Oroville Union High School - Nugget Yearbook (Oroville, CA)

Page 25 text:

TUB WONDER CHILD I V I A A very common belief in Norway, is that the seventh child of the seventh child can heal the sick by the laying on of hands. Such a child, is therefore, called a Wonder Child Little Carina Holt, daughter of the pastor, was the seventh in a family of eight, but she grew to be six years old before it was known that she was a Wonder Child. Then people came from afar to see her. bringing tl.eir sick with them. Morning after morning as Mrs. Holt rolled up the shades, she found invalids seated, or standing in the snow, gazing with devout faith and anxious longing toward Carina’s window. It seemed a pity to send them away uncondoned when the look and touch cost Carina so little. Another fear that arose in the mother’s breast, was that her child should be harmed by the veneration with which she was regarded, and perhaps come to believe that she was something more than a common mortal; lest, told by grown up people that she was healing in her touch, she would at last believe that she was something apart and extraordinary She had a tender nature full of sympathy for sorrow and suffering. She was constantly giving away her shoes, stockings, hood and cloak to the poor litt.e invalids whose misery appealed to her merciful heart. To her father there was something unnatural in it. He preferred to have her frankly selfish, as most children are. not because it was lovely, but because it was childish and natural. He was delighted to see her do anything that ordinary children did. He was charmed if she was induced to take part in a noisy romp, play tag, or dress her dolls. There was nothing morbid in these moods, no brooding sadness. or repentance, but a touching solemnity, a serene, almost cheerful seriousness which in one of her years seemed strange. Mr. Holt had many a struggle with himself about how he should treat Carina’s delusion; and he made up his mind that his duty was to do everything in his power to dispel and counteract it. When he happened to hear her talk'ng to her dolls, laying her hands upon them, and curing them cf imaginary diseases, he concluded it was time to act. He (ailed Carina to him and forbade her to see the people who came to her. When Carina awoke the morning after this promise had been extorted from her. she heard the dogs barking furiously in the back yard. Her sister observed that there were sick pilgrims under the window. “Oh. I wish they would not come, sighed Carina. “It will be so hard for me to send them away.” 21

Page 24 text:

I V I A hind a small tree a little ways off and got out kind of easy and skipped into the brush. “The first thing I did was to go down to Charley—all the matter with him was a little bruising and so I had him on his feet in a minute. His first thought after I had explained the situation was for that wounded greaser, but 1 persuaded him that the quicker we got out of there the better. “Right after we got in the Mexican machine, the critter stuck his head out from behind a cactus and when he saw me grab that machine gun (I used to run one in the Thirteenth Regiment) he lay down flat on the ground. But we couldn’t afford to spare him and so I just plowed little furrows all around him. with a stream of lead until I saw him kickin' around in his death agonies. Then we lit out for the States. “That night we were in El Paso and the next day we turned over our gun to the U. S. Army for a good sum.” And when.” asked one of the large audience which had accumulated in the little room, “are you going down into Mexico again ? “Well, you won’t see me leaving Piedras Biancas right away, but I can tell you that whenever General Frederick Funston takes his troops across the border.” here the speaker brought his fist down on the table. 111 be one of them.” JEWETT MONCURE, ’16. Mammy's Consolation to a Homesick Girl i. Cheer up. honey, doan be blue. Yo’ mammy wouldn’t want yo’ to; She'll be happy, when you’s glad. An’ she 11 be weepin’ when you 3 sad. II. All dese chillun, whinin’ 'round. Dey doan know dat dey s jes bound. Ef dey keeps on a losin’ time. To some day find demselves behind. III. Dey jes doan seem to realize Dat 'taint no use to have dese cries. Dey jest keep on a feelin’ sad. An’ makin’ other folks feel bad. IV. Jes cheer up. an’ quit cryin’ now. Den you 11 be happy, Mammy ’low. Dese months will pass away like days. An’ mind me. you’ll be glad yo’ stays. HUBERT R. GASKINS. T6 20

Page 26 text:

 I thought you liked curing people, exclaimed her sis- I ▼ I 4 ter. I do. sister, but papa has made me promise never to do it again. Carina arose and began to dress, when the maid entered and announced that there were some sick folks below who wishe'd to see the Wonder Child. “Tell them I cannot see them.” answered Carina with a tremuious voice, papa does not permit me. But this man has come from so far away in this dreadful cold and his son is very ill; he’s lying in the boat, and sighs and moans.” There was something in the air which forbode calamity. The pastor had solemnly charged everyone to refrain from bringing their sick to his daughter. Then there came a bang, and a stalwart, elderly sailor came tumbling head foremost into the hall. His cap was flung after him through the door. For an instant her father’s face showed red and excited; and in his bearing there was someth ng wild and strange, which was so different from his gentle and dignified appearance. The sailor stood bewildered, leaning against the wall. The moment te caught sight of Carina his embarrassment vanished, and his rough features were illuminated with an intense emotion. Come, little miss, and help me,” he cried, in a hoarse imploring whisper. Havour, my son—he is the only one God gave to me—is sick; he Is going to die unless you take pity on him.” Where is he?” He’s down in the boat at the pier. I'll carry him up to you. if you like. We have been row ng half the night in the cold, and he Is very low. ’ ‘‘I shouldn’t dare, on papa’s account, to have you bring him here,” began Carina. I will go to him.” Interpreting the assent he read in Carina’s eye, he picked her up and carried her to the boat. The pastor shouted. Give me back my child.” The pilot turned his pathetically bewildered face toward the pastor, You wouldn’t take him from me?” I don’t take him from you.” answered the pastor. But what right have you to come and steal my child?” Ohly let her lay her blessed hancs upon my poor boy s head and he will be well.” I have told you ’no’ man. and I must put a stop to this stupid idolatry, which will ruin my child.” The pastor held out his hands to receive Carina whose large, pleading eyes stared at him from the grizzly wolfskin coat. He seized her by main force and tore her from the pilot’s arms. He ran to the house with Carina who was sobbing very bitterly, as she thought of the poor heartbroken pilot and his dying son. Her father made her retiie early so she would forget the pilot. Long after Carina had retired that night, she lay staring into the darkness. The sleet knocking aga nst the window-pane, the cold wind howding about the corners or the house, and the insistant calling of the waves, all spoke to her of the 22