The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-05-23
CLASS HISTORY
School Life of the Class of 1916 Told
by Miss Claudia O'Neal at the
Closing Exercises of the
Ocala High School

Ocdld nigh SCHOu
On a bright and beautiful day in
the fall of the year 1903 band of tiny
pilgrims assembled at the foot of
steep hill, so high and SO steep that
| it would take them twelve long years
to climb it. There were many paths
leading to the summit; but these little
people, eager for the start, trusted
their good leader to choose the best.
Little did these small travellers dream
that only three of the original climbers
would reach the summit of the hill at
the end of the twelfth year. But many
new pilgrims, from time to time,
came in by bypaths and partially fill
ed the depleted ranks.
When it was time to start and the
strong leader, Miss Nellie Stephens,
had called the roll the little band
started out bravely; among the most
eager of the little company were Ava
Lee Edwards, with her bright curls
and quaint manner of shaking her
| left foot when trying to devise
means to climb over the rough places;
Ruby Fausett with all the grace and
beauty of childhood and Sidney Har-
old with her bright eyes and smiling
face. Great honor is due these three
perservering pilgrims because though
the hill was often steep and the path
was hard to follow, they never falter-
ed or looked back. So good progress
was made during the first stage of the
journey.
When the days grew hot the leader
thought it wise to rest in the shade of
the trees before beginning the next
stretch. There under the leadership
of Miss Margaret Taylor they forged
ahead, covering more territory and
gaining strength and power for the,
long stretch yet to come.
These sturdy travellers were sorry
that all their faithful guides could
not continue with them until the end,
but these same guides realizing that
they were familiar with the rough
places traversed in this part OF the
journey went back each time to help
the next band which. should come
along. And SO they were forced to
change leaders many times, always,
however, welcoming each new one
with an enthusiasm which grew into
love as the days passed by.
The third leader was Miss Fannie
Clark and the procession moved on
as before. And yet not quite as before
for new member had joined the hap
py band. A little girl, hitherto guild
ed by her mother, who FORCES ahead
by the side of Ava Lee. She is none
other than Marie Burnett.
Again the band of pilgrims toiled
on, overtaken, however, by four more
workers; Babel Atkins, strong of body
and contented of mind, Inez Sandifer,
with her graceful step and ever-ready
smile, and just before Christmas Ka-
tie Mae Eagleton, demure and ear
nest.
Besides these there entered anoth-
er who in later years was chosen his
torian of the journey.
Over two more stretches under the
guidance of Miss Souter and Miss Mi
zelle, over many troublesome rocks,
the valiant band strove onward until
Miss May Turnkey took charg eof them
and they were overtaken by two more
travellers, Martha Kate Rentz famed
for her beauty and Westlake Holm
rake, the sage of the band.
The eighth stretch when the rocks
were sharpe, the path more dim, anS