Wakefield High School - Oracle Yearbook (Wakefield, MA)

Page 2 text:

iXBXX0(1XB»3(iXIXXaKlSX0 SODA CANDY .V , I FACK IN AN OLn PLAt K ' A. Ml. KELSEY TIIIC DRUGGIST 15:i Main St., Wakefield Square AGENCY — LICCETTS, PAGE AND SHAW AND BELLE MEAD CHOCOLATES •s STATIONERY KODAK SUPPLIES ]C«XC8X;XIX0»XaCB0SOX Harvard Knitting Mill WINSHIP, BOIT CO. WAKEFIELD, MASS. Makers of Ladies ' and Misses ' Fine Ribbed Underwear : :

Page 1 text:

D TBIE CHISTHA

Page 3 text:

PUBLISHED BY THE STUDENTS OF THE WAKEFIELD HIGH SCHOOL : : Vol. 1 WAKEFIELD, MASS., DECEMBER, 1912 No. 1 When The Clock Struck Twelve BY EMILY PRESTON 3T was midnight, that still, mysterious hour when one day, weary with its toil, makes way for another. Intense silence, utter darkness, had fallen upon the little farm-house on the hill. Even the clock, as if aware of some impending evil, had hushed its incessant ticking and fairly quivered with anxiety and suspense. Outside, the wind moaned and sighed, then, finding no response to its wail, howled furiously around the house in an ugly temper. Still all was quiet within, save for an occasional piece of soot, which the malicious wind hurled down the chimney, and which fell upon the hearth with a little cry of remonstrance. Suddenly there was a creak from the direction of the hall ! At once the clock in the living-room stiffened, but all efforts to be calm and cool were in vain, for into the room glided a tall, white figure too startling, too ghost-like, to be viewed without terror. Its face was very pale, but its eyes glitter ed with a wild light. It was clothed from head to foot in a loose, white garment perfectly in keeping with its silent, mysterious motions. It swayed to and fro, waving its long, thin arms, as if to cast a spell over the room with its unhappy inmates. Faster and faster, wilder and yet more unearthly, grew the movements of this strange being, until the clock was fairly dizzy from watching it whirl round and round the room. Oh ! What was that ? A hollow laugh exceed- ingly suggestive of the gloating triumph of one about to torture its victim ! Cold shivers ran down the clock ' s spine, but soon discomforts were for- gotten in the fascination of the scene that followed. With evil satisfaction the strange visitor created a confusion unparalled in the history of the house- hold. The rugs on the floor were rolled up and placed on end in the corners of the room, while the dainty musiin curtains at the windows were roughly seized and spread upon the floor. All the leaves and blossoms from the plants in the room were stripped off and thrown into the old-fashioned iron kettle which hung in the fire-place. A fire of marvelous construction was carefully laid underneath the kettle. At the very bottom was placed the beauti- ful lace shawl which had by chance been left over the back of grandmother ' s chair. Next was thrown on promiscuously photographs, newspapers and letters. An open umbrella was thrust, point down- ward, into the pile, and in this convenient recept- acle was built a tower of books, but for some rea- son, as mysterious as the whole proceeding, the destruction of this valuable collection was delayed. Chairs were over-turned and formed into little pens where was placed all the bric-a-brac collected from the mantel and table. The centre table itself was set with its top against the floor, and the cushions were piled between the legs. The doors of the cabi- net were flung wide open, and tea-cups removed only to be hung helplessly on the upturned legs of the table. During this activity there was intense silence, but the air was charged with excitement to such a degree that the clock felt its head almost ready to burst with repressed emotion. Why did this fiend deliberately continue his wickedness when the white moon came from her hiding-place behind the clouds, with disapproval plainly written on her face ? Why such a frenzy for destruction ? What need — Suddenly the thoughts of the clock were checked, a chilling numbness crept over it, for as if divining opposi- 26587