Verhovayak Lapja, 1943. január-június (26. évfolyam, 1-25. szám)

1943-04-08 / 14. szám

April, 8, 1943

Verhovayak Lapja

It was a beautiful autumn. The maples, sumacs, and oaks on the hill-sides were changing to just the right shades of gold, crimson and russet. Just the right colors, interspersed with some green, to complete a beautiful patchwork quilt fashioned by Mother Nature herself. The descending sun was followed by gorgeous amber and rose streaks of light which seemed to have splashed from an artist’s palette on the clear blue sky.

As Madge Davis looked out the ■window of the living room of her home, a large “V” shaped formation of migrating birds sailed across the sky. During World War II, that “V” had stood for so much — for everyone’s hopes and aspirations, for everything worth having in life — for VICTORY. And Victory, as the American people had fervently believed, had come at last. True, some changes had been made in the lives of everyone. Standards of living had changed, and people had changed — they were a little old and a little wiser — but they were happy that the American freedom had been won; rather, it had been preserved by the fighting forces and by the people behind the lines. Madge, as she mused, thought how fond she was of birds — particularly, when they flew in that arrangement.

For her it had been a long wait — the waiting for Victory and for John. She was to have married John in the summer of 1942, but the week after December, 7, 1941, John Hughes, who had just started on a brilliant and promising career in his special field of engineering, had decided he wished to offer his services to his country. Very sadly, but courageously, Madge had said goodby to John. She had decided not to marry hastily; rather, she intended to wait for him and hope that he would return unscathed physically, and without having let anything make him bitter in any way. John had been assigned to help engineer the new highway through Canada to Alaska — the road which had figured so importantly in the gaining of American Victory. Yes, Madge had been proud of John, though she had worried about him — and letters had sometimes been so delayed! But her patient and trustful waiting was to be rewarded. John had returned just as fine as ever, and in addition, he had made a name for himself. In just a few days, she would become the bride of John Hughes, in the beautiful church which she and John had attended since childhood. They would have an elaborate ceremony, and receive their scores •f friends.

Transportation, of course, was a problem now — even more acute than during the war; but all the guests were making a special effort to come to her wedding. Already, though it was still three days before the wedding, guests were in town. They had come early in order to get seats on the over-crowded busses. The large Chippendale table in the dining room was practically overflowing with elegant looking gifts. John’s red roses on the radio were gorgeous “He’s getting me white ones for my bouquet,” she said, half aloud. “Oh, yes, I must remember to call tomorrow to see if the orange blossoms for my wreath will be available,” Madge said, as she tried to think if she’d overlooked anything in the plans for her wedding. Her blue eyes had the detached concentrative mood depicted in them. She would have made an interesting model for the modern and feminine version of "The Thinker.” Her yellow blouse brought out the golden glints in her light brown hair, which she had worn in many curls, a few years ago, but which was now bobbed short a^d softly waved Her large blue \ibbon near her white throat matched the blue of her plaid skirt which came about four inches below her knees. The posture of her youthful slender body was erect — erect as of one who is undaunted and courageous.

Madge had stood by the window so long that dusk was beginning to cast its shadows, and she decided she’d retire early; for the morrow would bring many activities and problems to be handled.

Madge awoke early and aroused her friends: Claudia Sylvia, Charlotte, Nora and Dorothea. They were to be her attendants. She had’nt seen them for a long time. Madge had many pleasant memories concerning their happy relationship while they stayed at the dormitory and attended college for four happy years, Claudia, just as in day’s gone by, had a smart retort to make to anyone who awakened her before noon “Since when have you been elected to ring the rising bell?” This started the jolly laughing and happy chatter of the girls, who were all together for the first time in years.

The breakfast was enlivened by the remarks and teasing about cooking, directed at Madge, who was soon to be a housewife.

“Well, you know, girls, milk is an almost perfect food; and it comes ready to serve. And raw vegetable salads can be served without any danger of scorching,” said Madge.

All the girls laughed, save Nora. She remarked, very

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Calendar of M

Verhovay

Socials

APRIL 25TH, EASTER SUNDAY.

— Branch 288, St. Clairsville, and Branch 432, Crescent, Ohio.

— To hold Service Flag Dedication at 2:30 P. M. and Dance at 6:00 P. M. at Verhovay Hall. Crescent, Ohio. Music by Hudkay Orchestra.------------------V

NOTICE

Branch 14 Cleveland, Ohio

All members of Br. b who have sons in the arme forces, please send me thei names and military a( dresses. We have an hone roll and would like t place the names of all ov boys who are in the Sen ice, on this roll.

Fraternally,

LOUIS VASSY, 12511 Benwood Ave.

Cleveland, Ohio.------------------v-----------------ACCIDENTALLY

Affable Waiter — “How did you find that steak, sir?”

Guest — “Oh, quite accidentally; I moved that piece of potato and there it was underneath.”----------v---------DELAYING BLISS

Murphy: “Was your

bachelor party a success?”

Moody: “Whas it? Man alive, we had to postpone the wedding for a whole week.”

seriously, “It’s easy for you to make light remarks about such matters, but if you had to budget your money as I have to, you’d think about cooking seriously!” (To be Continued.)

