smile at each other from quite a distance. In the beginning when a girl smiled at you, it was the custom to look around to see if some other boy was near that she could be possibly smiling at, and if there was no other boy, then you were her chosen sweetheart, provided you did not already have girl. I believe I was the one credited with getting permission to have dates with the girls every other Saturday night, that was because the boys figured that you would do most any reasonable favor asked provided it were asked in the right manner. Believe me, we were proud of your love, friendship and understanding, although we all caused you quite a lot of worry, which in itself was harmless. While reminiscing on dates with the girl friends, I recall once when you surely got next to me, and that was when Ruth Small and I had an infatuation for each other. One night we were having dates in 1-G. She and I had our chairs almost behind the door leading into the hall. You came in the door and missing me, asked as to my whereabouts. Maurice Mullis pointed me out to you (apologies to my being so deeply in love at the tender age of thirteen) and then you lectured Ruth and me on being so serious, telling us that we only had a case of puppy love. Of course I was deeply hurt that you could not see that it was real love. (I certainly do get a kick out of it all now.) Along about the age of sixteen I began to think I was quite the stuff. (Please pardon the slang.) Pop Perry and I were the first ones caught for slipping out with the girls. Pop told Mr. Brown that night after a third degree, that we were not the only ones going out with the girls. I could have gladly choked him, because I knew of the others, but had learned by that time not to "tell." Pop didn't tell any names, but Mr. Brown was so insistent that he did tell of "others." You will recall that next morning, in Chapel, Mr. Brown announced that we were caught and he knew that others besides Pop and I had been slipping out. He asked them to come to his office and admit the deed. I think, all told, there were thirty of us. Pop, our two girls and I, had stayed in the lock-up for two days and nights. Mr. Brown knew he could not ship thirty, so the final punishment was that he subjected each boy and girl that confessed to the same punishment ?hat we had already undergone, that was, two days and nights in the lock-up. Do you recall how we would get up around four o'clock in the morning, run and walk a number of miles to a lily patch and return before breakfast with arms full of lilies for our girls? One morning we delivered to you a tub full of wild lilies--the girls did not receive flowers that morning because we gave them all to you. Going back four or five years before all this, I remember a deep snow and all the boys were snowballing each other. The supper bell rang, and those that were not snowballing ran out of the cottage. There was a great oak right near the Fourth Boys' Cottage and I had gotten behind it to keep from getting hit by a snowball. I had gained enough courage to look from behind the tree after the bell rang, to see if the coast was clear, when a snowball, thrown by Cornegia Warren, missed the tree and hit me full force right in the eye. Kidlike, I bawled and howled, and after supper I had to tell Mr. Brown all about it. He was at that time living in the wing of the main building. He talked to me quite fatherly-like and explained that it was an accident and that Cornegia did not intend to hit me. To make me feel better, he gave me a nice big red apple, which cured my eye immediately. (Those were the great old days! ) In my last years at the Orphanage, do you recall how the boys would prompt me to ask you to allow us to work in the Manual Training room? How great the pleasure was to us to learn to make things with our hands. I really think the most pleasure I ever got out of anything was when you allowed Troy Smith, Ernest Tart, Maurice Mullins and me to take the old mule and wagon and go for holly for you with which to decorate at Christmas time. That was the time when we cut down the big holly tree for you to send North to your home. Do you remember the name I gave the old mule? Exema. Never shall I forget Exema I That was the slowest animal I have ever seen, without a doubt. On this holly-hunting trip you had packed for us a lunch consisting of eggs, cheese and bread. We did have such a marvelous time cooking eggs and eating all of the lunch around noontime. We also carried lunch for Exema, which was only hay. The only time I ever saw that mule in a hurry was when he was eating. The most enjoyable time was during Christmas week. You would always allow me to assist you in decorating the Chapel, and Christmas Eve night when we received gifts from the Orphanage and from one another there was no greater thrill to any child. Do you recall the stepladder that was used in your outer office? For several years I think I was one of many that wore the shine off that ladder. Especially one time, I recall quite vividly. It was on a day when several of us fellows had been throwing spit-balls in the school room and were taken down to your office and "raked over the coals." Finally, we were forced to sit on the stepladder. (To the best of my memory there were four of us.) I was somewhere around the middle step of this ladder which was of an unusual construction. After you had left us to our punishment, I suddenly conceived the idea of moving the catch which caused the stepladder to spread out. Was there a lot of squalling and scrambling by the other boys, though of course no one was hurt. I don't believe you were able to find out the boy responsible for the catch being released at that time. I suppose my last year there was the most wonderful. As you will possibly recall, I came to you asking that I be allowed the privilege of trying to complete my last two years in one. I still don't know how I made it, however, I was given my diploma along with the rest of the eleventh grade pupils. The summer before our departure in the fall was something of a lark for all of us. We were all allowed by you to do almost as we pleased. You were a Mother to all of us, and our days were brightened always by your kindness and understanding. How you ever endured and tolerated our many demands and wishes is beyond my comprehension.

