Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 19.djvu/38

 28 GEO. B. KUYKENDALL of "town ball" or "three cornered cat" being played, while others are running "lickety-split" in games of "black man" or "dare base." Just across to the west of the building on the level grade and under spreading oaks I see little fellows down on their knees, with faces near the ground imploringly calling, "Doodle bug, Doodle bug, Doo-oo-dle bug, half bushel of corn's burn- ing up," and others nearby are playing "mumble-peg." I seem to hear other voices "Keep a calling him he'll come out," or "Augh, get back there don't fud'ge! knuckle down when ye go to shoot," or "Get down close to the ground and get the peg between yer teeth." Up from the grounds below comes a sound whack, whack, whack, "One, two, three, good- black-man-for-me." When I think of this scene, there comes up the question, "Where are all those faces and forms so vibrant with joy and animation ? There are, alas, but very few of the earliest students of the old Umpqua Academy left, nearly all have answered the last summons, the school of life with them has closed, and "The names we loved to hear, Have been carved for many a year On the tomb." But many of them left their mark and we are proud of them today. Whenever we think of the old Umpqua Academy there come up many incidents, some joyous or inspiring, some sad and pathetic, others of ludicrous nature. Among the early students that attended the academy, there were a number that boarded at the home of John Kuykendall, some were there two or three winters. Among these there were tall Frank Carter, and small George Yale, both of whom, when seen together seemed to belong to the "odd sizes." We boys had beds up stairs in my father's house. Early one morn- ing the sight of Frank's pants and clothes on a chair, by the side of his bed suggested a practical joke and some sport. One of the boys slipped into Frank's room and took his clothes and left in their place a suit of George Yale's. He then hid all