Wakefield High School - Oracle Yearbook (Wakefield, MA)

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The next day, when I awoke, I expected to hear the two Httle sparrows ' morning greeting. They seemed to be missing, but on looking out of the window I saw that I was misfaken, for there they were, not singing this time, but each had a twig in his bill, and I could see they had chosen the lilac tree in which to build their nest. Every day the little sparrows were busy, bringing straw, moss, mud, wool, and feathers, and soon their little home was built and ready to live in. Then came the gray speckled eggs on which the mother bird sat, while her mate sang, as he had done before, his morning song. Then, after a long wait of probably three weeks, came the little baby sparrows, who were not long in fattening and growing on the rich food which the mother and father birds provided. Then, when their family was reared and had flown to seek a home of their own, the mother and father sparrow did not forget to sit on the branch in the same old tree and sing, what might have been, a prayer to the Heavenly Father, the maker and doer of all things. REUBEN POTTLE, ' 23. A NEW ENGLAND STREAM There is no feature in New England scenery more beautiful than the streamlet which makes every hillside and valley bright with its sunny sparkle and liquid murmur. Trace it from its source, where it comes bubbling from the very bowels of the earth be- tween two large boulders, which have sheltered it for countless ages, to the place where it widens to meet the onrush of a mighty river. In summer it winds its way from rocky hillside to green and grassy meadow lands and from the open country to the shelter of the majestic pines of the forest. Its banks are lined with beautif ul flowers, shrubs, trees, and bright colored butterflies and birds flit in and out among the thick and luxuriant foliage. In its bosom the trout, perch, and pickerel flash in and out among the rocks and weeds in search of the bright colored flies that come to rest on its surface. In winter it is quite a different scene. The birds and flowers have disappeared. The trees have lost their luxuriant foliage, instead there are bare and snow covered branches. The little brook is covered with a coating of ice and snow, but it bubbles bravely on, await- ing the sunshine and warmth of spring to remove its icy covering. GEORGE W. RUSSELL, ' 21. INTELLIGENT LISTENERS ' One of the greatest needs of the musical world today, is intelligent listeners. It is sad, but the truth, that the majority of people who attend the great concerts of today, are bored, yes truly bored. There are countless reasons why one goes to a concert, even though he does not love music. But, you wonder why one who loves music would be bored bj ' it. The greatest reason is, that they are not intelligent listeners. In order to become intelligent listeners there are two things we must have; first, a knowledge of the lives of the greatest com- posers; second, not only the history of the times in which these composers lived, but all the his- tory, since the great development of music. For not only has the history of their own ages, but also the history of past ages affected the woiks of compo.sers. Let us consider one of our greatest composers, Chopin. Knowing the conditions under which he lived, and the age in which he lived, Hubbard says of Chopin: — The delicate nuances of Chopin ' s music have never been equalled by another composer; every note is cryptic, every sound, a symbol. And yet it is dance music, too, but still it tells its story of baffled hope and stifled desires — the tragedy of Poland in sweet sounds. Almost everyone is acquainted with the facts in the life of Marie Antoinette. Madame Edith Noyes-Greene, an American com- poser of the present day, always felt a pang of pity, when she thought of the sad plight of that ill-fated queen. This feeling caused her to write a piece for the piano, violin, cello, and harp, called Versailles. This portrays Marie Antoinette playing the harp, and sing- ing in the garden at Versailles. If one would get the most out of the best music, he should know the conditions under which it was written; then one can live the joys and pains of the composer, by hearing that music well interpreted. So, music lovers of today, let us be intelligent listeners. GRETA M. PALMER, ' 22. Here ' s to the Freshmen, good little things, Here ' s to the Sophomores, wise as kings, ??? Here ' s to the Juniors, nothing extra on books. Here ' s to the Seniors, who pass on their looks. ??? ARLENE GARDNER, ' 22. 11

