20 THE ACORN slowly, one by one. Simon Sims was giving- them orders just what to do, when one of the boys said, "I believe I heard something behind us rattling the leaves." "O, pshaw, scared of a cow, you coward. I wish you was on the horse with Simon and we'd have some fun. I can just imagine how scared he'll be when he gets here." Just then a frightful looking black object appeared. It looked as though it had teeth of fire. The frightened boys, forgetting Simon, ran as fast as they could. Tom was left behind. The white sheets flying around frightened the horse and it threw Simon off flat on his back. Tom ran right on Simon. He was too frightened to see if he had killed Simon. He could not run another step. He looked up and that black object was beside him. By this time Joe was nearly frightened to death. The black object spit out his teeth of fire, which proved to be only matches; kicked away the rag man, which had been tied on the horse representing Simon Sims; and said, "Don't be afraid, Joe, I like to play jokes too. It's only Simon Sims." JENNIE GROBERG, '06. LOVE. There are powers in nature, There are powers in man; But search far and near Wherever you can; You may look over earth Or in heaven above, But where is a power That's stronger than Love The oak in the forest Is a symbol of strength; You can see it by looking At its limbs' massive length. The rock of the mountain Is solid and sound; It has never been shaken From its place on the ground. But there's in humanity A something that binds, With a tie of affection, Friends' hearts and minds; It is found in the beings In heaven above; It is found here with mortals And they call it Love. As the vine of the ivy 'Round the oak is entwined, So are friends held together With Love as the bind. Each helping the other, Both trying to live, That each to the other May peace and joy give. A rock may be blasted And rent in twain, So no hand whatever Can unite it again. Likewise friends may be parted By an act or a breath, And leave a wound gaping From then till their death. May we all live and love And pray for the time, When all men will be joined By a feeling sublime. When all men will worship The Creator of Love, And will meet as brothers In our home above. J. S. TOM RILEY. (How one, the butt of his companions, came out superior to them.) Tom Riley was a lanky, awkward, overgrown, green country boy. He liked to fish, swim, and help Mary, but THE ACORN 21 the farm he despised it, hated it as much as any boy ever could. He wanted something better. He was fond of books, and every penny he could save went to help buy them. His brothers scoffed at the idea of learning anything from old, dry books. His father thought it ridiculous, and declared time and time again if Tom didn't get to work and help the other boys he'd have to go. He threatened to burn all readable matter, so Tom hid his books out in the bushes in summer and under the granary floor in winter, and kept on reading, in secret. Every thing and every body seemed against him, but Mary. She had been to school up to the Fourth Reader but she was too busy, now mother was gone, and had no time to help him. One night Mr. Riley awoke and saw a light in the top of the granary where Tom slept. His wrath was ablaze in an instant. "Ef thet aint a great how-de-do. Bet thet foolhardy youngin's readin' agin' arter all I've said. We'll see, Mr. Tom, who's boss o' this domain," he muttered as he strode out toward the granary. Before Tom knew he was anywhere around the book went sailing to the other side of the room. "So this's what yer doin' is it? Try-in' to be like stuck up people too smart fer yer own good. Aint I been tellin' ye fer the last six months to stop readin' of these consarned books? An' here ye come and pay no more notice than if I hadn't said if". Now you git! I aint goin' ter have a lazy, good fer nothin' youngin on my place. D' ye hear?" Tom tried to plead with him but he stormed all the more and would not listen to reason. "Ye kin stay till mornin' but mind ye git tomorry!" With that he marched out leaving Tom stunned by the sudden state of affairs. He could see no justice in such actions; his father might have listened to what he had to say, but now he didn't care. "I'll be somebody yet," he said to himself as he proceeded to gather his effects into a small bundle. They consisted of, two gingham shirts, a suit of much-worn clothes the same he had worn to his mother's funeral, four years before, three cotton handkerchiefs, two pairs of socks, an old hat, and his books. He decided to go to bed in order to rest for his journey. He retired but not to sleep. He tossed back and forth, thinking. Why were things as they were? Everything had changed since mother died; father had never been angry with him before her death; the boys, too, were not the same. Thus he spent the night. At the first streak of morning light he was up. He put on his best clothes, tied the other things in a handkerchief, and hurried down stairs. He went to his father's window he was still snoring. He went to the boys' window and said, "good bye." They were much amused to learn he was going-away to earn his living. "Earn YOUR living?" asked Jack. "'Ha, ha, a fine living you'd earn. Wouldn't keep a mouse." "Better go to the Poor House," taunted Ned. "Say, you goin' ter take them books along? Per'aps you kin live on them. Aint very digestable though." The boys laughed and Tom turned away barely keeping back the tears which were ready to fall. He went to Mary's window. "Good bye, Mary," he said. "I'm go-