Westbrook High School - Blue and White Yearbook (Westbrook, ME)

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'xi ff to such a rain as this. The small streams would almost be rivers themselves. But here and there wottld be the dim flickering of a light in some lonely farmhouse. For scattered over the whole region were farmers, as each time the river went on a rampage the soil was left more fertile than be fi irc. Ile shivered again as he turned from the window to ptit another log on the tire. That pain in his heart seemed much sharper as he bent, lle shook himself as if to shake away the gloom and dread, dread of a eall. when he was like this. l haven't time to be sick. he mused. My people need me. To be sure. he told himself. there are other doctors, but they're jtist boys fresh from medical school. lYhy, l've been here since this cottntry was tirst settled. nearly sixty years ago. I know these people, They need me Y lior he truly was the peoples doctor and he lired, not for himself. but for his people. lle had been kept busy all winter and all summer- through the wintry blizzarcls-through the spring floods to the distant farmhouses, always battling to save a life. llis hands and feet had frozen last winter bitt his heart had still glowed warm within him. lint now a new winter was ahead and barely before it had begun he was sick! .X bedraggled man on a bedraggled horse stopped at Dr. Stone's house: a few minutes later a step was heard on the porch and the man pottnded on the door. lt's here! sighed llr. Stone. lle had known ii would come. 1 lle let the tuan in himself. for he lived alonel he was without wife or children. lle opened the door and saw one of the farmers from beyond the river standing there dripping with mud and rain. I Joseph l.ane? asked the doctor. holding the lautern. which he had brought to the door with him, up close and peering into the man's face Yes, answered l.ane. half apologetically. lYho is it, joe? asked the doctor. l.ouisa. she's got pneumonia bad. Doe, and l'm scared. Then noticing the pallor and the pained expression on the cloctor's face, he added. Yon're sick, too, ain't you, Doc? XYeIl. admitted llr. Stone, l'm not so very energetic. There was a moment's silence and then l.ane continued, You've got to come. Doc. the other doctor, Dr. llutchins. can't. Says he's got a sprained ankle. lDon't see why he cau't come just the same, though. You've come ottt when you've been worse than that. lle paused a miutite. 1 guess he's scared, lloc Y lt's an awful favor to ask you. lloc, you being sick like you are. he added. The doctor thought to himself but he did not speak aloud. lt's more than a favor. no doubt it will probably mean my death VA' lle was weak and had a pain around his heart. lle knew all the symptoms but he hadn't time to think of himself. These thoughts ran through his mind, but pres- ently he stopped thinking and said. l'll go, Joe! Thanks. Doc. llow you goin'? ..I , I V .- n nu nuggj. 'lie careful, Doc, the river's high tonight and the old bridge may go out, That old iron bridge has seen better days. l've seen it high before, but thanks jttst the same. Neither of the men said a word, but both were thinking of the same thing, of Louisa whom Dr. Stone had pulled through so many previous ills nesses. With a few words of encouragement. Aloe went ottt into the rain again and the doctor pre- pared to put on his coat and to hitch up his hor-te. lu spite of his coat and the blankets which he hatl brought along. he was wet before he was barely ottt of his yard. lt was slow going through the mtid and rain and the doctor felt that his tem- perattire must be rising and he knew that the pain arotind his heart was sharper. Dr. Stone had been traveling for more than an hour and now he eould hear the roaring and rushing of lllaek River. lt was high just as -loe l,ane had said. lle stopped and got ottt. taking the lantern with llllll. lle wanted to see the condition of the nar- row bridge himself. lle walked out a few yards on the bridge, feeling the planks and rails as be

