12 THE ACORN The trees had been stripped of their foliage; the days were shortening and nature told him that he had no time to spare. He bought a beautiful little home and there among the beauties of Yosemite Valley thought he would be able to rear the child into a pure virtuous woman. His efforts were not in vain for the child soon learned to love him and his greatest pleasure was in caring for her. One might ask, did he do all this alone? No, for he met a beautiful woman whom he took for his wife and they shared each other's joys. We may be sure the rest of his life was a happy one and Jenny had been the means of bringing about this wonderful change. Jenny grew into a good and noble woman and, "The parent pair their secret homage pay, And proffer up to heaven the warm request That He, who stills the raven's clamrous nest And decks the lily fair in flow'ry pride Would, in the way His wisdom sees the best For them and for their little one provide, But, chiefly, in their hearts with grace divine preside." ESTELLA HOLLANDS, '05. PRIZE STORY. JACK. Jack had always lived by the sea. He loved to see the ships sail in and out of port and watch the high snowcapped mountains level down to plains. His father died when he was but a small boy, and since that time he had taken all the burden off his mother and carried it himself. Jack was doing well, being one of the most thriving merchants in his little town, but all at once a wild craze seized him to go to sea. He had always cherished the idea of some day! being a sailor, but had been peusuaded by his mother not to take that course. His friends advised and his mother begged him not to go, but in spite of all their entreaties he prepared for the trip. I It was at that time of year when all nature is decked in her robe of red and gold, when the nights slowly lengthen and the days shorten. It was the time when nature seems to be losing her beauties and entering upon a new and untried life. So it was with Jack; he was leaving pleasures behind that he would never have again and was entering upon a life of which he knew nothing. The evening before leaving, after preparing and packing all day, he went to tell his best friend good bye. As they strolled up the lane lighted of their way by the silvery moonbeams, he laid his plans of the future before her and she promised to be true. The mother on seeing his determination to go did not longer try to persuade him to stay at home, but with "God bless and be with you my boy they parted. He sailed with a crew of seventy in a ship called the "Annabel." At last his long cherished hope was realized and he thought his joy complete as they glided over the glassy waves with flocks of sea birds above and droves of fishes below them. And each evening when the sun sank like a great ball of fire into the surface of the ocean the beauty of the scene was indescribable. Everything went well and in due time they reached the THE ACORN 13 shore for which they were bound. As soon as possible after landing he sent back messages to his mother and friends, telling them he had arrived safely. They stayed on shore for one month and after reloading the vessel started again toward their native land. But this time it was not so pleasant for Jack; the wind was against them, and the work was harder. He got so discouraged and homesick that he vowed if he ever got home he would never leave again. On the morning of the fifth day a cloud was seen rising out of the west. The sailors noted it with fear. All day long it grew larger and darker until it entirely covered the sky. The wind began to blow at a terrific speed and the waves grew larger and higher. One moment the ship would be on the crest of a mountain wave and the next thrown down in the valley with a force strong enough to dash her to pieces. She withstood the force of the waves for several hours when at last some one cried, "She's sprung a leak!" "Jack was brave but to his heart The life-blood sprung with sudden start." The first thoughts were of home and mother, the next of his own life. The lifeboats were immediately lowered, but before they were all down the ship began to sink. Jack seized a large plank and uttering a prayer for heaven's protection, dropped into the raging deep. All night long he was tossed about by the pitiless waves. O how earnestly he prayed for morning! The remainder of the night seemed a week to him. At last the sun, with his warm searching rays,rose up over the horison and looked with a cheering eye on the surface of the great waters, which like a horse that has spent all its strength in anger, lay calm and quiet; and in the distance toward the south of him he saw a beautiful island. He swam hurriedly toward it hoping to find food, clothing and friends. When he reached it he was sadly disappointed; no trace of human life could be seen. As he walked over the island he could see it was very beautifully decked with a variety of fruits and flowers and many animals. He built a sea-gazing hut in which he slept at night on a bed made of leaves and covered with the skins of wild animals, but all day long he walked or sat upon the shore watching for a sail. Each day the sun rose and set on Jack' lonely isle but yet no sail appeared. He saw or heard nothing of his unfortunate comrades except one who was washed upon the shore some weeks afterwards. The mother at home was anxiously waiting her son's return. He had written her that he would be there a certain time, so she set about to make home pleasant and cheerful to receive him. She waited till the weeks, months and even years passed by and at last gave him up entirely. Jack was not doomed to end his days in that dreary place for one morning when he arose he saw a ship anchored in the distance and on observing closely saw that men were launching out in small boats toward his lonely isle. Think of Jack having company after remaining there for over two years with not a single human soul to speak to! When they saw him and his hut standing alone on the whole seacoast they were much surprised and asked for an explanation. After