order, the president stood up and gave the reason for the meeting. Henry Ford wanted to buy the club house and use the building. Would they or would they not sell, was the question. Bob gave a sigh of relief as he realized that he was out of danger for the moment. After the meeting he fairly ran home and shut himself in his room. He danced about the room with glee and rejoiced that at last he was safe. It was his birthday and not a fellow had found it out.