United States -- Social life and customs -- 20th century -- Fiction
Kane scribbled H.M. Carver at the top of the card and then proceeded to
fill it in rapidly. He hastily explained the symbols that he was using,
but he did not say anything about the courses. When he had completed the
schedule, he copied it on another card, handed one to Hugh, and stuck
the other into a filing-box.
"Anything else?" he asked, turning his blond, blank face toward Hugh for
the first time.
Hugh stood up. There were a dozen questions that he wanted to ask. "No,
sir," he replied. "Very well, then. I am your regular adviser. You will
come to me when you need assistance. Good day."
"Good day, sir," and as Hugh passed out of the door, the gruff voice
bawled, "Next!" The boy nearest the door rose and entered the sanctum.
Hugh sought the open air and gazed at the hieroglyphics on the card.
"Guess they mean something," he mused, "but how am I going to find out?"
A sudden fear made him blanch. "I bet I get into the wrong places. Oh,
golly!"
* * * * *
Then came the upper-classmen, nearly seven hundred of them. The quiet
campus became a bedlam of excitement and greetings. "Hi, Jack. Didya
have a good summer?"... "Well, Tom, ol' kid, I sure am glad to see you
back."... "Put her there, ol' scout; it's sure good to see you."
Everywhere the same greetings: "Didya have a good summer? Glad to see
you back." Every one called every one else by his first name; every one
shook hands with astonishing vigor, usually clutching the other fellow
by the forearm at the same time. How cockily these lads went around the
campus! No confusion or fear for them; they knew what to do.
For the first time Hugh felt a pang of homesickness; for the first time
he realized that he wasn't yet part of the college. He clung close to
Carl and one or two other lads in Surrey with whom he picked up an
acquaintance, and Carl clung close to Hugh, careful to hide the fact
that he felt very small and meek. For the first time _he_ realized that
he was just a freshman--and he didn't like it.
Then suddenly the tension, which had been gathering for a day or so,
broke. Orders went out from the upper-classmen that all freshmen put on
their baby bonnets, silly little blue caps with a bright orange button.
From that moment every freshman was doomed. Work was their lot, and
plenty of it. "Hi, freshman, carry up my trunk. Yeah, you, freshman--you
with the skinny legs. You and your fat friend carry my trunk up to the
fourth floor--and if you drop it, I'll break your fool necks."...
"Freshman! go down to the station and get my suit-cases. Here are the
checks. Hurry back if you know what's good for you."... "Freshman! go
up to Hill Twenty-eight and put the beds together."... "Freshman! come
up to my room. I want you to hang pictures."
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