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9 Mrs. jenkins, glancing away from the llound- ering youth, caught sight of her daughters expres- sive face and became aware of the situation, Not at all an unkindly person at heart, she smiled slowly and said, Not at all, young man, Laura and I should be very glad to have you for our guest until tomorrow night-but under your own name, if you please. .Xn expression of unbelieving relief passed over Stuart's face to be exchanged for one of beaming satisfaction as he, too, caught I.aura's smiling glance. C S '38 . ., . NEWSPAPERS At our house newspapers cause a small riot. Every one from the baby to my grandfather takes part in this riot to see who will get the paper first. ln the morning it is usually the early bird who gets the paper first and reads his choice bits before the others come down and stand around ready to jump on it the moment he lays it down. When the early bird, very seldom I, finally does put the paper aside, it is usually separated sheet by sheet until everyone has his favorite sheet. The favorite reading position of us kids is to have the paper spread out on the floor, while we get down on our knees and elbows over the paper and in this position read the news. Dad would rather read the paper after he has eaten his break- fast. This works out fine because Grandpop reads the daily news with the paper propped up against the milk bottle. He reads between bites or eats between stories. While this is going on, Mother, being very busy, does not get a chance to see very much of the paper, but later in the TIIOTII- ing, while picking up the scattered sheets, she glances over the news and usually knows more about the world than we, who got it first. How she does it nobody knows-a woman's sense of gossip, I guess. The night paper is a different story as Dad, wise old soul, has the paper come to the office, where, in his spare moments, he scans the head- lines. VVhen he comes home, though, the first words he hears when he opens the door are. Can I have the paper? or Gimme the paper, please, and the mad scramble for the Funnies, the sport pages, the front page and the household page is on again. This goes on day after day, week after week, and year after year, until one would think that the newspaper was the most important thing in the world, For one day the newspaper is a very much-wanted piece of paper, but after a few days of lying in a wastepaper basket, nobody fights over it, especially when mother says, Who will burn the paper for me P MY TONGUE Sometimes when something I have said Seems mean instead of kind and sweet, That little tongue that's always sad Like the tongue that's upon my feet, That quiet tongueiupon my shoe, I always know what it will do. Sometimes I think that I desire, When I am extra dull, you know. My tongue to learn from tongues of fire That Hash from dull brown logs below, That bright, quick tongue of flame it's true, I scarcely know what it will do. Of course my tongue is wonderful, just think how it can talk and taste, A shoe tongue really is too dull, A flame tongue acts in such hot haste My tongue can be between the two, My mind must tell it what to do. M. L., '37, THE END OF THE STREAM lt was raining: in fact, the rain had been turbu- lently falling all day. And now it was the early evening of this November day and the world out- side the doctor's windows was bleak and the thick black mud clung to every available object. Dr. Stone looked out of his windows onto the rain-swept, wind-lashed world and drew his smok- ing jacket closer about him as he prayed that he would not be called out, especially beyond the river. He shivered when he thought of that part of the village beyond the river, Black River. XVater would be pulling and sucking at its banks with

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11 went along. It seemed safe enough, although the water was rushing over the planks. The doctor went hack after his horse. I'll lead him across, he thought to himself, and started off with the horse and buggy following. Presently he stopped, XYhere was the other end of that bridge ? Sud- denly he realized it was gone! VVashed away! llow was he going to get across? There was only a small, narrow channel left to the shore. Ile would have to cross, hut it would be hard with a buggy. Ile unhitched the horse and took his leather bag from the buggy. As he attempted to mount the horse a sharp pain shot across his heart. weakening him for a short second. I'm worn out, I guess, he mumbled, but I'm going through ! The horse wallowed through the water. The doctor could feel the water rushing about his feet -his knees-now it was up to his waist. The horse staggered. then stumbled to his knees. The doctor found himself clinging to the roots of an old tree, the water rushing about his legs, but still he clung on. He tried to pull himself up the bank. but the pain in his heart held him back. lt stabbed, oh. so sharply! l'resently he managed to get his hand into his pocket and get out a tablet. Ile took it and lay back. I must get through, he mused. Louisa is sick and she needs me ! Vtith new courage he stumbled up the bank. llis misty eyes perceived a bulky form in the dis- tance. Could it be? Yes. it was! It was his horse. who had miraculously escaped the raging torrents. Thank heavens, he wouldn't have to walk the rest of the way. He doubted if he could have done it if he had had to. lle could see the lights from a farmhouse gleaming through the trees. and he tried to mount again. It was impossible. he was so worn out. Somehow, half walking and half dragging by hanging to the horse's mane. he made it. Ile opened the door without knocking walked into the small, shabby living room. The door into the bedroom, just off the living room, and was open, and Dr. Stone could see Louisa lying on the bed gasping for breath. Going into the bed- room. he saw a young man with dark circles under his eyes bending over I.ouisag he stumbled strangely toward Dr. Stone. Hello, Doctor. he greeted, you got here! She'll pull through ? asked Dr. Stone. anx- iously. I think so, the young man answered. They brought I.ouisa through and not until then did it dawn on Dr. Stone that it was Dr. Hutchins, who was supposed to be back in the village with a sprained ankle. who had helped him. How did you get here, Hutchins ? he asked, completely overwhelmed with surprise. On a horse, couldnlt make it with my car. I told joe I couldn't make it at all, but I was so' afraid you couldn't get here that I had to coina-. Ile started to speak again but noticed Ur. Stone's face. Ile reached out and caught Dr. Stone or he would have fallen. My heart. Hutchins. Stone muttered. l3on't let me die. I've got to help my people. They need me! Keep me going! Then he lay hack. It seemed cool and sweet and peaceful now. He seemed to be sailing down the stream in a beautiful boat. Suddenly. he sat up straight on the couch. You're a doctor, Hutchins! he said fervently. A true doctor. You'll care for them. Then falling back, he gave one deep breath and went on with the stream. E. s., Was, DEATH Pale and indistinct, the drooping sails Settle themselves in listlessness against the sky, The phantom ship is hopelessly entrapped In hlaekest night, and there is no escape Unless some wayward wind should Swoop its dreadful force against the night .-Xnd blow away its folds. J. K.. 'It MEDICINE You must have that prescription filled as quickly as possible, Mrs. Iohnsonf' said the doctor as he left. I will call again tomorrow. She will be a sick little girl for a few days, but it is nothing serious. Good day,