By M. JOHNSON BAILEY.

Note. The lockup referred to was the small dormitory between the two larger dormitories. The room commanded a view of the campus and all other cottages and was only five steps from the cottage mother's sleeping room. Either she or another girl or boy was always near to be called if needed. Following the siege of "flu" time lost in school was made up as fast as possible. Eleven members finished tenth grade in school; three boys had good positions, one girl took training for nurse, five others entered colleges, one by finishing our course in telegraphy entered Harvard Radio School. Two students of previous years had also attended this school, one being wireless operator on a boat and had made several trips across, two girls had graduated at the Hygeia Hospital, Richmond.

Chapter LIII

Later in summer that year the children with their teachers and bountiful lunches went to the woods on Saturday afternoon picnics; some to the "Thousand Dollar Spring," others up "Fox's Railroad" --- names handed down year after year, origin unknown except to the boys, still others sought more remote places. The younger members of each group played among the trees, the older ones walked and talked until time to prepare supper and cook the wienies. At dusk they came slowly back tired but happy. Sometimes the more adventuresome ones went too far and a searching party was sent for them. The boys who roamed the woods at all times preferred to go by themselves, but they were sure to be back at the supper bell to help the matron wash their dishes and reset the tables for breakfast as a help to the girls.

Chapter LIV

An interesting note in the year's report tells of many former pupils and their work, showing that they are taking their places in the world, improving opportunities and becoming good citizens: In navy 3, army 2, telegraphy 3, electrician 1, farm 10, merchant marine 6, linotype operator 5, painter 8, telephone combination man 1, manager storage battery 1, lineman 1, railroad telegraph operator 1, private operator 6, assistant cashier 1, worker in bank 1, tree surgeon 1, factory 2, mill 2, shoe repair business 11, clerk 11, stenographer 8, in college 4, returned to homes but in school 14, welfare worker 1, trained nurse 14, in training for teacher 12, postal clerk 1, girls married 20, business course 2, department manager pulp mill 1, preacher 1. One boy wrote from Archangel, Russia, others from Barbadoes and Uruguay. In 1931 we received a Christmas message from the United States Ship Helena, a patrol force in the South China Sea, from Dan - so glad to hear. Some of the girls on leaving the orphanage returned to relatives; others had choice of two courses, to attend college or take training for a nurse. Both of these last offered the exceptional advantage of a few more years of oversight before being thrown on their own resources. FIRST GIRLS' COTTAGE All children leaving had a very substantial outfit furnished them which was easy to supply for the teacher pupils, but the nurses' uniforms were a "snare and a delusion." Each hospital had a different uniform which must not vary a' single inch from their style; the dresses must be of a certain pattern and color, the aprons to completely cover the dress skirt, with a certain number of inches for a hem, and a waist band of two buttons, must have bibs, also two dozen adjustable collars and cuffs. "Job" wasn't even on the grounds either. I often wonder why we were not told how many stitches to use in the making. In those days nurses were supposed to consider themselves the most important member of any household. We gained our experience of nurses from the trained nurses who came to help at our hospital. Some of these we liked very much, but each one had to have one of our own girls to wait on her, an attention which I knew was impossible at most homes. Talking to our girls when leaving, I said, "Now girls, after you finish your course and are on a `case,' don't act as if 'Wisdom will die with you.' Give the older members of the family credit for a reasonable amount of common sense, and don't expect them to wait on you. Remember you have learned to wait on yourselves."

