Westport High School - Herald Yearbook (Kansas City, MO)

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llfllll W CHRISTMAS I ., Since the fifth century, the twenty- fifth' of December has been agreed upon as a suitable day on which to celebrate the birth of Christ. This day is celebrated in all Christian lands in many different ways. These dif- ferent customs have been blended in the United States until those of sending gifts and Christmas cards, and that of decorat- ing a Christmas tree have become the most common. The exchange of gifts, so universally engaged in, is a relic of heathenism, although the Christians have an example of this in the gifts brought by the three wise men to the infant Christ. ' 4 The sending of Christmas cards is an innovation intro-duced within the last fifty years. The Christmas tree originated in Rome, whence it went to Germany, then to Great Britain and from there to the United States. In our country, the exchange of gifts and the Christmas tree have become so closely associated with the idea ofChrist- mas that sometimes the real meaning of the word is forgotten. Of late years Xmas being substituted for the orig- inal name. The first syllable, X, stands for Christ, and it is taken from the Greek letter in Christos,v which means 'tthe anointed. . SAINT NICK'S REVENGE. JTwas the day before Christmas, And through the school house N ot a teacher was stirring, Green, Bign-ey nor Shouse. In class rooms and study hall. At pupils to stare, Each had seated himself In a straight, armless chair. The pupils were delving In musty text-books, Or casting at teachers Disheartening looks. Their thoughts were on Christmas And little they cared For the difhcult tasks , All the teachers prepared. When up from the basement There arose such a clatter, I sprang from my seat To see what was the matter. Away from the clas'-room I lied like a flash, Away to the basement From whence came the crash. The janitor stood By the furnace in fright. And there fell to my view A bewildering sight. For out from the glow Of the red dancing name, I A frowning old fellow With awful mien came, His beard, long and white, His face, fat and round. He jumped past the coal hod, Which he did in one bo-und. From the looks of -the fellow, So fat, yet so quick, I knew in a moment It must be Saint Nick. He spoke not a word But went straight to the hall, And, ringing the gong, An assembly did call. The teachers he seated Along the front row, And, once on the platform, He bo-wed very low. He addressed all the pupils With thanks for their work, And then to the teachers He turned--with a jerk. When on Mr. Bigney He first cast his eye, There escaped him, I noticed, A very deep sigh. Said Nick, Disappointment Olerwlielms me-to look On such a fine man Whofs a slave to a book. l V V -I l . I I I I . I I on n noon nortl the c train that amot in fa mere' eter low 5 me, s A the p are n when cold these word ion 4 ' S' I A 'T' 'Gu' f ': '?':-4+-9--isa-11.51-ifisqaz-: '-:arm-ms- : 'Y al ff--A--M .. .. . ' ' - - 'Q-f if-----was-4.,....-..s.:a..:..q:a,.1a: --a..a..., -V-ha s . .. - - A - H ,g . - - - . ,.. ...,,,Y .,

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1 T1 f1 4'-fr'-f T -1L:.s.:..r1q.'---.1--. .W .. . . -1 +R - -A 1-.1 1:-., .C C-gwsamavxgk-,zvsrgsaegwgga -.-..,- Y.. , , ' T ' --' '--f-- e----f --:-. .::e-::e1i5'?'-i7-1E'auli:-as:aR- '---- fin V- .. .. . V , V . ,, Y - . , . .. f-31. - fvgf-5.-N .,......g.. . - .x. ' .-. .. , , ' ' - Y - V- . : -. g f., f 1 - , 1 r A 51-g17:1vzfvR'e-rf-71-igglorf115. ,F l v, .J U ,Vw i P 1 I I I The Westport High School Herald. My 'Gio tba Spirit of Giving anb forgiving, - tbc true Christmas Spirit, 'Ubin number is inscribeb. WN DONATED BY JACKSON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY AUGUST 2003 I ' -- 1- ' .-. .,. ,.... .....- ,.. E , , S .

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I 5'f+ fr-'J-:sri-....-.g.4..lf. 'aw-,smfqm - .V V ,L-3, - - 1 mf-.- -.,.... .,--.. -.,- . -, ,,,,,,, i in , , ,, N Q 7 p -V .-. -. . -...- ,. ...x ,.':5i!' Q Zf..i.E?tF'f!'F9rl:-!', i-:-19.-'Ti:Q-:m12'3'g:-g:d?? - i 'jr - y -'rg1ygfg1giq:s:gfr:'p::z:3hageggggsr-g3y::,seeign-1--5-r1.my . gi jr ay, f, gs . - 4- . . xg -I-H .1- 2111 1 ity in .en :he fts so .st- of ars .lg- ads eek HHS ' -..... .,. , I v:,.. ,a..s..,....4...,--..-...... THE WESTPORT HIGH SCHOOL HERALD. 3 But one thing, I warn you, ' ,Tis surely a. crime To give any lessons O er holi-day time. Then he turned to Miss Wilder And quickly did speak, Why torture these pupils With Latin and Greek W But before she had time p To give her reply, To Miss Stoner he turned 'With 'a wink of his eye. MMCL foi, Zllaclcmoiselle, Est-cc-que vous cies ici? Why the tasks are not easy I now ,plainly seef' Daniel Hullps jolly face Brought the fire from N ick, s eyes, For to find such la teacher Was quitea surprise. f With a tug at 'beard I And a shake of his head, , He scowled on wee Harnden And savagely said, is a sin that has neter new forgiven as yet, I -CC DT This one, like the rest, Xou shall ever regret. The one next in line Was our friend, Miss De Witt. But Nick did not notice The lady one bit. When he had come A To the end of the row, He made a short speech And prepared to go. ffWho e'er to the pupils Gave outf' said he, 'fliessons ojer holidays, Come, follow me. V - .Then down to the furnace I He hurried again With all of the teachers, Women and men, I Drove them into the Haines, Sprang in with a shout, And they all disappea.red i . Like a candle gone out- But I heard him exclaim, Ere he passed from my view, 'cMerry Christmas to all And a glad New Year, too? V Alma Cutter,-908. A CHRISTMAS AwAKENiNG. I do not imagine that the expression on my face, as I left the train that after- noon at the little cinder patch in' the northern Wisconsin woods, which marked the existence of Razor Back Lake, to the train oflicials-I do not imagine, I say, that my countenance bespoke any great amount of enthusiastic joy or brilliancy, in fact it could not have, for it was un- mercifully cold. I am sure the thermom- eter must have registered somewhere be- low zero, and the dead, gray clouds above me, showed serious signs of snow. As any one knows, who has visited the pine woods of the north country, they are not too joy-inspiring, even in summer, when the sun lends some warmth to their cold and dismal solitude, but in winter these forests are in every sense of the word awful. At least, such was my opin- ion on this particular afternoon as I 2.-...2 5.:g.5o....f.aa-.,.4.:..-.-:4...a.....a-..a.:4.:...,,.-..,.- .Y-..:,.,......--. -,-. .. - - . ,, .,.. - -. Q. ,... ..---. trudged moodily along the narrow trail. I must have presented a rather un- usual appearance, for I was dressed in fur from my head' to my feet. In one hand I carried a small traveling bag, and the other was buried elbow deep in my coat pocket. It was nearly three opclock, and there were four lonely Wisconsin miles between me and my destination, so you may picture my facial expression for yourself. For ai distance of perhaps two miles, I walked briskly along, thinking and solil- oquizing. The forest is a splen-did place for thinking, but a very bad place indeed to be found alone with one's conscience. I am sure I remembered every thing I had ever done in the course of my life, whether good, bad or indifferent, and iinally having exhausted my past experi- ences, my imagination fell to working