College stories; Women college students -- Juvenile fiction
"No, child, for all we did yesterday was to register and pass in
our programmes. You sent them word that you were delayed at home by
sickness in the family and won't be fined, but ordinarily when we fail
to register on time we are fined five dollars. To-day we are to go to
the classes which usually meet on Friday. I have mathematics at nine
and German at ten, and probably you will be in the same divisions. It's
mighty hard to think of studying these glorious days. How I'd enjoy a
twenty-mile horseback ride over the hills this morning! I wonder where
I could hire a horse and if any of the other girls ride."
"Why! you wouldn't cut your recitations the very first day, would you,
Jean?"
"No, I suppose not, but I'd like to mighty well. Don't be surprised at
anything I ever do. Sometimes I fear I can't stand this living by rules
and regulations. I've always done just what I wanted to and when I
wanted to, and I shall probably forget to ask permission to do things,
especially of other girls. I'm not so sure that I approve of student
government."
"Why, it seems to me the fairest way, and I'm sure you will like it
after you become used to it. Now that I've finished unpacking I think
I'll just write a few lines to Brother, for he'll be waiting very
impatiently for my first letter. Can't you go to sleep again?"
"No, I think I'll write letters, too. I haven't had a minute before,
and I promised Tom and father faithfully that I'd write to them." And
soon the two girls were writing as though their life depended upon
it, and did not stop until the rising bell sounded. Elizabeth was as
startled as Jean had been on the previous morning, but it did not take
long to explain it to her. Soon she started downstairs for her duties
in the dining-room, but hesitated a little and said, "Jean, may I go to
chapel with you this morning?"
"Yes, we freshmen in the house agreed last night to go together; our
seats are to be in the right aisle directly back of the sophs. They say
ours is the largest entering class on record, so some of us may have to
sit in the annex. Let's go by a quarter-past eight, anyway, so as to be
in the main chapel. After chapel exercises I'll take you to the office
and help you with your registration."
When the seven freshmen from Merton walked up to chapel, six of them
felt very green indeed, but Jean held her head high and displayed her
usual composure. But when they took their places with the other three
classes and at a given signal rose while the hundred or so seniors in
cap and gown marched slowly down the center aisle to their seats on the
left, Jean felt for the first time the insignificance of a freshman and
wondered just how it would seem to be a senior.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account