Charlotte High School - Witan Yearbook (Rochester, NY)

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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

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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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THE W IT A N OF ALL THINGS! One of my grandmother’s favorite remarks is Of all things! She came to stay with us one summer and found plenty of chances to use it. The very first morning she awoke in our spare bedroom, she noticed a picture of Mary Pickford and Douglas Fair- banks over the dresser. I had placed it there myself, thinking that it brightened up the room somewhat. But grandmother had other ideas of brightening up the room, and hung a gay-colored handkerchief bag over it, murmuring, Of all things! When she came down for breakfast, I was already eating, because I was going to town early, and she, noticing that 1 had my bathrobe on, said, A young lady of your age ought to know better than to rume to the table in her bath- robe. Of all things! The next time I heard her say the fond expression was when 1 tried on my new bathing suit and ran across the street without a coat to show it to my girl friend. Several hundred, or maybe a thousand, other times I heard her use those three expressive words, and I doubt if I’ll ever forget them. But, for all the many things I did which caused grandmother to say these words, I am sure she wouldn't have had them done otherwise, for, how else could she have used her favorite expression, Of all things ? Ida Diehl, '31. CARL LYLE’S ESSAY ON BURNS In the modern arrangement of cook- ing, it is no uncommon thing that a voung lady of genius must ask for bread anci receive a pan of charcoal. Although it is known that charcoal, after persistent application, may pro- duce teeth of dazzling whiteness, nev- ertheless most people seem to prefer expensive toothpaste to the costless method of burnt bread. Strange are the ways of men! Not only is burnt bread undesir- able, but practically all kinds of bums seem to be unpopular with the masses. But since all good writers first define their terms, I will quote here from that well-known author, Noah Web- ster: A burn is a hurt, injury or ef- fect caused by burning, as by fire. Of course the burnt bread falls into the third class—the effect of burning However, that before-mentioned young lady of genius may behold all three classes demonstrated in one instant as she takes the would-be bread from the oven. The easiest thing in the world to do is to touch the hot pan with her finger, in spite of a dozen holders. That’s Case One. She be- holds the bread—Case Three. An in- jured feeling resulting in burning wrath is Case Two. The day is ruined (for ten minutes). A bum often desired, but after- wards sadly regretted, is sun-burn. The reason for such a rash desire is to attain a becoming coat of tan, but the result is frequently Case One. In all such cases use Carl Lyle's Salve—pain relieved immediately—the greatest cure for burns on the mar- ket (not for bread). Carl Lyle, Salesman. MUSE ON EGYPT But look ye—in the distance—what cometh from afar? A long caravan unrolls before our eyes, a long cara- van, seemingly endless. As it ap- proaches we notice the Egyptian maidens seated on camels; tall princes upholding the dignity of their family and race; dusky Ethiopian slaves trudging wearily in the hot sand. 12