THE EIGHTH FORM PRIMER
Lest the history of our year
Through passing time grow dimmer,
We’ve gathered the choicest bits
And put them in a primer.
A stands for Athletics, Ambition, and Art,
Since they’re packed full of Action we’re glad to take part.
B is for Bumps, got when sliding at noon;
We often see stars and sometimes the moon.
C for Captain ball games, two of which we have won,
And we all agree they are jolly good fun.
D is le Duc whose French we found charming,
But a sky downstairs we think most alarming.
E is for Eighths. What else could it be?
Energetic, ecstatic, emphatic are we.
F is Friar Tuck. In our Robin Hood play
He was bluff, fat, and hearty in quite the right way.
G for Graham crackers. They’re indeed simple fare,
But they keep us from getting too much outside air.
H is the Hill, so covered with sleet
That when we come down, we can’t stay on our feet.
I stands for Icelandic. Though amusing to hear,
We think we’ll not speak it each day in the year.
J is for Joking. That is our folly
For rather than sad we choose to be jolly.
K for Kicker Sleds. They arrived last December
And furnished good sport for every class member.
L is for Luther—Burbank we were told,
Who started the Protestant reformation of old.
M is the Mascot that brings us our luck,
And we surely need him to combat Sevens’ pluck.
N for “Noblesse Oblige,” our chosen class aim.
Though sometimes we slip, we strive on just the same.
O is Old Girls’ Party, to which we escorted
The whole seventh grade; a gay time was reported.
P is for Pageant we held Columbus Day,
To tell how brave sailors to our land made way.
Q for the Quest the whole class did make
When told to make rhymes for our Tatler’s sake.
R for Radiators to which we all swarm
To dry off our stockings and get our toes warm.
S is for Silver, that coupled with blue
Is the symbol to which we shall ever be true.
T is for Tourney ’twixt the White and the Gold.
But ’tis fought with balls instead of swords bold.
U is uniform. When that badge we wear
We must look to upholding Northrop’s standards so fair.
V for Valentine party, which the seventh form had.
Favors, verses, and dancing made our hearts glad.
W for Winter Sports. There’s no fun more thrilling,
Whether skating or sliding or in the snow spilling.
X is unknown, so why trouble with it.
We’ll leave it alone and not wear out our wit.
Y is for Yells. We give them with vim
When sports are on foot in our lower gym.
Z for Zipper boots, our greatest delights.
Zip off the last minute and fly up two flights.