Winchester School - Oui Dire Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

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66 OUT-DIRE MABEL'S SURPRISE. It was a cold, rainy, and altogether disagree- able day. Xlabel, sitting in a disconsolate little heap upon the window-seat, flattened her nose against the win-low pane and tried in vain to see something pleasant and cheerful without. But as far as her eye could travel there was nothing in sight but the driving rain. dingy street lamps, and ceaseless trallic. How I wish, she said aloud, that something pleasant would happen! Mother is out and what will she say when she reaches home to hnd me here instead of at school Mabel had come home from school that day indignant and tearstained. She had vowed that never, never would she return again. The girls had been mean, unbearable. 'l'hey had made her feel more deeply the insignilicance tif her lit- tle cotton frock and had noticed, she was sure. the patches. She had heard them giggle and whisperingly point her out. And now she was beginning to wonder what her mother would say. ller train of thought was at that moment in- terrupted by the door bell. Surely it could not he mother home so early. She ran swiftly down the stairs and swinging open the door. stood speech- less upon the threshold. For there, dripping with rain, stood six or seven girls of her own age. XYhy, why, how do you do! stammered Mabel. 'tXYon't you come in The little procession entered and removed their wraps. XYe have come, said l.ois Clark, to apolo- gize for the way we acted toward you todayf' Yes. chimed in Alice Martin. Wie certainly were horrid. liy this time they were upstairs in Klabel's lit- tle room drying out their wet garments by the tire. XYe wanted you to know that we were sorry, so we came to tell you so. All the girls are sorry, added Elizabeth Xkiil- lis, but they could not all come to tell you, so they asked us to tell you for them. Plain dresses are much nicer than fancy ones and are far more suitable for school, and as for jewelry, we thought it odd that you did not wear any, but now we see that you were more sensible than we and we have decided not lo wear any hereafter-that is, un- necessary jewelry, such as a great many rings and bracelets. and we want you to please come back to school tomorrow and be friends with us.'l l was silly too, to he offended so easilyfl said Xlaliel and I forgive you with all my heart and know that l shall like your school and that we shall be very good friends, and so I know that you will not mind if l ask how you happened to change your way of thinking. N Of course. we don't mind telling you, said Margaret simply. It was our school that did it. Oh!'l exclaimed Mabel. HI am more sure than ever that I shall like your school and I hope it will help me as it has helped you. 'tI know it will, replied, l.ois earnestly. And now, exelaiired Mabel, let us go into the kitchen and make some candy. t'Do you know, remarked Mabel thoughtfully that evening, as she and her mother sat together in the library, I have discovered that things in- variably turn out entirely differently from the way you think they are going to. And her mother smilingly agreed. BI. H. '19, THE STORY OF THE GOOD SWEET PEA. Characters 2-The Good Sweet Pea, The Cross Sweet Pea, :X liuttei-Hy, Little Mary. Synopsis :-The Peas are planted, the different dispositions of the two Peas, the advice of the llutterflyg the death of the Cross Peag the tri- umph of the Good Pea. ACT I. Cross Pea to Hood Pea:-It is so dreary. and dark under the earth, 5 flood I' ea :-Never mind, we shall soon be in the sunshine. Cross Pea:--I wonder what the world is like. ls it dark and dreary? it itl PC111- kil't NS selves. Uh, no! it is full of sunshine. Pea:-Wie shall wait and see for our- ACT II, The peas sprout above the earth. Cross dreary. Iiootl world is Little to climb Mary comes to put strings for the peas upon. l'ea:Y.Xfter all, the world is dark and Pea:-You are mistaken, my friend, the full of sunshine. ACT Ill. Cross Pea I-I.ook at the string she gave me. it is all knotted knotted string, Good Pea :- I will never climb up such a But I do not have any to climb up. Cross Pea 1-I wonder what is on the other side of the fence? flood Pea :- I am sure there are Howers, foun- tains, and many other beautiful things. Cross Pea :YI think it is a marshy swamp. I ..i....eQ-a.tsmniin-

