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

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 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

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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

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pitiful little group encamped on the seashore. Unable to withstand the pleading look she had seen In the pilot's eyes, she wrapped herself in the great wolf-skin coat, tiptoed out of the house and almost ran through the storm to the little boat. So quiet had been her exit that not even a bark fiom the house dog betrayed it. Suddenly a glad shout rang out above the din of the I ▼ I A storm. It awakened Carina’s father who arose and followed the sound. This was the picture that met his eyes: Carina’s hands rested on the head of the sick boy from whose face the signs of suffering had already disappeared. Devoutly the two fathers joined hands in recognition of the power of the Wonder Child who would henceforward be free to use her gift. • —LURLINE SMITH. ’17. Tlie Finished Reporter Mark Benot sought employment. He had almost given up hope when he caught a glimpse of the Fairville “Star ’ ottice far up the street. The Star” was the only newspaper printed in the town. While he walked toward the office he thought of his last English tfacher and how she had told him he ought to study Journalism. At the office he met a man neither small in circumference nor very great in height. Mr. Belmcnt. Wi en Mark took the seat Belmont motioned him, he did not know that he was soon to learn whether the twinkle in Belmont’s eye meant wf;t or humor. “So you want to try out, do you? Have you done any writing since you tinished high school last year?” Why, urn—some. Not much, though.’’ Belmont's face became grave, but his eyes fairly flashed. May I ask what w'as the nature?” Mark -was white—he looked at the floor, but it didn’t open. He looked at the ceiling, but it didn’t fall. Then he said. “Love letters.” Mark did not even wait to say good-day, but bolted for the door. Oh, come back,” he heard someone say, and Belmont had Mark by the arm. Belmont rubbed the smile off his face and half whispered to Mark: I once wrote those .same things. Best kind of practice. I shall give you just one 23