Cloverdale Union High School - Spectator Yearbook (Cloverdale, CA)

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Nancy went upstairs and lay down on her little white cot and sobbed herself to sleep. She so longed for a friend like this beautiful lady. All the way home Mrs. McBride thought of Nancy. At the dinner table that night Mr. McBride made much over little Mabel, but Mrs. McBride seemed almost to forget the child’s presence. She lay awake for a long time that mgnt. Nancy’s sad, beautiful brown eyes were ever before her, and when at last she went to sleep she dreamed of Nancy. The next morning at the breakfast table she told her husband about it. They were to start for their beautiful summer home the following day and she told him that she could not leave the city without seeing again this little girl who had taken such a hold upon her. Mr. McBride laughingly told his wife to go ahead and adopt the whole orphanage if she wished to do so. In less than an hour they were once more on their way to the stern looking brick house that still sheltered Nancy. When she again saw the child she knew that she could never be happy unless she took this little girl as her own. She thought of the home and of the ad¬ vantages she could give her. As she was thinking she remembered her hus¬ band’s words that morning and knew how he would enjoy hearing the sound of the two children’s voices at their play. In less than five minutes she told Miss Arlington that she wished to take Nancy as her own little dau ghter. Nancy was too happy for words. Miss Arlington brought Nancy’s baby clothes and a little dress fell upon the floor. Mrs. McBride picked it up, and as she glanced at it the color left her face. She knew she had seen that dress before. She looked on the inside and there, as she had expected, were the initials N. McB. in fine embroidery. She knew the little skirts in an instant. She caught Nancy in her arms. “Oh, my baby,” she cried, “My own baby, Nelda. Thank God I have found my baby!!” She held her close while she told the matron her story. A little while before the San Francisco earthquake she had been called to Seattle by the death of her father. Her husband accompanied her, but, as their baby girl was not well, they thought it best to leave her at home in the care of her nurse. When they heard of the earthquake they hurried back only to find their beautiful home in ruins and no trace of their baby girl. Every effort was made to find her, but at last they gave up the search, thinking that the baby must have perished in the fire. Zelma. 26

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“I think that it would be best for you to go with the rest of the children, ' ” replied Miss Arlington. “I feel that this trip to the country is just what you need. It will put some color into your cheeks and help you to feel more like running and romping as a child should do.” “But I don t want to go without Mabel. She will be so lonesome here without any of the other children and I think she’ll be lonely without me. She never likes any one to put her to bed or to comb her hair but me, and I really want to stay with her.” Nancy paused for want of breath. Miss Arlington knew the child well and realized that if she was set upon staying she would not be happy if forced to go. Nancy kept up a brave appearance until she saw the automobiles filled with happy, laughing children; then the tears came to her eyes and she almost wished she had gone with them. A minute later, however, when she went into the room where Mabel was crying with pain and disappointment she was glad she had stayed. It was hers to make Mabel forget grief and suffering. She told the best stories and sang the joiliest songs until lunch time. Then her weary little charge could hardly keep the blue eyes open until the meal was over. At one o’clock she was sleeping soundly. Nancy went to get one of her story books and saw the picture she had shown Mabel that morning. “And I never saw a creek,” she sobbed to herself, ' ‘not wild flowers nor—” She did not finish her sentence but took her book and went back to where Mabel was sleeping. The book she had brought was Freckles.” When she came to the part where Freckles learned of his mother and knew that she did not love him, Nancy stopped to wonder about her own mother. Maybe she was really like Freckles thought his was. Maybe she didn’t want me and just left me where some one would find me,” she said to herself. But she must have wanted me. I don’t think my mother would be that way.” She put her book down and pondered seriously. “I wonder if she’s alive. Maybe she is and is poor and has to work hard. I wish I could find her and help her. Poor little Mabel, she hasn’t any mother, either.” Thinking of Mabel made her want to do something for her, so she ran out to pick a bunch of sweet peas. A few minutes after Nancy left the room, the matron entered followed by a beautiful, refined looking woman. They went over to where Mabel was and Mrs. McBride leaned over the sleeping child. “Poor little thing,” she said, “such a baby to be without a mother.” Mabel soon awoke and Mrs. McBride decided that she wanted to adopt her. The matron called Nancy to tell Mabel good-bye. When she entered the room her eyes met those of Mrs. McBride. There was something about her plain, sad face that drew the stranger to her and when she looked into the kind, gentle eyes of the beautiful woman, the old pang of longing for mother love returned more strongly than ever. After a few minutes Mrs. McBride stooped and kissed Nancy good-bye, then, leading little Mabel by the hand, she stepped into the waiting automobile. 25

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(Ihtr Nnu rltool iimtae The members of the staff, wishing to present to you a matter in which they knew you were very much interested, voted to offer a prize for the best essay on this subject, submitted by a pupil of the high school. The judges voted a tie for the prize between the two essays that immediately follow, but found also some other articles so unique that they advised printing them in the Spectator. We, accordingly, submit them to you. aty? (ganfo lExamplr Ig (§ur pnnmfi The little redwood school house served its purpose in the early days. But the village of Cloverdale was growing and the hopeful citizens thought that they could support a more pretentious structure. They were ready to do their utmost. The new school house was built and dedicated with joyful ceremonies. We of the later generation can imagine those sturdy, progressive pioneers, for they were pioneers, rejoicing in their hearts over the growth of their town. They foresaw a great future for the prosperous little city. The building of a new school house always awakens these forward looking thoughts. Little did those men think that as the town grew the most influential and important institution of the community would receive less and less attention until it came to be noticeable only for its neglect. It is not our wish to disparage the work of the faculty or the teachers; that is above reproach. The soul of the institution is struggling valiantly. This struggle is for the betterment of the community, for it is training in ways of righteousness and truth the guardians of future civilization. Everywhere, in every community, the people are beginning to awaken to the fact that this is a work of the utmost importance and, what is more, they realize that without their co-operation the institution to which is intrusted the molding of these pillars of future society can accomplish comparatively little. The spirit may be there, the indomitable courage may not be lacking, ability in plenty is to be had, but without tools the sculptors are quite helpless. Everywhere we see the schools prospering because they are running in co¬ operation with the community which supports them. Each school is a wheel in the great mechanism of national education which is turning out the real members of society, the members that will rule the future because of their fitness. Now, if one knife in a factory is dull, if one gear lacks a sufficient num¬ ber of teeth, if one belt slips, when the finished product emerges from the mass of machinery it is going to be deficient. This deficiency may not be discovered until a large number of articles have been ruined. These, not being a hundred per cent value, are thrown aside or sold for a pittance. The fault in the machinery can be traced to one man whose duty it was to keep his particular part of the whole in first class order. That man is going to receive the con¬ demnation of those to whom he is responsible. Now, each community is a 27