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OUI- DIRE 65 For a time all was silent as she was very busy writing. She used a page and began an- other. At last she sighed, gathered up her pa- pers and began to read. This is what she read: 'lDear Tommy:-Mother and Daddy are very serious. It's no joke any more. They must sell, and Ol 1ny beautiful grove, I can't bear to part with it. Father is very sorry, but doesn't seem to understand how I feel. The trees must be cut, he said, and the house built, for he has to have the money by next October. I can't-just can't part with this place. I wish I could tell the 'awful beast' who is going to buy it just what I think. Lovingly: Betty. Down on her knees she went and out through the little opening, She crossed the lawn to where a large oak tree stood. A small. tin box was nailed to its trunk and on this box in large black letters was written: Private! Mail box. Betty slipped a key from out of her pocket and undid the little padlock. She removed a letter she found within, and carefully placing hers in its place, shut and locked the box and returned the key to her pocket. After settling herself once more comfortably in the hammock, she lazily unsealed her letter and began to read. Suddenly she gave a little jump and sat up. These were the words that had caught her eye: H--And about your grove. Don't worry. Father is the awful beast who is going to buy it. The trees are not to be cut and we-you and I-are to have it for our playhouse just the same. Yours as ever: Tommy. E. L., 'I9. The elevator to success not running, take the stairs. N. D., 'IQ. THE REVENGE. Dick May, a small boy of about eight years, was sorting the apples that were to be sent to town, and seeing one larger than any of the others and more perfect in shape and color, laid it aside to take to a certain blue-eyed curly- headed Susie that Dick had met at school. Therel He said as he hid it in the fruit cupboard, if anyone finds that and takes it, I'll-f- Dick, Dick, hurry, dinner is ready, called Mrs. May from the head of the cellar stairs, so the threat was never finished. After dinner both the boys went fishing and had a fine time. Sunday passed Wlthmlt Hllytlling special happening, but towards evening Toni, Dieldg, elder brother, happened to have been sent to get a jar of peaches for supper, and seeing the big rosy apple, took it and ate it without any thought of how it had got there or to whom it belonged. Monday morning Dick, after finishing his chores. went to get the beautiful present for Susie, and who could describe his anger when he saw it was not therel He fairly flew up those stairs and into the kitchen. XVho took that apple that was in the fruit cupboard? he cried. I did, answered Tom, why, was it yours? You? cried Dick. HNone of that, Dick, said Hrs. May stern- ly here is your lunch, now run along to schoolf' Dick knew he would have his revenge some day, but said nothing of it. That afternoon as he was walking home from the school-house, he saw that the bars were down and that some of the cows had wan- dered from the pasture. I'll not put them up, thought Dick, nbc- cause Tom has to bring the cows home this evening, and it will serve him right to have to hunt for them. On reaching home Dick played in the barn and then did his evening work. XYhen he had finished he went to the house to study a little before supper, but as soon as 'he came in the door Mrs. Hay said: Dick, I want you to go for the cows to- night. I have other work for Tom. Chl why hadn't he driven the cows back and put up the bars? Oh! why hadn't he? But now it was too late, so he went out, and after an hour of hard work, he returned home with scratched face and hands from following the cows' footprints through the woods, but all the animals were there. XVhile eating his cold supper Dick told the storv of his hunt for the cows, omitting that he had seen the bars down in the afternoon. But that night when his mother came upstairs to tuck him in, he said: 'tMother, I saw the bars down when I was coming home from school, but I left them there to pay Tom back for eating the apple I had saved for Susie. Mother didn't speak right away, but when she did she said: VVell, I hope my boy will know better next timefl And Dick was sure he would. M. L., '19. 4l

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OUT fuj' ACT IV. A butterfly comes and whispers into Good Peas ear. Good Pea cries in delight :-I will do that. Thank you very much, Mr. Butterfly. She climbs upon a blade of grass, then on to a thistle stein, and then on to the knotted string of the Cross Pea. Cross Pea:-I will not climb upon that ugly string. ACT Y. Looking down a few mornings after, Good Pea sees the Cross Pea withered, and dead. Good Pea climbs to the top of the fence and looks over into a beautiful garden, with a foun- tain. Good Pea:'I have inet with success at last, for I am able to see this paradise. MORAL. Look upon your state of life cheerfully as the Good Sweet Pea did. v M. I . H. 19. A MOTI-IER'S LOVE. 1. In a beautiful and sunny nursery in a large fashionable New York house a little miserable and wholly discontented boy of six sat on the floor surrounded by many costly and handsome toys of every sort and description. This little lad had lost his mother two years before and his father had been travelling all over the world, leaving junior entirely under the care of gov- ernesses and servants. As he sat there, idly looking from one play- thing to another, tired of them all, in rushed Miss Brown, the governess, waving a piece of yellow paper in her hand saying, junior, junior, get up and let Maggie dress you. I have just received a telegram from your father saying he will be home at six-thirty. I must go and dress myselff' junior looked up with a faint smile and gave himself up to be dressed. At six-thirty sharp, Junior and Miss Brown were in the drawing room. They heard the sound of wheels and in a few minutes Mr. Smith rushed in and grabbed junior, embracing him fondly, saying, junior, you look pale but I have-F , Obi Daddy l Junior burst forth excitedly, I am so sick of playing with toys in the play mom. I want to get out and run. Mr. Smith smiled and looked at his little son's anxious face and said, As I started to say, I have a very nice surprise for you. It's right outside the door. At that moment a strange lady walked in. She smiled and went up to junior saying, I am your new mother and I hope we love each other dearly. Already junior felt a liking for this pretty lady. Mr. Smith continued, My work calls me to the west and we are all three going to live in a cottage, leaving some of the toys, fancy clothes, and all city attractions and I hope you will get strong and well living in the open air all day long. In a few weeks a little party of three were settled in a lovely country place with cows and chickens and ducks to look after. The new Mrs. Smith did everything for june ior herself, not depending on servants. He be- came a healthy, robust youngster and of his own accord gave all his toys to the poor little chil- dren who never had any real pleasure in life. L. F. '19. If you repeat only what you know to be true, there wouldn't be half so much scandal. L. F. '19. A STORY. CHARACTICRSZ Rl2'I l'Y1lIllC little girl. P119-the black kitty. jonxxv-the grey kitty. The kitties are in the sitting-room curled up in the bay window. PEG- Johnny, Betty is a very nice mistress to us, don't you think so ? -IoHNNv- Yes, Peg. but this morning she forgot to warm my milk and I had a very cold breakfastf' Peo- Yes, she forgot to warm mine, too. But worse yet, she did not give me any supper last night. And now she has forgotten all about us. because she is so interested in her new doll. JOHNNY-HXVCS, I know it is hard to go with- out your supper and have a cold breakfast. But I know what we will do nowg let us go and hide from her. It will be such a scare that she will not behave like this again! PEG.- 'XVhere shall we hide? JOHNNY- Let's climb into the pockets of her father's house coat, which is in the closet. Away they go!