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Page 51
"I will now request the worthy junior members Olive Craig, Anne Green and
Elsie Todd, to advance. Honorable Assistant Master Harlowe, will you name
your trusted, followers?"
Grace named Nora, Jessica and Marian Barber who came to her side with
alacrity.
"During the brief space of time that we are obliged to absent ourselves,
will every guest keep her roving eyes bent reverently on the ground and
think about nothing. It is well to fittingly prepare for what is to come."
With this Julia marched her adherents down the field and around the corner
of the Omnibus House. She was followed by Grace and her band. There was a
chorus of giggles from the chosen helpers that was sternly checked by
Julia.
Before their eyes stood a large, open paste-board box lined with the
colors of both classes, in which reposed the Crosby hatchet, likened to a
battle-ax by Julia. Its handle was decorated with sophomore and junior
ribbons, and around the head was a wreath of immortelles. A disreputable
looking sheaf of wheat lay across the end of the box.
There was a smothered laugh from Nora, whose quick brain had grasped the
full significance of the thing.
"This is not an occasion for levity," reprimanded Grace sternly. "Laughing
will not be tolerated."
Three twisted ribbon handles of sophomore colors and three of junior
ornamented either side of the box. Each girl grasped a handle.
"We will proceed with the ceremony," directed Julia. "Lift up the box."
This was easier said than done. The handles were so close together that
the girls hardly had room to step. The journey was finally accomplished
without any further mishap than the sliding off of the wheat sheaf. This
was hastily replaced by Jessica before its fall had been marked by the
eagle eye of the master of ceremonies, who marched ahead with her
assistant.
When the box had been carefully deposited at one side of the "grave,"
Julia Crosby took her place beside it, and assuming a Daniel Webster
attitude began her address.
"Honored juniors and sophomores. We have met together to-day for a great
and noble purpose. We are about to take a step which will forever after
be recorded among the doughty deeds of Oakdale High School. It will go
down in High School history as the glorious inspiration of a master mind.
We are going to unfurl the banner of peace and bury the hatchet.
"Since the early days of our class history, war, cruel war, has raged
between the august bodies represented here to-day. On this very field many
moons ago the gallant sophomores advanced upon the, then, very fresh
freshmen, but retreated in wild confusion. It is therefore fitting that
this should be the place chosen for the burial of all grudges, jealousies
and unworthy emotions that formerly rent our breasts."
Here Julia paused to take breath.
The girls cheered wildly.
Julia bowed right and left, her hand over her heart. When the noise had
subsided, she continued. She bewailed junior misdeeds and professed meek
repentance. She dwelt upon the beauty of peace and she begged her hearers
henceforth to live with each other amicably.
It was a capital address, delivered in a mock-serious manner that provoked
mirth, and did more toward establishing general good feeling than any
other method she might have tried. In closing she said:
"The hatchet is the symbol of war. The wheat-sheaf represents our elderly
grudge; but the immortelles are the everlasting flowers of good will that
spring from the planting of these two. We will now listen to a few remarks
from the pride of the sophomore class, Assistant Master of Ceremonies
Grace Harlowe."
Grace attempted to speak, but received an ovation that made her flush and
laughingly put her hands over her ears. When she was finally allowed to
proceed, she delivered an oration as flowery as that of the master of
ceremonies.
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