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gregatod around tht- highly decorated Pilgrim monument on the Town Hill. Here, Dr. Wm. De Beaufort, the Netherlands ' Acting Minister, Lieut. Gov. Cox, and several others spoke appropriately. Just at dusk official flat-boats in the harbor began sending up magnificent fire-works, which continued until ten o ' clock. That evening the narrow streets of quaint Provincetown were crowded with a throng of laughing sailors and sight-seers. The stores were all ablaze with light and filled with pur- chasers. A grand Officers ' Ball was held in the town hall. At sunrise, the early fishermen saw the great ships steam away, thus ending the Province- town celebration of the landing of our heroic forefathers. MARY COGAN, ' 24. HER LOVE She most certainly was in love. Although at the time I had not had much experience with this complex subject, I could recognize the symptoms easily. At dinner she refused a second helping of pie, and I knew something was wrong. All the afternoon she acted queerly, and did not say a word. She sat in a large chair, and stared fixedly ahead of her. Her usually happy grin was replaced by a miserable and gloomy scowl, which gave her a woe-begone appearance. Suddenly she sprang to the window, and stared out with a strange expression on her face. Then she flew to the door and opened it, and in a second was on the walk, gazing down the street. Yes, undoubtedly that was he, walking by the side of her father. Then she ran to meet them, and cried to her father, with tears in her eyes, Oh, father, you must not let them take him away. Father, you know I love him, so run down and get the hcense. We must not be parted now. Obediently the father passed down the street, while the girl walked into the house, trying to keep back the tears of joy, for had he not been saved from his enemies? Soon the father returned, bringing the license. As he handed it to the girl, he received his thanks in the form of an avalanche of kisses which she showered on him. Then he placed in her hand a round object which most of us would recognize, and she clasped it round the neck of her loved one. At last, she murmured happily, Fido is safe. Now that we have the license the dog-catchers cannot take him from us. WILLIAM INGERTON, ' 22. AMERICA ' S FUTURE What does American Citizenship mean to the school boy of today? Does he realize the great responsibility which is soon to be his? Is he devoting all his time to his studies and good literature, or is he spending his time in revelry and perhaps dissipation? These are questions of the most vital importance. The school boy of today is the citizen of tomorrow and with him will soon rest the fate of the nation. Will liberty mean for him but the right to vote? Will the great heritage handed down to us from our Pilgrim forefathers be looked upon as a trifle, or will the future generation bear in mind those ideals for which our forefathers braved the dangers of storms at sea and of savages and wild beasts on land? We have but lately passed a crisis in the history of our country. The world is worn out with foreign and domestic str-ifc, and now looks to the younger generation to rally to its support. We have emerged from a war of unparalleled magnitude. Many of America ' s youths now lie buried amid the poppies in Flanders ' fields. The deeds of these great heroes should stimulate us to increased devotion to this wonderful country of ours and to the service of mankind. MOSES M. FRANKEL, ' 21. THE TWO LITTLE SPARROWS One bright summer ' s morning when I opened my eyes and beheld the bright sunbeams stream- ing across my room, I was pleased to see so many beautiful birds, flying to and fro in the tall lilac trees in front of my window. Two sparrows especially, seemed to enjoy the beauti- ful May morning and sang with all their hearts, while the other birds, although they were never so numerous in that part of the garden before, did not seem to appreciate the beautiful nature which surrounded everything. I noticed, as the sun gradually rose higher in the sky, that the birds slowly disappeared, but the two lively sparrows remained and seemed to be seeking for something. I watched them during the day, when I got the chance, and towards sunset they too disappeared. The next morning there were not so many birds as the morning before, but I recognized the song of the two little sparrows and I knew they were present. That day I saw them only a few times, but the next morning and the next, they sang in the same tree and I won- dered why they took a liking to that old lilac tree. Their reason was a good one. 10

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TOO LATE! This incident, which I am about to relate, occurred at the outbreak of the Spanish-Ameri- can War, while the Thirty-Second Michigan and Sixty-Ninth New York Infantries were awaiting transportation to Cuba. They were encamped near Tampa, Florida. My father was with the Michigan Regiment. It was one of those unbearably hot days» which my father and all the northern men dread- ed. Mists rose from the rain-sodden ground as a blazing Florida sun beat down on the miserable camps. The soldiers, who had just finished a noon meal of doubtful, not to say antique, beef, lay in hammocks slung between trees, the grounds being covered with water and altogether too wet for army cots. Some one suggested swimming. It was well known that sharks were numerous just off shore, and that several men had had narrow escapes, but the soldiers were willing to try anything as a relief from the exceptional heat, and soon twenty or thirty men, my father among them, were ready. Everything went well for a time; the men delighted in the change from the oppressive heat on land to the cool water of the bay. Suddenly a cry was heard from watchers on the beach. The swimmers scattered quickly to the beach, most of them having been half expectant of the warning. Two men, good swimmers, were quite a dis- tance out. They turned and swam with great speed, seeming to leap from swell to swell as they drew nearer, but too late. As they raced on, always drawing closer to the anxious watchers there was a loud cry, a splash, and a red swirl on the surface of the water. Both men were gone! It is needless to say that no soldier swam at that beach again. LAWRENCE MARTIN, ' 24. A TOAST A greeting from us — the cla.ss of today To those below and above us. To those who care and those who don ' t, But mostly to those who love us, A wish sincere for all su(H;ess, And joys a plenty be, A greeting, tluni, from all of us. From the class of twenty-three. RUTH B. MURKLAND, ' 23. THE SPECTATOR DISCUSSES THE ATTI- TUDE OF THE MODERN YOUNG PEOPLE TOWARDS THEIR ELDERS A few months ago I received a letter from a friend of mine — by name, Jane Craig — in- viting me to spend a week at her home. Hav- ing had a very pleasant visit with her previously, I accepted the invitation. During my visit, I noticed particularly the respect which Jane showed, not only to her parents, but also to all older people with whom she came in contact. I found a marked contrast between Jane and Alice, a girl whom I met during my visit. She was a frivolous, irresponsible girl, caring not what people thought of her as long as she had a good time. She did not heed the advice of her parents, thinking them far too old fashioned and unsophisticated for the modern times. Respect and thoughtfulness towards older people should be inculcated in a child when young, for disrespect depreciates one ' s character and often tends to selfishness and ill-temper, growing, sometimes, into an almost incurable habit. While walking down town one morning with Jane, she told me of a woman who had been an invalid all her fife. It seems that my friend called upon this woman every day, which kindness, undoubtedly brought a great deal of pleasure into the invalid ' s dreary and uneventful life. A great many people, and especially young people, think only of themselves, forgetting that one of the greatest things in life is to bring happiness to someone else. Mrs. Craig spends the greater part of her time with Jane, and is interested in all she does, giving her advice, and having frequent heart to heart talks with her. Jane, likewise, has the utmost respect and love for her mother, and I have never known her to jiractice any form of deceit upon her. The attitude of a great many girls towards their mothers is very deplorable. They have not the confidence in them that they should. This attitude not only breeds deceit in the girls them.selves, but often influences their friends in .the same direct ion. However, I do not believe there would be so much of this disrespect and deceit if girls and boys could be shown how they appear to otlier people when they are disrespectful and deceitful to their elders. O wad some pow ' r the giftie gie us To see oursels as ithers see us. It wad frae monie a blunder free us And foolish notion; MARY GOODALE, ' 23. 12