Willard Middle School - Target Yearbook (Berkeley, CA)

Page 15 text:

THE TARGET 13 MANDOLIN CLUB. Left to right, Lawson Poss, Allen Hargear, Fred Edinger, Standish Donogh, Amelia Bernard, Elizabeth Mclndoe, Tom McGuire. the name, John P. Bailey, Boston, Mass., on the register. I decided to see him for I was mighty lonesome. I knocked at Room 36 and in res- ponse to my knock a tall muscular fellow seized my hand. 1 told him that I had conesnted to take the school and I wished now 1 had not. He agreed to help me out of my troubles. At eight-forty I went to the Turn- pike”, as the school was called, and prepared for the day. At nine o’clock when 1 rapped for order, the pupils took their seats. A trustee introduced me, put the school on its nonor and then took his way homeward. Along the back row of seats were the boys, and it did not take me long to know that trouble was brew- ing. Thinking it best to know the names of my charges, 1 had a girl go to the blackboard and place the names according to the seating. Suddenly I saw a hand go up in the room and a large spitball splash upon the blackboard. The battle was on and I knew it. The thrower was the largest boy in the school. Bill Davis. I ordered him to come and pick up the missile and toss it out the window. He did not budge. I told him he had just one minute in which to act and after that I would force him to do it. Still he sat motionless, sullen and stubborn-looking. Thirty seconds” I called, and in truth it was a tense minute in the schoolroom. Just then the outer door flew open with a bang, and in stalked a big, burly, disreputable-looking hobo. Hello, teacher, gimme a dime, will you?” he shouted as he advanced towards me. Get out of here,” I commanded angrily. Fve got no dime for you. You are interrupting our school work. Get out. 1 say.” Don ' t get too gay, little chap,” he returned insolently, shaking a huge, clenched fist in my face. “You gi- mme ten cents, else something’ll happen here.” T will give you just one minute to leave this room,” I vowed firmly

Page 14 text:

12 THE TARGET paralyzed stomachs, aching backs, empty pack«,- utensils- still dangling,- and bunions on our feet as large as walnuts. A pair of weary Willies arrived home richer, and wiser for the experience. GRAFTON CARLISLE. — o TWO CHRISTMASES It was Christmas Eve. In a poor room of an East Side tenement house, a forlorn child hung up a much darned stocking, then bent over her invalid mother to kiss her, and crept into bed. Louise didn’t expect much, but she thought that perhaps St. Nicholas might have something left, when he arrived at her home. In a dainty room of a Fifth Avenue mansion, Marie, “a poor little rich girl,” hung up two silk stockings, beside the fireplace. She crawled into bed, and soon was in slumber- land. Then, preparations for her Christmas began. Her stockings were filled with goodies until they bulged, and a wonderful tree was trimmed. The next morning she surveyed her gifts indifferently, and angrily de- manded why she had not been given skates. Upon being told that she was too small, she sulked the rest of that glad day. The child of the tenement eagerly leaped from bed, only to find her stocking empty. Not daunted, she quickly dressed and went out into the streets to sing. Her sweet voice at- tracted the attention of passers-by who gladly gave her money. When Louise had collected a dollar, she considered herself very rich, indeed, and started to make her purchases. These consisted of bread, a soup-bone with which she intended to make broth for her mother, vegetables and fruit. A few pieces of a packing-box she found on the edge of the street. By one o’clock, she had the dinner cooked, which she and her mother happily and thankfully ate. In the Fifth Avenue home, Marie was nibbling at her turkey dinner, still angry about the skates. Now, can you draw your own con- clusion as to which dinner was most filled with Christmas cheer? MARAGRET SPALDING. LORD RANDAL. Harken, harken, my gallants so fine. Harken, to what I say ; Lord Randall the owner of many great lands. Was to marry to-day. 1 He went into the forest so fine. For to kill a deer. And what did he see But a bonny young lass. Combing her flaxen hair. “Be mine, be mine,” Lord Randal he said, Be mine, be mine,” quoth he, “And I will give you a fine castle. As fine as you did see.” The maiden laughed a silvery laugh, And with that did she flee, “Come again. Lord Randal, tomorrow morn. Then I my word will give thee.” Up in the morn rose Lord Randal, Up with the cock rose he; And he is off for the fine forest. As fast as he can dree. “Come, come,” Lord Randal he said, “Up and come with me!” “For you must come, and be my bride. Before the day shall dee. “Nay, nay,” the fair one she said, “Nay, nay,” said she, “For I have a husband at my cot, A husband and children three.” Slowly, slowly, rode Lord Randal, Slowly, home rode he. And he has shut him in the tower. To stay till he shall dee. BERNICE HIGGINS. — o AN EASY FORTY. Now my aim in life in boyhood days was to be a teacher. I had a job offered me in the West, and there was a bunch of bullies that had thrown the former master out of the window, and he had resigned. I agreed to take the place not know- ing this until I reached the town, then I wished 1 had not consented. When in a sorry mood, I signed up for a room at the hotel, I noticed

