Charlotte High School - Witan Yearbook (Rochester, NY)

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THE WITAN house and bringing- back the little Lord for a visit. Pretty soon Daddy came up the steps and walked right into the house. Bobby sat bewildered. Could this be his daddy? Why, he went right by without kissing him! Right into Mommie’s room without calling, “Again the good ship has returned! ’ Bobby leaned against Rippy, and stared into space with eyes wide like a baby's who is trying to figure some- thing out. Daddy went right to Mother. When he entered the room, her eyes were closed. He stood looking—looking in- to the precious face before him. His heart ached as he looked at the thin figure and the ice pack on her lovely dark hair. Slowly the dark eyes opened and she spoke to him. He quickly knelt be- side her and said, “Feeling better, honey? ’ She smiled as she said, “How long do I have to wear this stunning hat, Jim?” Jim looked away and answered, “Oh, not very long. Anyway, you don’t mind a little thing like that. It is very chick.” But his wife was not deceived any longer. She thought of what Bobby had told her about the doctor who came to try to keep her from dying. She had not seen him, but decided that he was probably Jim’s brother from Germany. He was a specialist, and she knew that Jim would do all in his power to save her. A beloved tie existed between Jim and this brother, and she realized that he also would do his best. Then she said, “Jim, Bobby has told me. ’ “Told you what, Marie? “That I am going to die. He over- heard you talking about it. But don’t mind. It would be better for me to know.” For a long time Jim and Marie talked and wept. He kissed her many times and could not bear the thought of her leaving him. It was on Thursday night that Bobby decided quite violently that he didn’t want Mommie to go to God's house without him. He told this to Hippy, who, next to Mommie, under- stood him best. “Why,” Bobby said, “What if Mommie got lost! The Little Lord would cry and you would cry, and I would cry, too. 'Course boys didn't cry much, and he didn't want to, 'cause Mommie said good boys don’t cry. But jus’ the same ev- erybody knew' that a boy jus had to have a mother. Well, he guessed she jus’ hadn’t better go. Hippy licked Bobby's face in sym- pathy and they both jumped up and ran upstairs. He had something aw- ful 'portant to tell Mother. He went quietly, for he knew that someone would surely stop him. 'Course ev- eryone had been especially nice to him since Mommie had been sick, but even so, they wouldn’t let him see his Mommie. He was greeted at the door by the cross-looking nurse, who would not even bear of letting him go in. But I have to tell her something, Bobby explained. “I want to tell her that she better not go to see the Little Lord. “Well, I will tell her, the nurse said. “She is asleep now. Bobby waited for three more days. Finally he decided that he must see Mommie. He made his way to the bedroom door, but on hearing Uncle Doctor speak, his heart stood still. Uncle Doctor was saying, “I am afraid she will go tonight. Jim. I am sorry and have done all that I can, but I will continue to do my best. Why, Daddy was crying! Oh! it was terrible! Hobby began to cry too, and he crawled off to his little white bed. •She is going, he thought. “My Mommie is going—and they won't even let me see her and ask her to stay or—say—g'byc. As he lay there sobbing he said over and over again, The Little Lord's got u mother. She doesn't go away from him, an’ I don't want my Mommie to go away from me. Bobby threw out his fat little arm and felt his Teddy Boar. He sat up in the bed and held Teddy in his arms. “I love you, Teddy, Bobby said. “I love you next beat to Rippy, but I wish 10

