Oakland Township High School - Oak Leaves Yearbook (Oakland, IL)

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Page Sixty

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DIARY or MARY BROCKS-Concluded December 8-The O'Malley's down the street from us, have so many little ones and they're all so poor, that I felt guilty buying me a dress, when maybe some of those baf bies were cold, so I just took the money I was going to spend on my dress, and gave it to them, and a basket of groceries. Arty said I'd give the shirt off my back to anyone that needed it. But of course, I wouldn't do that. Arty wanted to buy me a new dress, but I wouldn't let him, because I want him to save all his money for when he gets married in twoiweeks, and then I'll be alone. But I mustn't think about that. January 17-Leo came over for me this morning in their new car, to have me stay all day with her. Arty and her have such a pretty home-deep, soft rugs, and lamps, and a radio, and just everything. They want me to come and live with them, but I think just like my mother did-no two families can get along together. I know Pa wouldn't want me to do such a thing, so I'm not afgoin' to. January 21--Baby Janice can walk a little now, and she calls me Gwamma. I guess we're pretty good gals. She cries now, when' ever she has to go home. It's just too cute when she curls up with Jeff before the fire' place and goes to sleep. Jeff's getting to be a mighty old dog, now, but he doesn't seem to mind how much Baby Janice pulls his tail or pinches him. Don is such a wonderful Daddy to Baby. I have a lot to be thankful for. All the children have made such success' ful marriages. Ralph's so good to Melba, Don is still as much in love with Janie as he ever was, and Leo is as sweet to me as if I was her own mother. I think sometimes God is being pretty hard on me, but that's just when l feel ungrateful, I guess. January 28--Janie, is so sick with the flu. I'm so worried about her. Poor Don! He's almost sick himself, from worrying. But God will surely pull her through. Why, He's just got to! Whatever would become of Baby Janice without her? I'm staying at Janie's now, while she's sick. Baby sleeps with me, and every night when she sees me get down on my knees to pray, 'she does too. Bless her little heart! She's so tiny and innocent-+God surely will watch over her in this sorrow. February 27-I went up in the attic today to pack up the things I wanted to take with me. I pulled out the old trunk in the cor' ner to look through the things in it. There was Janie's doll-it was such a pretty doll, once. But now the paint's scratched off, 'one of her eyes has fallen out, and her hair is all mussed and dirty. But I saved it for Baby Janice-so when she gets older, I can tell her all about the happy times her mother had with that old doll. And then I picked up a little coat of Joey's. A little gray coat with the elbows out. I can see him yet as he'd stand over by the table, taking out all,his trinkets. I reached down in the pocket and found a bit of an old blue glass bottle that he had had to look at the sun with. So I saved the coat, because I want to remember him just like that. And there was Artyls knife that he used to cut sassafrass with, so I saved that, too. I found a little old fairy taleabook of Melba's, so I .saved that. When I go to live with Baby Janice and Don, I'll get all these things out on rainy days, and tell Baby about them. I'm taking Pa's old 'pipe and a bunch of love letters hegwrote me years ago. When Janice gets older, she can have them, too, just to remember Gwamma by. ' February 28-Don and Baby Janice will be here in a little while. There is a light snow on today, and everything looks bleak and cold. Maybe it's just as well that it does, be' cause if the flower garden was in bloom, and the grass was so green and pretty, and old Bobby Redbird was singing in yonder cherry tree, it would be-Oh! so much harder to leave the old place. Oh, Dear God, forgive me if I feel a little bitter, but it is so hard- Joey drowned, and then 'Janie gone, and now I'm leaving the oldl lace-the place where Pa brought me the allay we wasi mar' ried, the place where all my babies was born, all those happy Christmases were spent, and where every happy memory I- have is stored away. Foolish old woman! Here I am-cry' ing like a baby! I guessil better get my hat on-Don'll be here any minute now. -Alice Maud Cooper '31. Page IFifty-nine i

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