Western Oregon University - Yearbook (Monmouth, OR)

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A EH. Mn: mm 1.. e 'L 1hr , t Lu 2; !i Tad b3... 4 S 1 N. tr on Cnnzegghg 5.1.. .tz' Ml mums r hnxr h; puma 1;; -4 .u the uzhmsmsk I . 1hr 22 rath- brat m Tait chum .. Arr! Misti mi 3. :1 ; nggndc mt. Yen: Q We 3M 11': s: ifrn'. 3124'. 3; iii; lhit'h KURT? :87! $831. QC M. int c h: bum 13:: - : :1! h$t y; 31.... . an d; l! 1W4 1- ELEVEN THE NORM t A E8119 tSuggested. by Mr. Gentlets' talk to his class in Pedagogy and dedicated to the June graduatesJ WHE afternoon had been hot and. sultry. The child- K K9 ren were more than usually restless and un- manageable, but four otclock came at last and, With whoops of joy, the unruly youngsters raced from'the building. The teacher breathed a sigh of relief, and settled back in her chair for a min- . ute,s rest before beginning her nightly round of duties; The Lizard Flat School'of Podunk county did not boast of' a janitor. I ttWhat do you suppose we pay a teacher fifty-five dollars a month for anyway? . To set in an easy chair and hear lessons from nine till four? P11 tell you the rest of us work for all we get and therets not any sense in hiring a janitor to split a few kind- lings? That was What one 'of the directors had said when ap- proached on the subject, so the matter had dropped. Miss Smith rose wearily, swept the floor, put the room in order, split some kindlings and wrote her assignments on the board. At last the Work was all done, and, pinning on her hat, she started toward her boarding place. It was getting cooler now, and when she reached the strip of woods that separated her from her destination she sat-down on a log to rest. She imagined even at that distance that she could hear the screaming and quarreling of the children, and the scolding voice of her landlady. Tonight, more than ever, she shrank from the disagreeableness of it all, and leaning her head on her hand, she began to think. Just nineteen 'years ago today she had been graduated from the Oregon Normal School. She remembered now her pride in her diploma, her faith in her chosen profession and her high hopes for the future. Time had wrought many changes since then. There had been years of plenty, it was true, but now it, seemed as though the years of famine had come.

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THE NORM m of the grove. Somehow I couldn't help feeling sorry for him, be- cause he had not seen our beautiful May Queen and the delightful ceremonies and sports of the day before. Again I felt the same strange spell. I could go no farther, so I sat down by the old tree. As I gazed into the strong green branches so far above me, they seemed to nod and bow ,in a most confidential manner. 'Don't pity us, they said. i'We are so contented now. See our new green tassels we've just hung out! All the other trees in this row have so much work to do. We have to protect the other . trees of the grove. Even if we can't see, all the others see we love to help them. ' Indeed, I felt this was true, for just then each bow seemed to say with a gentle rustle: , i'This is my work, my blessing, not my doom. The Old Tree continued, 'The wind does blow and the storms beat hard, but someone must be on the outside row. You should consider the advantages of this position. We get the sunrise first and likewise enjoy the sunset longest. And, oh, the little stray sunbeams and fragrant breezes which come to us, that the other trees know nothing about. The birds love to build their nests in our branches, because they sway and rock so gently. But it doesn't matter so much which row you are in, if you can j ust re- member: , . 'The world is full of roses, And the roses full of dew, , And the dew is full of heavenly Love that drips for me and you. a. My eye wanderedlfrom row to row as I thought of what the Old Tree had said. Yes, the trees were located very much as our positions would be. Some, those near the tennis courts and other favorable locations, were like the schools in the larger towns and cities. I wandered how many of us had considered the advantages of being on the outside of the grove. As I looked at: the trees nearest the Normal Building, I noticed the campus was deserted-Aevery one had gone to lunch; When I rose to go I couldn't resist giving the Old Tree an affectionate pat as I said, nWell, if I have to teach on the 'Outside Rowf more's mine. And I'll think of. you, dear Old Tree, whenever I'm lonesome or dis- couraged. JO w; in! W W. we! 1 r.- n mm; 5 4 '1 ill :x' W. n;- 1'1 1h norm- .3 '11 1W3 :1. , 1 3 ??mm In

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TWELVE THE NORM ' Her motherls illness had taken almost all of her savings and at her death, Miss Smith had found herself ill and nervous. Va- cations were endless stretches of time and she felt that she was an unwelcome Visitor in the homes of her married brother and sisters, although she had tmed to bridge the gap between them and had worked harder than she was able. Finally, the day came when the City superintendent had told her that her services would not be needed the next year. They Wanted younger teachers, he said, with mOre health and Vigor. That had been a year ago, and now as she sat thinking there ' came to her mind a sentence, tiYou have great hopes now, but if you could only meet yourself. as you will be at forty you would stop to think. Mr. Gentle had spoken with the assumption that they were all twenty. She had, been twenty then. It seemed even now she could'vhear that kind voice, half earnest, half serious, as he talked that morning to his class. She had laughed then, but how different things looked now! Here she was, teaching school in an out of the way district for fifty- fiVe dollars a month and in another year she would meet herself at forty. Startled by the gathering darkness, she arose and hurried homeWard. At the door her landlady met her with, tiWell, this is a pretty time to be getting in to supper. Things have been cold for an hour. iTm not hungry, thank you, she answered, and slipped up stairs to be by herself. The little room with its wooden bed stead and tin wash pan set on a soap box Seemedshabbier than ever. She put up her one window and, drawing up a chair, leanied her head on the window sill. Out in the yard, the daughter of the household was entertaining company? The voices floated. up and, in. spite of her self, Miss Smith found herself listening. iinee ! Pm weary tonight. Wish I was J ohn D. or some of those hther millionaires who never did an honest days work in their ivesf' Say, Pve got a scheme. Letis kidnap some millionaire and make him pay us a ransome. iiWhat would you do with a lot of money if you had it ? Iill tell you a good scheme, J im. Suppose you start a home for aged teachers. You wouldnit have to go far for a start. You