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

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VERGENNES HIGH SCHOOL ALL ON AN EERIE NIGHT Eleanor Hawley, ’39 The smell of ripe apples was in the air and overhead a huge jack-o-lantern-moon grinned down upon this eerie night. A group of boys was slowly creeping toward the orchard; they found the tree, stuffed theij-pockets full and made a clear getaway. A few seconds later the air was shattered by a loud series of what sounded like gunshots or perhaps even a “tommy” gun. The back door of an old rickety house was opening inch by inch. The face of an aged man became visible, marked by his white hair and whiskers. He held his hand behind his ear, apparently trying very hard to find out where the noises came from. The old man yelled as if in fright, “Whoever is making that noise come here!” Five of the boys came, but the other two scampered off, afraid for their lives. As the boys were approaching, the elderly man said, “My name is James Greene. Don’t be afraid. I just wanted to talk to you.” Jack, a bit braver than the rest said, “Hello, Mr. Greene. We didn’t know anyone lived here, and we didn’t mean to do you any harm.” Mr. Greene said, “Call -me Uncle Jim, and come in the house. That noise I heard, what was it all about anyway?” Jack replied anxiously, “We PAGE SIX

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BLUE AND WHITE friends, he again seated himself to watch the highway below. A quar ter of a mile or so down the road from the farmhouse he had left, he could just make out the forms of children in the yard. They were playing in the leaves. He could hear, now and then, the loudest of their shouts, as they tumbled over each other through their big piles of leaves. Then he gazed again at the mountains on the horizon, veiled by a purple haze, as though in tenderness to hide their leaf-stripped trees. The sun was getting low, and already the western sky was tak- GRANDMA vs. ing on the first rose hue of sunset. Grandpa heard the sound of a car, saw it drive into the yard, and started up with his cane. “Co Boss!” he called, as he started across the pasture. As he drove the cows down the lane, the sun had become a great red ball in the west, surrounded with the richest, deepest crimsons above the purple mist. And as he followed along behind the Jersey that was always last. Grandpa started to hum contentedly an old tune that he used to sing when he was a boy. GRANDMA’S Eleanor Teddy Kelly forced a smile to his usually sunny countenance when he went out to meet his grandmother. “Gee, grandma,” he exclaimed when at last the car stopped in front of the house, “how nice it is to see you!” When what he really was thinking was “Of course she would have to come, and the night before Hallowe’en at that!” For naturally Teddy knew what every boy knows that when his grandmother comes on the night before Hallowe’en, that means no fun tomorrow night. Grandmas are always sure that boys are in bed early on Hallowe’en night. At least that’s what Tommy Kent said his grandmother did and it goes without saying that grandmothers are all alike. “Look, Teddy,” said his grandmother, holding out a brown paper bag which made him completely forget his unpleasant Humiston, ’42 thoughts, “see what I brought you!” His eyes lit up with interest as he reached for the bag his grandmother handed him. “Thank you. ma’m,” he mumbled meekly, as he opened the bag to examine its contents. “O Grandma!” shouted Teddy, rushing up to throw his arms around her neck and give her a great big hug. “Golly, grandma, you’re a peach!” “Mercy! Mercy!” exclaimed Teddy’s mother, “what have you brought him now, grandma, that you get such a show of affection?” “Brought me!” shouted Teddy, “say you wait and see!” as he drew from the bag faces, hats, clappers, snakes, bugs, and everything that would make a boy’s Hallowe’en complete. Teddy had a swell Hallowe'en party with the things his grandmother had given him. For after all, grandmothers aren’t all alike, you know! PAGE FIVE

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BLUE AND WHITE picked up some apples, and with our twenty-two rifles we were trying to see who could shoot the most apples off the fence.” Uncle Jim, still not quite understanding, asked, “Why make all that noise tonight?” Tommy spoke up in amaze-ment, “Why, don’t you know? Tonight is Hallowe’en!” Uncle Jim, at last realizing his blankness of mind, said, “Sit down boys; let me tell you what we used to do on Hallowe’en night when I was a boy.” A CLASSROOM MONOLOGUE Lillian Husk, ’40 “Oh gir-r-ls have you seen the latest? Well just look yonder but don’t look too long. She’s hard on the eyes. But isn’t she just too, too, ducky! Such eyes, such hair, such a figure and what a voice. Isn’t she blank looking? Jean told me that the doctor made her take quarts of iodine to keep the sun from shining through her upper deck, y’know. Honestly, every time she says a word I almost die!” “Oh y’know the other day when the prof called on her, she got up and started to the front of the room, but that big clod—I don’t know what his name is, tripped her up. My deah’s, it was sttrik-ing. Well, when she finally did get to the front, she just stood there with a silly grin on her face —waiting for the applause to die down sans doute. Then the big moment came—” Girls! Quiet down!” from the teacher behind them. AUTUMN MAGIC There is magic in the autumn That weaves glamour all around, And fallen leaves of gayest colors Gently strew the barren ground. There is magic in the cornfield And the sighing of the trees, All the sprites and witches dancing To the rustle of the leaves. With an ethereal brilliance shining From a starlight studded sky, There is magic in the shadows After summer bids goodbye. —Cecile Lajoie,, ’40 ONE HALLOWE’EN NIGHT Julia Field, ’42 ’Twas one Hallowe’en night; I really had to scream To see a witch upon a broom; I thought it was a dream. I got very excited, But what frightened me the most Was when I saw in the middle of the road A tall and frightful ghost. I had planned to scare some people that night, But got so frightened instead— I walked right home with all my might And decided to go to bed. PAGE SEVEN