Chapter LV

Year by year the institution was growing rapidly in numbers, more courses were being added to the school requiring additions to the faculty. The already overworked kitchen matron was given an assistant and girls working in the cook room, up at five o'clock in the morning were given remuneration for their services. This added greatly to their interest in both work and school, as they wished to keep up with their studies. The old painted blackboards were replaced with slate boards, and individual desks were placed in each room, instead of the old double desks. With our three-hour sessions, outside study was necessarily required and at this time we emphasized the importance of supervised study in all grades. Definite periods were set aside for this as we considered time well spent in teaching children how to study, to grasp the meaning of the text, to think clearly, to select the important facts in each subject and to correct poor habits of study. Field trips were taken with geography and nature classes. We have endeavored to gain from the pupils fluent pronunciation, a clear, distinct articulation and a pleasing rendering of the thought. The primary, grades have read seven and eight standard readers a year. We hope by giving constant attention to reading in the earlier years to lay a good foundation for effective work in grammar grades. About this time the age limit for boys to leave the orphanage was extended; heretofore they had been required to leave at sixteen-too young to be sent out to earn a living. At once a growing interest was apparent, more boys started to work toward a college education, urged on perhaps by observing girls returning on a vacation at different times and seeing the value of their advanced work and different attitudes. As they displayed a love of learning and a desire to go higher we urged that the boys be allowed to remain to finish their grades. After this was granted and the age for leaving was fixed at 18, many boys wished to go to college. The A. B. Andrews school fund was established to help children to take a college course by borrowing from the fund. They were expected to pay this back when they could, so that other students could use the money again. Some did not do this. We had not been told who had borrowed from the fund, but we tried to teach more earnestly the payment of debts and urge students to be true to their pledges.

Chapter LVI

In 1920, seventy large pictures, copies of famous paintings and photos of noted buildings, were purchased, framed and hung in the various cottages. Teachers and pupils made the selections, if they wished, and everyone enjoyed them. The library was moved to the south end of the main building with space for a much larger reading room and an increased interest in reading was observed.

Chapter LVII

In the early days we invited all "who wanted to learn some old songs to come to chapel. "Do you know any college songs?" we said. "No, we never heard any." "Let's learn some." We began with "Jingle Bells," "The Quilting Party," "Good Night Ladies," and others. The chapel filled so rapidly we had to divide the evenings. Then we learned, "Flow Gently Sweet Afton," "Robin Adair," "Loch Lomond," "Annie Laurie" and many more. The father of one of the teachers told me one time, "I always have a public reason and a private reason for all I do." I had practiced this idea many times, but had never heard it stated just that way. Now it seemed a good time to use it in the following instance.  We wanted to interest more boys in singing and later to teach concert singing for the cottages. It was pleasant, on summer evenings, after supper and prayers had been held at each cottage, to see the children sitting on the porches and hear them singing. Often a hymn would be sung on one of the girls' porches and a minute later a return hymn from a boys' cottage would come floating across the campus. If several cottages were singing at the same time voices were softened so as not to disturb each other. Music was taught in all the grades when a music teacher was provided. Lessons in music appreciation were given, the pupils learning to recognize selections from famous composers and operas. Choruses and choirs were formed and concerts given in the chapel. The month of December was given to carol singing - many Christmas carols, old and new, were learned. Groups sang carols Christmas Eve at different points on the campus and in town. Less time was needed for singing class practice than heretofore. Bands came by frequently and gave short selections in front of the ,,main building. At once porches and campus were filled with listeners. One little boy expressing his delight, disporting himself turning somersaults on the campus near the band was heard to remark, "I know what that is `The Stars and Stripes Forever'." Bands from Raleigh Lodges frequently gave concerts and entertainments in the chapel. "Daddy Price," as he was called, had charge of these. The children will remember him.

 Chapter LVIII

Scraps of paper left from "The Orphans Friend," our newspaper, were being discarded at the printing office. We asked permission to have some sent to the Manual Arts room. It came in truck loads, was sorted to different lengths and with the aid of a cutting machine which we purchased was cut into tablet lengths, the boys gluing the ends with thin muslin. Quite presentable tablets were made, saving the cost of buying for the school for years. We had made seventeen thousand, large and small, quite an unbelievable number unless one saw them piled high on shelves in one of the fourth floor rooms. Some small tablets made of fine quality paper, blue, pink and white, were often sold to visitors. At one time a director who had ever shown much interest in the Manual Arts Department, purchasing many articles, kept sending for more and more tablets until the supply was exhausted. A permanent exhibit of work in this department was placed in a room of main building prepared for it. An exhibit from all departments was sent to the State Fair in October. One summer morning as we were marching into chapel for prayers, a girl said to me pleasantly, "Miss Bemis, did you know your dress was on wrong side out?" "Why, no," I said, looking down. The dress was a figured lawn my sister had made for me. As the last child walked in, I went to my cottage to investigate. The tiny seams were so nicely sewed with such closely cut edges it really was difficult to tell the right from the wrong side, but trust the girls to notice such things. I was so surprised I don't remember whether I even said, "Thank you," but I blessed the girl who so kindly looked across her marching mate to tell me.

