The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1909-06-03
CLASS PROPHECY
By Charles A. Housh, Class of 'O9 Leon High
School.


On being asked to foretell the future |
of these ten people and provide them
with occupations in which they could
do credit to themselves and their school,
was at loss how to proceed and think
should have given it up had it not
been for a fortunate happening.
AS sat one night trying to dispose
of this difficult task l suddenly found
myself back in the old school house. 1t
seemed as though twenty years had
passed and the class of 1909 were hold
ing reunion. l knew most of the
class, but some faces did not look
familiar. All seemed glad to be to-
gether again and was soon busy shak-
ing hands with them.
Pretty soon Rev. Harry Watsabaugh
arose and clearing his throat to attract
attention, said he was sure that all
would agree with him when he said that
this was one of the happiest days Of his
life. 81 once attended" he said, "a re-
union at my college"-he talked as if
he we're president of his college, but l
have since learned that he was only a
student, and was expelled for taking
part in class scrap one evening after
SCHOOL, once attended reunion
at nv college and each member of the
class made speech and it was a great
success. Now am sure half of us could
make good speeches, and am going to
call on each of you. But first, seeing
that we have been allowed this great
happiness, think it would be right to
return thanks, so shall lead in word
of PRAYER" Well, Rev. Watsabaugh led
us ali right, but he led us in such
round about way that we began to
think that even the Lord would have
difficulty in knowing what the poor man
wanted. After about half an hour of
his rambling eloquence someone said
"amen" in such sleepy voice that he
decided to stop, though he looked
grieved at his unappreciative auditors.
Then there were calls for Herman
Deck. Herman arose with his usual
dignity and began to read poem, roll
ing his eyes toward the ceiling and
getting such a strange look on his face
that we began to be uneasy as to the
soundness Of his mind, but Herman read
on. His poem was about the smiles and
tears of life, the laurels won by work
ing without wife, and a lot more about
hnmming bees and whispering flowers,
singing birds and shaded bowers, until
we thought the muse of poetry had
been turned loose. Herman told me
afterwards that be had tried both prose
and poetry and had finally gotten a
position writing ads for a soap COM
pany.
We next called for speech by Eliza
beth Boyd. For few minutes no one
answered, and then with nervous
lump she got up but forgot her speech.
Yon see Elizabeth's name hadn't been
Boyd for long time. She had changed
tito that OF one of her classmates, and
being of retiring nature, had expected
her other half to make most of the
speeches, but she did manage to say:
"This happy occasion takes me back 20
years to the time when we graduated.
Wasn't that great occasion? Don't
you remember how dignified James look
ed in his cap and gown. And to think
we have been gone these 90 years and
have added only glory and honor to the
old school. And say, girls, don't you
remember Mr.. Senseney, that young
man teacher? Wasn't he nice? oh, yes,
many of the girls fell in love with him,
while others were lovers OF Artt.
On looking around for James, the for
mer famous tackle of our foot ball team
and who had afterwards distinguished
himself on the foot ball field at Anes
carving water for the injured, We
failed to see him, but just as the Rev
Watsabaugh arose to announce the next
speech the door opened and there stood
a corpulent man with red tie and 9
pair of tan shoes which proved to be
James. We soon called ON James FOL
a speech, but it was SO sudden a shocl
for the old man that he got up and with
that grin he used to wear on the field
when he tore through the line for :
twenty to fifty yard gain, he managed
to say, II allow had better not sa!
anything" and sat down. Then Eliza
beth looked up at James with sucl
devoted pride that was sure that shs
was proud of his talk.
We were then ready for anothe
speech, but our attention was attracted
on hearing commotion in the room. l
proved to be a quarrel between two OLE
maids, Winnie Cash and Iva Briggaman
They had gotten into an argument owe
woman's rights, and it grew more an.
more serious, until Iva took up bool
and threw it at Winnie. She misses
Winnie of course, but hit Helen Dech
a society woman, who had just com
from pink tea and whs had very ba4
nerves. She nearly tainted and tn
doctor, whom did not recognize unit
now, came hurrying to her with hi
medicine case, and when he set it Q
the desk read the name on the sid%
edgar Ketcbam, M. D." More Devil
ment, suppose). DR.. Ketcham was 500
busy reyiving his patient with littl