Western High School - Concept Yearbook (Auburn, MI)

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pepper box of'a VVidow Perkins? You didn't say that, now did you, Hull Parsons? and the widow's eyes and voice snapped fire all at once. The caller turned several different shades of red as he realized that he had struck the biggest snag he'd ever struck in any courting he had done, past or present. He laughed violently for a second or two, ran his hand through his hair, pulled his necktie, and tried to hang his hat on both knees at once, and finally lowering his voice to a confidential tone, he said: Now, Widdy, that's the Woman's way 0' puttin' it, you see. They've been jealous o' you all long, fur they knew where my mind wassot. I wouldn't married one o' them women for nothin, added the widower, with another hitch towards the ironing board. Huh! responded the widow, losing some of her anger. Spose all them women hadn't refused you, Hull Parsons, what then? They didn't refuse me, widdy, returned the widower trying to look sheepish, and dropping his voice an octave lower. Spose I hadn't oughter tell on 'em, but-er-can you keep a secret, widdy? Well, I ain't like the woman who can't, replied the widow shortly. Well, then I was the one who did the refusing-the hull gang went fer me right heavy, guess 'cause 'twas leap year, or thay was tryin' on me some o' their new women's ways, or somethin' like that. But my mind was so sot all along, ye see, widdy? And the Widow Perkins invited the Widower Parsons to stay to dinner because she thought she saw, AMMI KING. .3 .99 al May Day INTER is overg Nature has awakened and shines forth in fresh green, everywhere sounds the song of gay birds, paths and roads are again pass- able: May has come. No time is greeted so joyously as is May by the Germans who keep in very close touch with nature. They give expression to their joy in various amuse- ments, usages, and customs, which we find very much alike in all districts of Germany, and which, even today, live on and stir the hearts of the people as they stirred them in the early Middle Ages. One does not always find them occurring on the first of May. They have been connected, under the influence of the church, with a church feast-Whitsunday, which has, consequently, in many parts of the country, come to be a popular festival in the open air, the ecclesiastical nature of which is forgotten altogether. The most common of the May day customs is the bringing in and setting up of the May trees, a cus- tom which we find everywhere in the thirteenth century. On the first of May, or on Whitsunday, the members of a parish, the citizens of a city, or the mem- bers of a guild march into the woods to find May. Here they pull up young trees, mostly birchor hemlock, carry them home and plant them in front of the house or the stable. Frequently the May trees are carried from house to house with the singing of songs. The carriers, the so-called servants of May or Whitsuntide, ask for gifts such as sausage, bacon, eggs and the like in the different homes. In many parts of the country the young fellows set up the trees for the maidens. The devotion of the nation to the sense of honor and right comes to view here: a maiden who shows lickleness in love, or has been unchaste, or quarrelsome has a straw man or a dry tree set up before her door. This punishment for misconduct which is 'connected with the May tree, is found only among the Germans while the setting up of the May tree can also be found among the Latins and West Slavic people. Besides these May trees which are to this day brought by the traders to the city, and which are set up in front of the houses on Whitsunday eve, there

