Mondovi High School - Mirror Yearbook (Mondovi, WI)

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CLlje Senior (Class of 1919 as tl|tg lookrfc in 1919

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THE WILL OF GOD. By Evelyn Blum It was a beautiful winter day, cold, bright, and clear. The sun shone on the now, making it look like a diamond sheet. In tiie hazy distance the high, white-capped mountains loomed majestically toward the sky. A little log ca’ in, crude and bare, but with a homelike atmosphere surrounding it, !tood at the base of a high mountain. Its roof was covered with snow, glistening like myriads of silver stars. On one side was a small window over which was nailed a dried bear ckin. Near the little cabin was a small barn, a chicken house and a machine shed. The chickens snuggled together contentedly. Everything had an appearance of happiness and peace. Within the house perfect joy reigned. The mother was sitting near a cheerful fireplace, knitting a pair of warm mittens. The father W'as shelling corn for the chickens. Baby Elizabeth with golden curls was sitting on a large w'plf-skin rug, playing with large red and' blue blocks. Through a small opening covered with oiled paper the sun streamed into the neat, cozy, little room. How' peaceful and happy the three inmates of the little cabin were! Mrs. Grant instinctively glanced at the small alarm clock on the neatly-papered helf. “Why. Thomas,” she exclaimed “It is ten o’clock already. Nellie will be home about an hour. It hardly seems true that after two years’ a’sence she will be with us again. Only for one short month, ves. but it will be a happy one I am sure. How' much she will have grow'n. She was onlv sixteen when she left and now' she is eighteen.” Do you suppose she remembers me, Mamma? I don’t.” Elizabeth shook her golden curls, her large innocent blue eyes on her mother’s sw'eet face. “Of course, dearie, Nellie has remembered us all. even though she wras so far awray.” Elizabeth was a beautiful child; indeed. wouht be difficult to find one more beau-Mfui She w'as five years old. but wdth an ’ntpHect of one eight years old. Her -oldon miHs fobbed about her face as she ♦u» ned he head. He large blue eyes, her lonr curlv lashes, her pink and white chrek couhi hardlv be matched. She was thn only child left at home since Nellie heor}e to B rn to attend a fashionable hoarding -chool. Petted she w'as but not polled. To her parents, she meant more than anything on earth. Through the dreary winter days she was a ray of sunshine. When crops failed in summer she never failed to cheer her parent!. Nellie, too. meant much to them, but she had been away two years and they had grown accustomed to her absence; but it w as impossible to be without Eliza eth. The time passed slowly for the three patient waiters. At last. however at about eleven o’clock sleigh bells w'ere heard and Mr. Grant, rushing out into the yard, saw bin daughter, a tall, graceful, girl stepping to the ground. He beamed with pride as he rushed forward and. taking her in his arms he cried. “My daughter.” “Oh. daddy: she sobbed and for a moment neither could speak. They walked silently into the house. Mrs. Grant, with tears in her eyes held her daughter lovingly in her arms. Baby Etizabeth came next and the big sister caught her in her arms and gave her such a sincere embrace that EMzaveth knew that indeed Nellie had not forgotten her and w’as glad to see her. “Oh Mother,” Nellie said in a sweet low voice, “I’ve been so lonesome without you and father and baby. I’ve often wished I were at home. Mrs. Van Dyke has been most kind to me and I’ve met delightful boys and girls, hut I could never forget my little mountain home.” Mrs. Van Dyke was the lady w’ho w as paying for Nellie’s education. She had seen the girl when Mr. Grant had taken her to Bern with him. Mrs. Grant was an old schoolmate and dearest friend and Mrs. Van Dyke wished Nellie to be educated with her daughter. “We’ve been lonesome without you, Nellie. It is going to be hard to let you go ’ ack again. Soon father w ill have enough money and we can go to Bern to live and t en you’ll be with us always,” replied Mrs. Grant. After dinner. Mr. Grant prepared to go to the store for the weekly supplies. Nellie consented to take a nap with Elizabeth while Mrs. Grant knitted in a large comfortable chair. Soon a drowsiness overcame the mother and she slept, dreaming sw’eet dreams. They had slept about an hour when suddenlv. Elizabeth, hearing a slight noise outside, sat up in her little bed. She rubbed her eyes sleepily and then putting on a thin coat went to the door and saw a beautiful red fox. “O, isn’t that sw'eet. Come here foxy,” she called softly, but the fox upon seeing her scampered off.