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

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BLUE AND WHITE 5 But Nancy answered, “Just you sit down. My well rope is balky and no one knows the combination besides me.” In a minute Nancy returned. Her bird-man was not sitting in the south room window where she had left him ; instead he was standing in the sunny kitchen, sniffing the appetizing aroma of applesauce. ith a dee]) chuckle Nancy prepared a tempting lunch of apple sauce, fresh bread and butter, and cold milk, and appeared with it. She spoke to the stranger. “Would you have time to eat this ?” “Would I! It's my favorite, and it looks just like the kind my mother makes.” her aviator replied. It took only a short time for the tempting lunch to disappear and he turned to her. “ Mow’d you like to take a spin ?” “A spin! Nancy didn’t even stop to lock her door. In the twinkling of an eye they were hurrying across the plowed field. Nancy was helped into flying togs and didn’t even notice they were twice too large for her. so tense was her excitemen. Whirrrr—they were off! As the birdman declared she was the doctor and could go where she wished, she told him she would like to see the capitol. She didn’t see why he called her the “doctor” though,—no one was hurt—yet. When her courage grew, she opened her eyes to see mountains, lakes, and buildings—mere specks floating beyond her gaze. What would Silas say if he could see her now? Could this be real or was she dreaming? She pinched herself to be sure. The birdman turned and said. “Would you like to go home now?” “Yes. timidly replied Nancy, and soon they were on their homeward course. As the plane landed and her pilot helped her out. be grasped her hand and said. I must beat it now. Forgive me for not taking you to your door, but I might ask for more apple sauce.—So long!” Nancy hurried into the house through the back door. It was twenty minutes of six. She had scarcely started supper when her husband drove in. He was late because he had been to get the horse shod. hen supper was served Silas exclaimed, “ I bis apple sauce is especially good and sure, Nancy, you look just like the Nancy Cole I used to take sleigh riding!” Nancy smiled—a Nancy Cole smile— and replied, “It’s just because I put an extra amount of spice in the apple sauce—that’s all.” “WHEN THE MOON SHINES DOWN” Gertrude Leonard. ’31 “Jean, do tell us what’s up! We’re just dying to know. We got your telegrams last night and came to you as fast as ever we could.” 11 is twilight, and Betty Harper, Jean’s dearest chum, has just arrived at the Everest home in the Green Mountains. With her are June, her sister, and her chum, Helen Morgan. Jean’s telegram had read:—“Exciting adventure stop come right away and plan to stay two weeks.” It is no wonder that the girls are all excited. “Well, girls.” said Jean, “I will start at the beginning and tell you all. You know, of course, that dear Aunt Jane adores detective stories and that I also love them. Here is a letter I received yesterday. ‘Dear Jean: Knowing that you love mysteries as well as I do, 1 have hidden that pearl necklace which you have always liked somewhere in my home. I’m going to be away for two weeks and so can give you an opportunity for a little house party, combined with a chance to exercise your wits. Fill the house with some of your friends and hunt for the

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4 VERGENNES HIGH SCHOOL ADVENTURES IN A ROCKING CHAIR A. hook beside a fire bright, When all outside is drear and cold. Is my idea of delight. For I am not so very bold. I’d rather sit in comfort there Than wander out and brave the night, For I can wander anywhere In books, without a sign of might. Adventures in the mountains high. Or fights upon the deepest sea. Perhaps a treasure hunt nearby, Are all available to me. The sandy desert have I crossed, Ambushing caravans at night, And on the sea. when waves have tossed. I’ve been the bravest man in sight. And love! Why I have loads of that; Intrigue! I have it by the ton; Why I am oft’ the diplomat That saves his country by a pun. A murderer loose about our square, Which leaves all other men aghast, Bids me out on his trail to fare. To run him to the ground at last. So once again I stir the fire And offer you an equal share Of refuge from all worldly ire Adventures in a rocking chair. Roger Wendell. ’31 APPLE SAUCE WITH SPICE Ruth Yattaw, ’33 Nancy sat at her south-room window, gazing out at the remains of her summer garden. She was a small wisp of a snowy—haired woman, who had lived all her sixty-one years in a village in northern Vermont. After her husband had started for his work with the lumberjacks, she had brought in a basket of green apples for apple sauce. For some reason—perhaps because the outdoors seemed to say “Come Out to her—she did not feel in the mood for sauce making. Nevertheless Nancy kept at her task until a large steaming bowl of apple sauce had been placed on the shelf in her sunny kitchen. She turned with a mental tug to her knitting, but somehow she did not feel in a knitting mood either. Her eyes wandered out over the cleared field again when suddenly she said, half aloud. “I don’t believe I put a speck of spice in that apple sauce!’’ and to be sure she went to taste it. Surely enough! She had forgotten the spice. “ I do declare! If that isn’t just like my life!” Nancy sighed. “I’ve had plenty of applesauce but I’ve never had any spice sprinkled in. and I guess I never will have—but what nonsense!” Hardly had she turned from the sauce when she heard a strange sound and, graceful as a gull, an aeroplane landed in the cleared field beside her little farmhouse. Her heart jumped, for never had an aeroplane been forced to land in her field before. Had she been a modern, she would have reached for her powder-puff, but she only smoothed her apron and hospitably opened her door. There stood the birdman! He gallantly bowed, and holding up an empty canteen said. “Good morning. May I fill my canteen?” “Indeed, you may. Come right in and sit down. I’ll go and draw you a pailful of cold water from my well.” well.” “May I help you?” the stranger asked.