Page 16 text:

14 THE TARGET between tightly clenched teeth.“lf you ate not out of here then I will put you out.” Deliberately the tramp stepped up and sat in my chair. He glared at me and I at him. “The minute is up, sir, Will you go or not?” “I’ll stay,” was the answer. Instantly oft came my coat. The tramp had not even removed his slouch hat and, for a starter, with a quick sweep of my hand I sent his hat into the far corner on the floor. “You little insignificant rat, take that,” he roared, and leaping on both feet, his clenched right hand shot forth with terrific force, but I was spry and dodged it with ease. I was no match for him as he was 6 ft. - 2. anyway and I only 5 ft. — 7. We locked together in each other’s arms and struggled for supremacy. At first he hushed me nearer and nearer the window, but in wrestling as in all other sports you need wind; he was winded. Finally just abreast the door, the tramp was thrown on his knees. In an instant I had the door thrown open and throwing myself against the culprit, I sent him out. Rushing across the floor, I picked up his headpiece and sent it sailing after him, calling out, “come back when you want another dime, won’t you?” “Which boy will be good enough to get me a cup of water?” I asked as I again took the platform and donned my coat, breathless and well given out. Big Bill Davis was on his feet in an instant. “I will, sir,” he called and in passing the blackboard he stooped and picked up the missile he had thrown and tossed it out the window. Upon returning with the tin cup of water he looked me squarely in the face and said. ' Tm glad you woo, I be honestly. You ain’t no milksop, you aint.” Then turning to his band he called out. “say kids let’s give the schoolmaster three times three and a tiger, he’s all right.” RUFUS .JOHNSON. o Mr. Cobert explaining a Latin con- struction; “When I’m eating pie. I’m happy.” CHRISTMAS CHEER. Darkness covered all the world. When suddenly a sound was heard; A sound that gladdened every ear. Was echoed from afar and near. “Rejoice! “rejoice!” it seemed to say, “Rejoice! rejoice! ’tis Christmas day.” ness. Now, all was changed from woe and sadness, The world seemed clothed in peace and gladness. GERALDINE QUILLINAN. o THE TREASURE. There is a certain hill region in California which is noted as the haunt of robbers in early days. In this region are many tunnels to which the robbers are supposed to have brought their loot and buried it. Many have tried to find their treas- ures and some poor people have become suddenly and mysteriously rich. At any rate, to the younger members of this community the treasures are realitites, to the older, merely jokes. One day, as some boys were play- ing cross-tag, the one who was being chased was crossed, and, in looking back, stumbled and fell. His head bumped on something hard which felt like wood, and on close examination it proved to be a trap-door. All excitement, he pulled it up, and the light feebly disclosed a badly con- structed staircase. He looked around and seeing that the boys had not yet noticed him, he slowly descended the stairs. When he was almost at the bottom his foot slipped and he fell, and was surrounded on all sides, to the right and to the left of him by — mushrooms. His treasure was but mushrooms, and treasure cave a mushroom tunnel, the trap-door of which had been covered with sod by a wise owner. NOEL MORROW. o — A CHRISTMAS WISH FOR YOU. May the friends you love so dear. Round about you gather near. Make your Christmas day so bright That your heart glows with delight. MINNIE CHAN.