10 ACORN Soliloquy Of Old Saint Mick "Dear Santa Claus: Please remember our faculty on Xmas. Bring them lots of presents together with sympathy for the sluffers, forgiveness for the loiterers, and mercy for the unprepared." (Signed) W. A. SENIORS, '1912. They have asked for nothing for themselves. I shall grant their request. What shall I bring for Principal Henderson? How hard it is to please these grown children. The best I can do is to bring him a messenger boy's suit. I am sure that Boyd and Mame will be delighted. Prof. Jensen "Aye, there's the rub" surely he will enjoy a psychological, philosophical treatise on mistakes' and Prof. Ballantyne shall receive a good hair restorer. I would bring Mrs. Kunz a husband, but six days after Xmas leap year begins and she'll get one for herself. However, I shall give her an engagement ring. When she proposes to her Lord, she'll want it to be sure. To Dr. Lind I'll bring a specimen of ice from the north pole, a quart of hot lava from the ultimate interior of the earth and, since Mrs. Kunz has the ring, I'll also give him a cottage in Little Cottonwood canyon. Miss Benzie wants a new supply of blushes and giggles, and Miss Larkin will be well satisfied with a fig leaf from the Holy Land. Miss McKay and Miss Cragun will be delighted with the receipt for my wife's Xmas cake and Miss Earle will be happy with less shorthand and more long arm. I'll fill Prof. Hart's stocking with peanuts. Prof. Porter has already stated that he wants a "Doctrine and Covenants" or an automatic baby rocker. He shall have both. Miss Cleghorn shall have new shoes, but I'll take care not to leave them on the desk in room ten. To Prof. Hansen I'll bring a pair of scales oh which to make his "trial balance." Prof. Ridges wants "The Old-time Religion." I'll give Mrs. Reeder some gum Art gum, of course. Prof. Nichols should have a baton, but I fear he would use it for other purposes besides leading the band, so I'll give him the music to the "Song Milinda Sings." Nothing will please Mrs. Shurtliff better than more dignity in her elocution class. To Coach McKay I'll bring my illustrated book on "Basket Ball in the Polar Regions," together with a tin whistle. Miss Engstrom desires order in the study hall, but in her stocking she shall find a picture book and also some fudge. Last, but not least there is Prof. Cowles. What does he need? Rich in favor and in love. With all the qualities of a true man Seniors, thou art rich in his love I'll bring him success and sweet content." BECKY, '12. ACORN 11 Tad "School? Yu want to go to school? How kin I spare yu, your company is all that I have to cheer the dreary moments. It the candle is burnin' low, will yu get another while yu kin see? I was just going to remark as I heard the wind whistlin' and I thought of us two bein' here alone, that it was just such weather as this when we laid your mother in the snow-covered ground. Now you want to go away; no I can't spare yu." Tad did not reply, but adjusted the candle and turned away, lest his tear-filled eyes should betray his feelings. The old man also turned, and looked into the flickering fire. The night was cold, so they retired early thus saving light and fuel. The next day was one of mental conflict for Tad. He wanted to be somebody. "If I could only be the hero of some great deed," thought he, and he imagined himself a man of distinguished valor, lie pictured in his mind certain men whom he admired and wanted to become as they not thinking what it took to reach those heights. "Did those men ever have any resistance to overcome a quick temper, or evil thoughts did they have no money with which to acquire an education?" his thoughts continued. Then a feeling of despair came over him. Again and again he reflected, "What a monotonous life this is, I have a home, but very little affection abides there; my conditions are, such that I can never become anything. What is this world anyway? Who made it, who created its Creator? From whence did I come and to where am I going? Is all a dream? No, I know that I exist but that's about all. I'll try to find out; I'll leave this place and go to school. If dad won't give me the money I'll go off and earn it, he don't need to think I have to depend on him for a living. I'll go away tonight and get located in town before the New Year." The thought of going away was carried into effect. When the aged man was not in the house Tad entered, dressed in his shabby suit, and took a coin from his father's purse. He was about to go, when he decided to leave a note telling of his departure. It was sometime before Tad's father noticed the note. He had stepped to the table to light the candle when he noticed the small piece of paper with a pencil beside it. He moved it back and forth until his faint eyesight caught the; writing an expression of surprise came over his face, he stepped back, sank to a chair, and with his face buried in his hands he sobbed, "Gone, gone." How often does youth, when that feeling of independence asserts itself, go to the extreme and say to the world, "I owe you nothing." (Continued on Page 21)