iViay, 1922
THE MIDGET
Page 19
And you, as your duty, should
never shirk.”
I quickly replied to the little bird.
The maker of the music I had heard.
“I will come today, and hope it may
be
That I may serve Uncle Sam on the
dark, blue. sea.”
I ran my hand down into my pock
et and found that I had $1.25, just
enough to pay my way to the Re
cruiting Station at iSalisbury and 25c.
to tip the porter when I got to the
Pennsylvania iHotel in New Yor.^
City, I decided then that I would
leave to join the Navy the next day.
After going to bed, I did not sleep
much, owing to fear that I would
miss my train next morning.
Therefore,^! got up early and told
my ma and pa that I had to go down
town on business. They believed me,
for they knew that I was a man of
brains. I managed to “swipe” a bis
cuit and some jelly, so that when I
arrived at -.the training station I
might have something to divide with
Uncle Sam. I purchased my ticket,
but I had to watch the other people
and do as they did, because it was
the first ticket I had ever bought.
Really, I felt just like “John D.”
Soon the train came in. I tried to
get a drawing room, but the conduct
or said that they were all taken by
people going to New London to the
baseball game between New London
! nd Farmville. So I had to go back
inta the smoker. While there, I man-
rged to slip a cigar off a man. I
did not smoke it, however, for fear
I would lose weight and fail to pass
:ny examination. Anyway, I felt my
importance. I had a very enjoyable
conversation with Governor Morrison
on the cotton future, but I seemed
to know more about it than he did.
It was not long before the conduct
or came through and cried: “Salis
bury! Change trains for New York,
Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia.” Of
fiourse I changed. I then went up to
the Recruiting Office and stood my
exam.” This is one time I passed
without any condition. The recruit
ing officer said; “Young man, we
feel honored in having a man of your
‘^•’libre’ in the navy. What do you
wish to enlist as?”I told him that I
wanted to enlist as a musician; that
I was a fine one—^my father owned a
banjo when he was a little boy. He
gave me my ticket to Raleigh, and
here I stood another examination.
Here the officer stripped me, took
my finger prints, tickled me, laughed
at me, and made me put my clothes
back on. I passed again. From here
*;hey sent me to the Great Lakps
Naval Training -Station, Great Lakes,
111., to take Sousa’s -place as band in
structor.
On the way I stopped at Washing
ton to have a talk with Secretary
Daniels and President Wilson. They
both felt honored. After Daniels
told me all the changes that he de
sired made, I went to Chicago. While
there, I called around at Sears-Roe-
buck Company and bought a postal
card at wholesale price.
The next day I went over to the
Great Lakes Training Station, about
41 miles from Chicago. The “Blue
Jackets” were all glad to meet their
new instructor, and presented me
with a pair of aluminum cuff links.
I don’t know what they thought I
was going to do with them. All the
boys liked me and felt that I was a
good instructor.
I stayed there six months, and
then came back to school. I had learn
ed a lesson.
P. S. The musical instruments we
used were shovels and mops, which
were usually handled to the tune of
“Home iSweet Home.”
FAREWELL TO THE A. H. S.
(By Ruth Pickier.)
We’ve bee', v/aiting for many a year
For Lhs time to leave our old High;
But now that we see the day appear.
We bid farewell with a sigh.
The way has been rougn, and covered
with stone,
But the teachers were thougiitfvil
ar.d kind;
They didn’t make us bear our burdens
fiione.
To our needs they were never blind.
Of the numerous memories of the past
I’m sure school days are the sweet
est;
And we wish they could always last.
But they certainly seem the fleetest.
And the worst of it all is to bid fare
well
To our classmates and teachers too.
Whom we have learned to love so well
During the year of twenty-two.
So farewell, dear old Albemarle High,
For with you we’ve had a good tine,
We could never find, tho’ hard we try,
A school as good as we leave be
hind.
THE ALBEMARLE PRESS
J. D. BIVINS, Owner and Publisher
—JOB PRINTING—
THE KIND THAT PLEASES
DON’T BLAME THE OLD BUS
If it won’t make the 'hills in high. Have
a heart; give it a Spring cleaning.
The 'best equipped shop between Ra
leigh and Charlotte is at your service.
AUTEN-WOLFE MOTOR CO.
Five Points