6 THE ACORN all morning," said Earnest, as he picked up the rope of the sleigh. "All right, but remember not to stay too long," said their mother as she proudly watched them start off. Earnest and Viola were very happy as they walked along the sidewalk that Thanksgiving day, he pulling the sleigh and she walking proudly behind. They soon came to the old lady's house, which was somewhat different from their own. The appearance of the little old house looked lonesome, as there was not a sound to be heard. A low porch entirely shut the sunlight out of the two little front windows. The blinds were also pulled down and it looked as though no one were at home. Earnest knocked at the aoor and the two waited as they heard the feeble steps coming. An old lady, bent with age and hard work, opened the door with a surprised look to see the two children standing there with the basket. "We hope you won't feel offended, but we wanted to do something good on Thanksgiving." said Earnest, as he placed the basket on the floor in front of her. Tears came to the old lady's eyes as she said she didn't understand the meaning of it all. Then she opened the basket and there, before her was the ready prepared dainty dinner. She looked at it with surprise; but she could not speak for she broke down in tears. In a few moments she regained her strength and said: "Oh, you dear children, bless your hearts, how did you come to think of me? It has been several years since I prepared a Thanksgiving dinner. The happiest ones were when father was alive and the children were small. Yes, dears, I once had two children, a girl and a boy, bright like you. Their father died when they were young and that forced us to work hard for a living. Emma got married and moved a long way off. Then Edward, who was my only comfort, was doing fairly well in his school when he took the fever and died. Now I am all alone and I didn't think any one thought of me. God bless you, that you may ever have plenty and grow up to be a noble man and a noble woman." Earnest and Viola felt true happiness at that moment, and their faces expressed the feeling perfectly. As they came home Viola, who was the first one in the house, said, "Oh, mamma, you ought to have seen how happy she was to get it! I am so glad we gave it to her. She just broke down and cried, she was so happy." "She wasn't a going to have any dinner today, only her tea; but now she can have a right good one," said Earnest. Mrs. Brown was very busy in her work, preparing for their dinner; but she gladly stopped to listen to her children tell about their visit. In a little while their company came, consisting of grandma, Uncle Will, Aunt Ellen, and also Cousin May, whom Viola was very glad to see. She had not been there very long before Viola told her all about their visit to the old lady, "but don't tell any one, because we are not going to let papa know about it till dinner time." Dinner time came. The large table in the dining room was beautifully set and everything looked delicious. They were soon all seated around the table and papa offered up the Thanksgiving grace. After dinner he asked the children what they were thankful for and Earnest said, "We are thankful to think that we had enough food to share up with someone else." They then told their papa all about it. He listened with interest, and so also did their company. Then their papa said: "I am most thankful for having such thoughtful children, aren't you mamma?" Mamma's moist eyes spoke more than words. They spent a very happy time that day, chatting, playing games, etc., but Earnest and Viola were the happiest of them all. Their little souls had proved that "In blessing ye are blessed." JENNIE GROBERG, '06. THE ACORN 7 EDITORIAL STAFF. Orlinda Woolley, '05 ..Editor-in-Chief Sarah Williams, '06, Estella Hollands, '05. Literary Lizze McQuarrie, '06, Bryant S. Jacobs, '06, Exchange Frank W. Becraft, '06, Mae Higginbotham, '05, Athletics Marion A. Belnap, '05 Miscellaneous Lizzie O. McKay, '04 Alumni William H. Manning, '05 Local Wilford Shurtliff, '06 Cartoonist BUSINESS STAFF. Charles Brown, '08 Business Manager James Wood, '06 First Assistant Earl Emmett, '06 Second Assistant George R. Doxey, '06 Subscription Charles Lyon, '05 Circulator THE AIM OF OUR PAPER. Last year the student body planted the little Acorn whose mission is to acquaint the students with the different lines of school work and school recreation, that they might be in sympathy with everything going on in the school. This year we trust the Acorn will grow, and perform its mission even better than last year. Our little messenger goes also to our friends outside and creates an interest and a pride in their hearts for our school. In other words, our paper is the organ of speech of the students to their friends. Just as a man is judged by the thoughts he expresses, so we are judged by the thoughts recorded in this paper. This is our paper, and will be just what we students make it. Let us set our aim high, and never stop until we reach it. Why can't we have one hundred per cent subscription? Why can't we have one hundred per cent of the students contribute something to the contents of this paper? There is no reason in the world. What an ideal condition it would be if the editors had so much material and the managers had so much money on hand that they would feel obliged to have extra issues. This would mean that we had a SCHOOL paper in reality; and it would also mean that we were leaders among all surrounding schools. Why should we be content to go on at a jog-a-long pace with the others, just because we had a little start in the race? It would take only a very little energy on the part of each student to enable us to break through the lines and rush to the front. How proud we would be to say, "We have reached as high a standard in two years as the other schools reached in five or six." I dare say that no other school paper has reached the standard of one hundred per cent in subscription or in contribution: but do we have to wait until some one starts? I should say not. We have been the "tail-enders" to start the paper; why ont be the leaders in reaching this standard? Students, arouse yourselves. Write something for our paper, and give the editorial staff something to do in looking over stacks of stories, exchanges, jokes, athletic notes, etc. Christmas is coming; we need Christmas stories, and jokes about Santa Claus. Let's have them now before it is too late. WHERE IS THE COLLEGE SPIRIT? It has been suggested that "if Atlas should come with a red hot poker', and stir the students around, it might wake them up to a realization of how stupid they are." Students, this is an insult to us. Why is it? Perhaps because of the fact that "truth cuts." Then how is this idle, listless, don't care spirit go-