CLASS PROPHECY
Christmas came, with all its anticipated joys, and went all too swiftly
into the past, leaving behind it a precious store of happy memories.
The New Year found the girls of Briarwood back at school, fresh from
their holiday and ready for the hardest work of the year. The days were
well filled with study and play. New friendships were formed and old
ones strengthened, and a spirit of happiness and of honest comradeship
prevailed in the school as the girls worked together.
Marcia was gone, and no one regretted her absence. She never returned to
redeem the lamp or, as Miss Harland had half hoped she would, to offer
an apology and explanation of why she had "borrowed" Alison's lamp, and
the other pieces of property belonging to others, which she had
appropriated without leave, and returned in so cavalier a fashion. They
heard of her now and then in the course of the next few years--sometimes
in the lists of schools in the different cities to which her father's
business took him; later, she appeared occasionally in the society pages
of the papers.
Later still came the announcement of her marriage to a young man well
known in society circles; after which she was heard of no more, and the
trouble she had caused in the school was forgotten in the other
interests that had taken its place.
The Sophomore, Junior and Senior years of the "Kindred Spirits" and
their friends were successfully passed, and at length came the day, so
long worked for and looked forward to, when, with their school honors
won, the members of the Senior class were ready to throw off the cap and
gown, receive their diplomas and step forth as full-fledged graduates,
equipped for life in their various ways, each hoping to fulfill her
ambition and to realize the cherished hope that lay nearest her heart.
The "Kindred Spirits" were gathered for the last time in Alison's and
Joan's room, to look over and comment on the new Annual, _Briarwood
Bells_. The class history was pronounced fairly good. In their Freshman
year they had made good in athletics. As Sophomores, there had been some
drawbacks in the first half of the year, but these had been made up by
the work of the latter half. Their "verdant days" were past, and they
realized the importance of faithful work.
With the Junior year came new interests and hopes. The principal event
in this year, in the girls' memories, was the "Junior-Senior banquet,"
the end and aim of existence for the time being. And now, with the close
of the Senior year the class had won its laurels, concluded the
Historian; and one sensed the long breath of relief with which she
finished her task.
"Pretty good, on the whole," Joan pronounced. "Nothing brilliant, but I
think Miss Harland will consider that we have upheld the honor of
Briarwood."
Kathy turned the pages, and then suddenly closed the book.
"Girls, I have an idea. Before we read the class prophecy, let us each
tell our plans and ambitions for the future, and see how they tally with
what Helen has foretold for us--"
"And let us meet here in this very room, ten years from now, and see how
many of her prophecies have come true." That was Joan's suggestion.
"All right," assented Kathy. "Who will begin?"
"You. You started this thing," said Rachel.
"Very well. I expect to teach for a few years, and then to be a trained
nurse. Now you, Alison."
"I want to do a lot of things, but most of all, I want to come back here
and teach at Briarwood," said Alison earnestly.
"Good! Then you'll be here to welcome us when we meet in ten years,"
Joan applauded. "As for me, I'm going to fly.... You will hear of me
some day as the famous woman aviator."
"I'm going to travel to the ends of the earth," was Polly's
contribution. "Perhaps I'll fly with Polly."
It was Rachel's turn. "I'm not so ambitious as Polly and Jo. Mine is to
be the best teacher of Domestic Science that I know how to be. I
specialized in that, you know."
"Fine! Mine is to teach music and play at big concerts," said Evelyn.
"Now, Rosalind, how are you going to distinguish yourself?"
Rosalind smiled and blushed all over her pretty flower-like face.
"Why--I hadn't quite made up my mind. I guess I'll just have a good time
for a while, and then be--a lawyer."
There was a shout of laughter. Kathy had been writing, and now read her
notes: "A teacher at Briarwood; a flyer; a great traveler; a Domestic
Science teacher; a musician; a lawyer; and a trained nurse. Most of the
professions seemed to be represented. Briarwood will have cause to be
proud of us. Now let us see what the Class Prophet has to say of us."
She turned the pages to one headed
CLASS PROPHECY
and began to read. The "prophecy" purported to be items from newspapers
of the future, and some of the extracts are of interest to our readers.
The first ran thus:
"Misses Polly Worthington and Evelyn Kingsley have recently opened their
Music Studio. Miss Worthington will give instruction in voice and Miss
Kingsley in piano. Both young ladies distinguished themselves in these
branches at college."
* * * * *
"The public will be glad to hear that the best equipped hospital in the
South will shortly be opened, with Miss Alison Fair as head nurse."
* * * * *
"After finishing her course in Math. at the University of ---- in which
she did brilliantly, Miss Rachel Cameron has accepted a position as
Math. teacher at her Alma Mater."
* * * * *
"The best seller of the month is a novel by Miss Katherine Bertram, who
is winning for herself an enviable name as a writer. Her former
classmates will read her work with interest and pleasure."
* * * * *
"A recent item in a missionary magazine tells us that Miss Joan
Wentworth has decided to devote her life and talents to the
missionfield. She will sail this week for China."
* * * * *
"Miss Rosalind Forrest, the fairest ornament of her class in college, is
deeply interested in Social Service work, and is doing valuable work
along this line."
"Helen May, Historian."
Kathy looked up. "So there is our future, girls, as our Historian has
foretold it. We never know. Perhaps some of us may follow the paths she
has pointed out. But in any case we can only do our very best in
whatever place in life we may find ourselves, content and humbly glad if
we merit the Lord's commendation, 'Well done, good and faithful
servant--'"
There was a pause as Kathy stopped speaking. She had not meant to
preach, but the words had come to her instinctively, and they touched a
responsive chord in their hearts. The young faces were serious as
thoughts deeper than their merry surface banter made themselves felt.
A sweet-toned bell called them to supper. The spring evening was
falling, soft and dewy, over the gray old walls and terraces of
Briarwood. Tomorrow they would separate, never to meet again as
care-free schoolgirls; and the shadow of the parting lay on their faces
and hearts as they rose to go down. It was Joan who cheerfully said,
"To meet again--this day ten years!"
End of Project Gutenberg's Briarwood Girls, by Julia Lestarjette Glover