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T II E W I T A N BOBBY’S REQUEST The Nanrick family consisted of she said, “Why darling, who told you three members: Mr. and Mrs. Nanrick that?” and little Hobby. Bobby believed their “Oh, 1 jus heard it, Mommie. Dad- lovely home to be the most beautiful dy and Uncle Doctor were talking spot in the world. Mother’s room, was about it when they were having tea.” so sunny and cheerful and such a “Uncle Doctor, Bobbie?” lovely place for a little boy to go. The “Um-hm, the one Daddy brought big nursery was so pretty, and the so’s you wouldn't die. What is Die, living room seemed to Bobby to be Mommie?” the home of happy little fairies, and “It means going to see God, Bobby.” then, everything wfas made much lov- “I bet you’re going to take me, too, lier by Mother’s presence. Bobby just aren’t you, Mommie? You never go lo ed Mother's pretty face and sunny away 'ithout me, do you Mommie?” smile. Mother knew all about the Mother closed her dark eyes and fairies and things. Mother knew just tried to blink away the tears. “Moth- evc-rything, he guessed. But now cv- er will see the little Lord, honey, and erything was different. Her room God’s house is a nice house. I will be was so quiet and still and even when able to see you all the time.” she laughed at him, it was a different “I don’t want you to go to the little laugh. Her eyes did not shine, but Lord, Mommie. He has a mother of looked sad. Why she even had on a his own. And how can you see me if rubber cap with ice in it. Ice! Why, I can't see you?” it was so funny for Mother to have “Mommie can’t tell you, darling, but ice on her head. you will see—soon.” “Course,” Bobby reflected, “I should Oh! 1 bet I know. I bet it's a not have gone in to see Mother when s'prise! You always have the best the nurse told me to go outside and s'prises, Mommie. I bet the little play, but a boy just has to see his Lord is cute. Maybe 1 will let you go, Mother, they ought to know' that. And Mommie. But be sure to come and Mother didn’t mind a bit! I gave her bring Him for a visit.” a nice fat grasshopper that 1 found Just then a stuffy, wise-looking in the yard, and she smiled and told nurse entered the room. She wore me always to mind daddy.” high necks and long sleeves and gave “It is an awful nice grasshopper, Bobby an awful scoldy look, just be- Mommie,” Bobby said as he climbed cause he came to see his very own up on the bed beside her. mother. Bobby said nothing, but “Yes, dear. Mommie is so pleased,” L-rept silently out of the room, said the woman w'hn w'as but a mere He went nut and sat on the front shadow of the mommie that Bobby steps with his faithful companion, adored. Hippy, his dog. Hippy accompanied “Mommie—Mommie, what does die Bobby on all his Indian raids and on mean? Are you going to die, Mom- his adventures into Fairyland, so it mie?” was to the faithful dog that Bobby For a minute a hurt expression confided his thoughts. He told Hippy Hashed over the woman’s eyes. Then about his mother’s going to God’s 9

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THE WITAN that it was you 'at was going to God's house instead of Mommie.' Slowly the thought came into his baby brain that maybe the Little Lord would rather have Teddy than Mom- mie. The Little Lord probably didn't have such nice toys in his house up in Heaven, but he had a mother, and didn't need another one. If only he could give Him his Teddy, then Mom- mie wouldn’t go, ’cause the Little Lord could tell her all about it same as he asked her to come and visit Him. Bobby sat still and wondered. How did you get to the Lord’s house, any- way? Would it take very long? He wondered if there could possibly be a ladder leading from the roof to God's house. Maybe he could go to this house and take Teddy, and come back again before Mommie went. Then Daddy wouldn't cry any more. Yes! maybe there was a ladder. He better go and see. There was a small cupola on top of the house, but Bobby had never been there alone. There was no railing around it and he was afraid to stand therp even when Daddy held him tight- ly by one hand, and Mother by the other. Mother loved to go to the little cupola, for one could see for miles around, but she was certain that Bob- by would never go there alone, for he was afraid. Nobody ever told Bobby that there was anything to be afraid of in the darkness, so when he made up his mind to see about the ladder he never thought about the dark. He trudged up the attic stairway with Teddy tightly clasped under his arm. He groped along until he came to a room with a slanting roof. Upon reaching this room, Bobby grew frightened. He seemed to see large shapeless objects starting to- ward him, or darting away from him, and his little heart pounded and his knees shook. But bigger than the fear of what might happen to him was the thought that Mommie might go before he got to God’s house and gave Him the Teddy Bear for the Little Lord. So the child stumbled on until he found a ladder leading to the cupola on the roof. His little legs were so short that he could scarcely reach the steps, but at last he was at the top of the ladder, and with a very great effort he pushed open the trap- door, almost losing Teddy and his bal- ance in the attempt. Bobby felt the cold wind on his baby face, lie pushed Teddy up onto the roof and pulled himself up after. “Oooo! I'm ‘fraid. But I musn't be 'fraid! Mommie wouldn’t like me to be 'fraid when there's something 'portant to do. But Ooooo! the wind is blowing awful hard, said Bobby. Bobby saw that there wasn't any real ladder upon the roof, but Mommie said that sometimes the fairies made ladders out of moonbeams so that they and the Brownies could climb up and ride on the moon. But he mustn't wait for the fairies. Maybe Mommie would be gone if he did. Then the child thought of something else this adored person had told him. “If you wish for anything long enough and hard enough, it will come true.” Mommie had told him this one day when he said he wanted a nice big dog. He had wished long and hard— a whole week! Then one night if Daddy didn’t come home with Rippy! Maybe he would do that now, only he didn’t have much time, but he de- cided to wish good and hard. He stood erect, with his fat little legs apart, and stretched his arms out wide, with Teddy lying on top of them. Then he said aloud: “Little Lord, Little Lord, please take Teddy instead of Mother.” He said it over and over again. Sudden- ly something swept by him, knocked him down and took Teddy with it. A great flash of lightning went across the sky. Bobby lay frightened and still, but he decided that an angel had taken Teddy to the Little Lord, and never meant to knock him down. Down in Mother's room, she was struggling between life and death. If this spell passed over, she would live, but the Uncle Doctor was very doubt- ful as to whether it would pass over. (Continued on Page 54) 11