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0 VFRGENNFS HIGH SCHOOL necklace. In this rhyme is the solution of the mystery. When the 1110011 shines clown from its lofty perch You will not frown, but will end your search. Hannah, the cook, will remain at the house and see that you have plenty to eat. This is all, dear, and I wish you luck. If you don’t find the necklace in two weeks, then you aren't the girl 1 think you are. ‘Lovingly, Aunt Jane’ Isn’t it exciting girls? We will go immediately and begin our search tonight. So the girls go to the old house and begin their search for the “hidden treasure.” They look only at night because didn’t the rhyme say that they would solve the mystery when the moon was shining? They examine the furniture for hidden compartments. They search in every room for some hidden spring in the walls, but to no avail. The second week is drawing to a close, and the girls have discovered only that they aren’t very good detectives. On the last night of the two weeks Jean exclaims: “Girls. I’m afraid that we will have to give up. although I do want that necklace so! Let’s go to a movie. It won’t last long and maybe we will be able to think better after we have given our poor minds some recreation. Hannah will be gone, but Fido can stay in and guard the house. So the girls go to the movies and have a glorious time. On the way home Betty says, “Girls, it may sound queer to you. but I have a premonition that something is going to happen 0-night.” When the girls reach the house and Jean turns on the lights there is a great clamor. “Horrors!” “What has happened?” “Just look at this room!” And the girls are well justified in being properly shocked. The room certainly is in a turmoil. Jean is greatly disturbed and says to the girls, “Do you suppose that anyone knows that Aunt Jane left that necklace here? It looks as if someone has had a quarrel with Fido. Listen! He is up stairs and is harking at someone. Come on. girls, let’s go up. I know it is dangerous, but maybe I can fool the burglar with a brave front.” The girls go quietly up the stairs. They hesitate a moment, and then Jean, stove poker in hand, approaches the open door very slowly. At the first glimpse she stifles a scream and drops her poker. The other girls run to her and take in the scene. There on the rug is Aunt Jane’s precious wine jug, broken into two pieces. Fido is barking at a tiny, furry kitten, which is perched upon the shelf. Betty cries, “Oh Jean, look what Fluffy has done! I forgot that we were leaving the two together. Oh dear!” Jean tries to comfort her by saying, “Never mind, dear, I can have it cemented and it will be as good as new. Besides, you know, Fido was also to blame. I’ll pick up these pieces and have them fixed to-morrow. Why listen ! It rattles! Can it be the necklace? Yes, it is! Goody! Goody! Isn't it just gorgeous? Oh look! Here are four rings and a note. I will read it to you. ‘Congratulations girls! These rings are a recompense for your faithful work. I got the pearl one for Jean. The others you may divide among you, and if they don’t fit I’ll exchange them. Aunt Jane’ “Oh girls! Aren’t the necklace and rings perfect? Dear Aunt Jane! And that rhyme—do you remember how we teased Auntie about keeping “Moonshine” in that jug? Well, she surely has turned the tables.” ‘When the moonshine’s down from its lofty perch!’ “Auntie knew that, because of the tradition ‘hands off’, we wouldn’t be very apt to touch that jug. Oh girls! Weren’t we dumb not to have thought of it before?”