Chapter LIX

The year 1921, as I look back, seems to have been a year of many valuable additions to the orphanage grounds. The swimming pool given the children by the Shriners of Oasis and Sudan Temples appealed to them more than anything they had ever had, and something they had never dreamed of. It was too wonderful to believe The boys would not have to go over on the low grounds and take a dip in the muddy water of a narrow hole they had made by banking rocks against a muddy bank to hold water as it flowed down from the thousand dollar spring on the hill above. What a joyful sight that pool was--a thing of beauty one hundred feet long and twenty-five feet wide. The first time it was filled the boys lined up on one side eager for the fray. I thought many would not go in at first, but at the signal not a boy was left on the walk, in the twinkling of an eye every boy had disappeared, nothing to be seen but heads bobbing up all over the pool. The girls given swimming lessons soon learned all the strokes and dives which the boys already knew. For true genuine enjoyment nothing ever seemed to equal the sports at that pool. All during the seasons it was in constant use. Contests were held and the physical development of the children showed noticeable improvement. The two athletic directors were active in work with boys and girls, giving their full time to children during recreation periods. Forty-seven boys passed the athletic badge test, receiving medals for efficiency. Life saving rescue methods were taught for which badges and pins were awarded by Red Cross instructors who came to test the applicants. A continual round of games followed, baseball, basket and volley ball, tennis, and folk dances, all in recreation time. Exhibits of these dances were held in costume, in winter and on the campus in summer, all so very interesting to us who watched, to visitors and strangers. By this time we had three hundred and seventy-five children and at one time four hundred and nineteen. We were crowded in cottages, school and dining rooms, but the children played and played never seeming to tire. The girls enjoyed learning the folk dances as much as we did their exhibitions. Every girl old enough, played on a ball team in winter. Our rendezvous in cold weather was always Masonic Hall. Here parties, games and drills were held, shouts of applause echoing far and wide for winners, some over enthusiastic youngsters joining in on all cheers given by the leaders, of whichever side.

Chapter LX

The decision to erect a hospital on the grounds to be known as the William J. Hicks Memorial Hospital in memory of our beloved superintendent, was also made during this year of many valuable additions to the orphanage plant. The long, long years that Mrs. Austin had worked and nursed at the old hospital until the William J. Hicks Memorial was completed would be a story itself beginning in the days before Colonel Hicks took charge at Oxford. The grand, new building fully equipped and beautiful in it appointments was opened in 1924. It gave room for seventy beds and in time of need could double its capacity. Ample room was reserved for contagious diseases. Many epidemics were averted in after years by careful attention given to a suspicious case. All newcomers were required to spend a certain time there for physical examination before mingling with other children. Always so spotlessly kept by the three in charge, it was a haven of rest to sick children, and members of the faculty remember with grateful hearts, the kind attention bestowed on them in time of distress. The very atmosphere radiated sympathy and a feeling of security and infinite peace came over one on entering its doors.

Chapter LXI

Cottage mothers were being placed in the buildings relieving teachers of any share in this work. The mothers devoted their time to care and training of thirty-six to forty. boys or girls seeking to make a home where mother would welcome them at close of school or work hours, ready to give help when needed and interest them in various ways according to individual needs. What a relief ! We had looked forward to this change for some time and now the extra expense could be met.

Five hours in school was the daily requirement of town pupils. We had three hours in school and half a day in some department. Therefore to give our pupils the required time we used two hours at night for study periods and with this rating our high school was added to the state accredited list.

The cottage mothers had charge of study periods during which time strict quiet was observed, seating planned to give best light possible, but study rooms were crowded, often overflowing into halls.

Our school year of forty weeks closed in mid June and in September of this year, 1922, diplomas were awarded students who had completed four years of high school work. This was the first time diplomas had been presented to pupils of the orphanage. Nine of the ten graduates entered college; we had eleven grades with one hundred and twenty-two enrolled in high school. Golden opportunities were opening to all students who wished to gain an education: gifts from Masonic friends, Grand Commandery, Eastern Star Chapters, Mocksville picnic fund and Educational Loan fund all responded royally to the students' needs. Commencements were held each year from this time on.

Mr. Barnhart, of the Oxford schools, offered a gold medal for the best declamation by a member of our senior class, selections to be taken from High School Ideals by Hamilton. Great interest was aroused and prizes began to be offered for excellence in reading and scholarship in high schools, others were offered for grammar grades. Many contests were held and judges decided each case. One prize in which all the faculty took part was for the boy or girl showing the best orphanage spirit during the year: this was closely contested. Mr. Pinnix in his booklet, "Oxford Orphanage," dated 1925, says, "Four or five ballots were required to make a decision this year nine pupils coming so close to winning that the judges awarded them all honorable mention."

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