A Silhouette against the sky
Patterned of mortar, brick & stone,
To nobly raise its crest on high
Its mission to proclaim;
Within is reared the tender thought
Of studious daughter, earnest son.
Up through the grades they’re yearly brought
Until at last is said, “Well Done”.
Of teachers there are most a score
While many children come and go,
And buses wait outside the door
To carry scholars to and fro.
Like a pebble thrown into a stream
Its influence is spread afar,
Such institutions well may mean
To mold a nation’s destiny.
It was not ever thus, Ah no!
Another Silhouette I see.
A silhouette of long ago
Against the forest wild and wide;
A one-roomed school with desks so rude
A floor not smooth by any means,
I would not put in happy mood
A child of nowadays it seems;
Forerunner with the pioneer
It proudly occupies its place.
Indeed a school more primitive
Did good Abe Lincoln grace!
I see the pupils each and all
As though no days have gone between,
Ebbie((Ebbie, Alice and Myra McKinn)) adept at playing ball
And Ruth((Ruth and Myrtle Thomas)) of merry mien;
Alice((Ebbie, Alice and Myra McKinn)) gay and Alice((Alice Johnson, married Rev. Anderson)) shy.
Myra((Ebbie, Alice and Myra McKinn)) always jolly,
Bennie, Elise and Kate((Bennie, Elise and Kate Radell. The former of International Falls, the latter deceased)) Radell
To forget them would be folly.
Beginners were most dear to me,
And as I looked at them I’d see
Our Madeline’s((Wesley and Katie Craig and their cousin, Madeline Cathcart, grandchildren of the founder of Baudette, Thomas Cathcart Sr. The school board: J.L. Williams, Ed Thomas, T.M Cathcart, Co. Supt of Bemidji, John Regan)) sweet baby face
The cunning curls of Bertie Chase((Bert Chase of Williams)).
And little Myrtle((Ruth and Myrtle Thomas)) liked to look
At “Molly and May” in her Sunbonnet book.
And as I touch my memories o’er
I can see Wesley((Wesley and Katie Craig and their cousin, Madeline Cathcart, grandchildren of the founder of Baudette, Thomas Cathcart Sr. The school board: J.L. Williams, Ed Thomas, T.M Cathcart, Co. Supt of Bemidji, John Regan)) as before,
A life’s impression they have made—
Those soft brown eyes of Katie Craig.((Wesley and Katie Craig and their cousin, Madeline Cathcart, grandchildren of the founder of Baudette, Thomas Cathcart Sr. The school board: J.L. Williams, Ed Thomas, T.M Cathcart, Co. Supt of Bemidji, John Regan))
Now some are married, some are dead,
And some have children grown,
For this was long, long, long ago
When homesteading was all the go;
No nicer group is found today
On knowledge bent in every way,
For them I did my best I know
Because, because—I loved them so.
1904-1905