A DAY IN TOWN-------------------- By KATHRYN RAW ------------------What’s keeping you so long, Letty? Must you powder your nose again? After all, we’ve only about three or four hours to spend in town; and goodness knows, we’ve got a million things Jo do. And tell Essie to come along, too, and Bill, and where is Nancy? That child can disappear into thin air every time I want her.

Letty! Oh, Let-ty! Come on along! I’ve got the motor going, and you know gas is rationed, and no sense in wasting it.

Thank goodness, you’re ready at last! A fellow would think we were going to the North Pole, the time it takes you to get ready.

Bill, take your feet off the seat, and Nancy, stop snapping your gum.

Boy, it’s good to hit the open road. Just listen to the car purr, like a contented cat on a warm hearth. And doesn’t she run smooth? And breathe that air! Isn’t it invigorating? Spring is the most beautiful season of all! It makes a man feel life is worth while, after the cold snow storms of the winter.

Yes, Letty, I plowed up the west end of the field yesterday. The earth was rich and brown, and the soil grew warm when the sun shone on it. While I plowed, I could almost see the new corn growing up out of the earth, and hear the wind singing among the tall stalks.

You want me to step on it, Letty? Well, I told you to hurry, but you would stand before your mirror and put on a second coat of paint. How can I make up for the time you wasted primping?

Well, now, here we are. You look around in this shop, while I drive the car to the parking lot.

That didn’t take too long, did it, Letty? What shall we do first? You say you want to buy two pairs of those polka dotted Swiss curtains you saw here, the last time we were in town? All right, we’ll buy them! Anything to make you happy, dear! Here they are. They are pretty, at that, and will brighten up the parlor. They don’t cost too much, either.

Essie, you say you want a record of the Beer Barrel Polka? Is that the music you and Herby like to jitterbug to? All right, Miss, we’U buy the record. Thirty-five cents, plus tax? Thank you. But I can’t understand why jitterbugging is called dancing, though. In my day, the waltz was considered the most beautiful type of dance. A fellow didn’t have to be an acrobat, either. Remember the lovely Strausá music we used to waltz to, Letty? But I guess times have changed, and people have changed, too. Now, I didn’t do the things my folks did before me, so I suppose I shouldn’t expect our children to do the things we did, when we were their age.

You say I promised you a pair of skates when you cleaned up the garage and the horses’ stall, Bill? So, I did! You shall have them! Are these the pair you want? Wrap them up, Miss, please, and we’ll take them.

And Nancy, what was it you wanted? Oh, I remember, a

nurse’s kit! I guess you can buy one; here’s the cash to pay the saleslady for it. You did a neat job when you tied up the dog’s tail the time it was caught in the barn door.

Letty, don’t forget to buy some flower seeds for the boxes. Let’s see, now, pansies will look pretty in Essie’s window-box; and, bachelor buttons ought to grow hardy in Nancy’s box; and you want petunias and nasturtiums in your box, Letty? That’s right, Miss, we’ll take a package of each of those seeds. Flowers in a window-box always make a house more beautiful, adds color to the place.

You say you want to take in a movie, Bill? Let’s see — there’s Will Rogers’ son, Jimmy, playing in Dudes Are Pretty People at the Crystal Palace Theatre. I think we can spend an hour or so, to see that. . We won’t have time to take in the second feature, though.

You didn’t like the picture because the hero didn’t get the girl in the end, Essie? You’re too romantic! But did you see how the boys got the wild horses into camp? Made me feel like riding the range again!

On, Joe’s opened a new lunch room on Main Street, and he sells Wonder Hot Dogs — wieners baked in waffle batter. His place is only three blocks from here; let’s go there and have sor#2 of his famous frankfurters. My! aren’t they good! Have another one, Letty. No, Nancy, one is enough for you, drink your milk. While you sip your root beer, Essie and Bill, I’ll go and get the car from the parking lot.

Oh, hello, Ted! Yes, we’re in town for the day. I brought the wife and children in for a holiday. Letty wanted some new curtains for the parlor, and the children enjoyed the leisure hours. They’re finishing their lunch now, at Joe’s new place, while I get the car from the parking lot. Yes, I’ll tell them you said “Hello!"

Get in, family, we’ve got to hurry now, we stayed longer than I intended us to. But it was fun at that, wasn’t it? Wish we had the time to do this more often. Nancy, don’t sit on Essie’s record! Bill, you hold the curtains, so they won’t get crushed. By the way, X met Ted a few minutes ago, and he said “Hello!”

How can I look at the violets along the roadside when I’m driving, Letty? I know they are lovely! My, this country air is refreshing! It’s good to come back into the quiet and peace of the country after a day in town. Not that I don’t like city people, but crowds are noisy. And, then, I like the open spaces, where a fellow has plenty of room to stretch out his arms, whenever he wants to.

Bill, you’ll have to help me milk the cows today. And Essie, you’ll have to feed the chickens, and Nancy can give them fresh water. I suppose Letty will be busy putting up the new curtains, so I’ll plant the flower seeds in the boxes. Yes, sir, that’s just what this place needs, flowers in the window-boxes, to make our house beautiful.