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1-1 -Hw- Courting Under Difficulties HERE happened to live in Jamestown, a woman known to all the town folk as Widow Perkins. She was middle aged and had a young son. She was tall and angular and very active. She had a long, narrowtface, and a longer nose. Her head was always held high and she had a tongue that would better have been the vibrating key of an organ, than the speaking part of a woman. To all who were opposed to her or to those whom she' unreasonably disliked she gave peppery speeches with unceasing energy. There lived in the same village a widower. He was known as a meek and quiet man who always attended to his own business. He had a small farm, and was generally supposed to have money. He had been in the neighborhood quite a while, in fact, since before the death of his wife. His desire for a second wife was well known to everybody in the village, and Whenever he was present at the village store, he was greeted by the question: Well, Parsons when's the marriage coming off? Heard you're going to marry Widdy Per- kins. Parsons took it all in good humor as most men do. However, Widower Parsons had decided that he must get married pretty quick or all the birds would have flown. So one day he decided to visit Widow Perkins, and putting on his broadcloth and new boots and his white shirt with the big red tie as a set off, he took his plug hat and started on his way. When Widow Perkins saw Widower Parsons coming down the road she looked as mad as a hornet and as fierce as a panther and stepped to the back door. William Henry, she called to the lank youth chopping Wood, You've worked hard enough for one day, come in and rest. William Henry was so dumbfounded that he dropped his axe. Guess that's the first time you ever thought I needed a rest since I was born. I'll keep right on choppin' wood till you git through acceptin' old Hall, he re- plied, whereat the widow slammed the door and looked twice as mad and twice as fierce as before. Mornin', Widdy, remarked the widower, stalking into the room, taking a chair without an invitation, and hanging his hat on his knee. Cold day, he added cheerfully. The widow nodded shortly, at the same time inwardly prophesizing a still colder day for him before he struck the weather again. Been buying a new cow, resumed the caller, impressively. 'tHave, eh? returned the widow with a jerk bringing out the ironing boa1'd and slamming it on the tablep He wished the widow would glance at him and see how affectionate he looked. They'll be pork enough for all next winter and spring. Will, eh? questioned the widow, with a bang of her i1'on that nearly rocked the table. Have some hay and grain that's the best in the neighborhood, said the widower, and I can get the best price ever sot by this village here. Can, eh? responded the widow and at the same time turned around so quickly that she stepped on the tail of the cat which started off with a howl. An' I'm doin' lot o' odd things 'round the house and Widdy you see-e that is you know-I was goin' to say if you'll agree, -here the widower lost track of his words, and in his desperation hung his hat on the other knee and hitched a triiie nearer the ironing board. No, Hull Parsons, I don't see a single mite, nor I don't know a particle, an' I ain't agreein' the least bit, snapped the widow, and worked away im- patiently ironing the creases out of the tablecloth. But say, Widdy, don't get riled so soon, again ventured the widower, I was just goin' to tell you that I've been proposing to Carpenter Brown to build a new- At this point the widow was looking at him in a way he wished she would not. - Is that all the proposin' you've did in the last live months, Hull Parsons? she demanded stormily. You ain't asked every old maid for miles around to marry you, Hull Parsons? And you didn't tell the last one you proposed to that if she didn't take you there would be only one more chance left+that old lun aj, . -S

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is also, in many places in Germany, the large May tree, the village May pole. Here we have a real German custom. It also is, as a rule, a birch or hemlock, only an especially large one is chosen for this purpose. By common consent of the whole parish, it is brought out of the woods and placed in the center of the village or in the market place of the city. The tree must be carefully guarded since the neighboring village seeks to carry it away. If they succeed in this, then it must be redeemed and then be brought back in solemn proces- sion. Almost always this tree is robbed of its branches, only it retains its top. ln these upper branches, ribbons, handkerchiefs, cakes, sausages, and other things are hung which the boys try to get down by climbing the tree. Around the Maytree a festal dance is also performed, in which no maiden of doubtful character is allowed to participate. Frequently this dance takes place under the village linden. In many districts of Germany, the May king plays a prominent part on Whitsunday. He is generally chosen by the Village youths or by the young men from out of their own circle, he is covered with fresh green, or dry foliage and is brought in solemn procession to the village. At his side stand the different servants of the king. Two of the most prominent young fellows in stately garb with white staffs lead the procession, music accompanies them. So they march into the village where they halt at the appointed place or before the village inn, During the procession, gifts have been everywhere collected for the king, which consist mostly of fruits, eggs, and mealp There are con- sumed in the evening by those present, for here, too, a dance and a banquet end the festivities. Besides the Mayking, the German people also have a Mayqueen. VVhile the customs which prevail in connection with the Mayking are somewhat coarse the delicate poetry of the German people is seen in the processions of the May queen. The maidens choose out of their midst the most beautiful one to be the queen, they adorn her with flowers and carry her through the streets of the village as they sing. Before every house they stop, the maidens form a circle around the queen, sing time-honored songs, and receive gifts. So the whole day passes with singing and music. In other localities, the Mayking and May- queen appear together, they are then called the bridal couple, and are con- ducted likewise in festive processions through the village. The Mayking who has been chosen by the young fellows, chooses his lviayqueen to whom he must devote himself for a whole year. Then in solemn assembly, the other marriage- able maidens are given away to honorable youths. Each one has to provide for his maiden the whole year, he has to take her to and bring her back from all fastivities. That is the cucstom everywhere in Thuringia, Hessen, West- phalia, and in the Rhine country. There is another custom according to which the maidens are united for a year with the boys who are the biggest bidders around the glowing May fire. ln the evening a dance takes place under a linden, the funds raised at the auction just mentioned are spent in drink. The maiden can refuse her purchaser during the first dance by means of a curtsy, but if she fastens a flower on his hat, she accepts him for the year. Here, too, much is made of the honor and purity of youths and maidens. The least stain on their honor excludes them from the festivities. This the German people even in their days of rejoicing never forget what they owe to their time honored chastity. fTranslated from German.l MARGARET MOLYNEAUX. 'U