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

Page 20 text:

Bidding his wife and babies good-bye. he sailed for France on the 28th day of October, 1916. For over a year he fought in the French army, and then when America entered the war he donned her uniform. He was with the boys in the Argonne Forest and at the Ohatteau Thierry; and just before the Armistice was signed, the Sergeant called for volunteers to make a particularly dangerous assault on the Germans. Cednc felt the call tugging at his heart, but fought it back, with the thought, “another can go wiio has no wife, no babies. But. as he stood thus pondering to himself, almost against his will he turned toward the west; and lo. the sun was going to rest, touching everything with crimson ’ere it went, and making that charred and ruined held in France, for a moment, a place of beauty and glory. It was just a second, and then it was gone. But in that second, he heard the voice of his wife saving. “And when that call comes, you shall go for I shall send you.' And so he volunteered. The next morning, tney made the assault and Cedric ELEANOR It was late, and all the family except Eleanor had retired some time ago. She had been busy with her lessons and had stayed up late to get her “trig.” She had not noticed the hands of the c’ock move so fast and was surprised to see how late it really was. Everything in the house was silent and there was no sound, without, save for a faint murmur of the wind. The silence was oppressive so she hastily clo-ed her books and arranged them on the table so they would be ready for school the next morning. Before going up stairs, she saw that the door was locked and everything was all right. Eleanor turned off the light and quietly mounted the stairs. The house was large and dark and the stillness of the night frightened her. She thought to herse'f. My, but it does seem spooky. fought as he had never fought before. Was he not lighting for right, for truth, for democracy? Was he not lighting for peace and good will among men? Fighting, he went down. Because of his heroism and that of many others like him. the world was saved. And as he lay there dying, a comrad kneeling at his side saw him turn his face to the west, and as the sun sank, he rose on one arm. and cried, “The Vision! I see the Vision! And smiling, fell back dead. In America there is a little woman, bravely carrying on the ranch work, keeping her children in school, and smiling to hide an aching heart: and in Flandeis Field there is one more cross. Where the poppies grow between the crises, row on row.' The sun which smiles on all the world, me thinks, rests Just a little longer on the cresses of those who “followed the quest and found the vision. Shall their sacrifice be in vain? EDNA ELAM. TO. S FRIGHT Outside the moon shone brightly and cast its dim light through the windows, thus filling the rooms with shadows. Reaching the head of the stairs, she made her way to her room. This particular room was at the back of the house and commanded a view of the back yard. A light wind was blowing and caused the curtains at the window to flutter about. Eleanor raised her eyes to the window, then drew back in fright. What could it be? That weird, horrid thing out there in the yard, waving its arms about in that ghostly fashion. Was it a ghost? Yes. it certainly looked like one. but she did not believe in ghosts. What should she do? She did not want to awaken the rest of the family and still she was terribly frightened. Eleanor gradually grew bolder and ventured one more look out the window. 16

Page 19 text:

“Yes. my lad. you can be as Hue a knighl. as he; be always courteous be alw'ays ready to do your duty, and above all be pure, be true to your principles, and stand always for the right; and you. too. my boy. will see Galahad’s vision. You may not see the Holy Grail, but you wrill see a vision. You said you wished everyone might see that sunset, my boy. It was a vision to you, but those who are not pure have lost that vision. They see nothing beautiful in a sunset, they are looking for gold and pleasure. “Cedric, my boy. promise me that you will live pure, and that as you look at the sunset, if a call comes to you to go on any quest, that you will answer that call?” “I will, mother. 1 will.” And then a little later he stood at UIs mother’s bedside and repeated that vow', ’ere she went to follow her quest and find her lost Lord. Years past, and Cedric grew to manhood, always with that vow before him. When tempted he would go to the window and watch the sun as it cast its dying rays over the earth, then the thoughts of that other sunset saved him. Years went by and Cedric met a girl, a beautiful little thing with brown hair and beautiful soft brown eyes. He learned to love her. and she returned that love. One day in October as the sun cast its last rays across the broad California plains, he led her out to the foothills near his country home, the foothills where the tall pines tower above the great oak trees and are the very last to catch the sunsets glow. And there he showed her acre after acre of cultivated sunlit soil w'hich he had earned. “And I earned it honestly. Gertrude. he said. And then he turned to the west, and as they gazed at that picture which no artist has ever been able to paint, he told of his vow- and his love. “I have never heard the call. yet. but 1 have lived honest and clean. I have kept my vow so far. and if the call ever comes. I must follow it. It may be hard, but you remember. Galahad said, “Thou, too. shall see the vision when I go; and the master said. Lo. I am with you always;” that holds a promise to me. Gertrude. Will you accept this vow with me? There is my home won with honest labor; I offer you a heart that holds love only for you. a name that has never been sullied, and a vision (not an idle dream) of happiness over there.” She turned to him in silent joy. her lips did not move, but he read his answer in her eyes. “You love me. can it be!’” Yes. Cedric came the low reply, “I love you. and whenever that call of which you spoke may come, you will go. for I will send you; but until then, my friend, we will walk life's read hand in hand. Shall It not be so?” Ah. yes.” and hand in hand they trod the way to her father's home. A few months later, he took her to his home, a happy br'.de: and it seemed that no shadow could cross their path. But even then, the low rumblings of a coming storm could be heard by some in the seats of Government. But in that far-off Western home, all was joy and peace and contentment. Three years passed, and all at once, the storm which had teen brewing so long, broke. The news spread over the country like wild tire. Germany has declared war on France.” The news reached that Western home, and the young rancher went to his wife and children with a sad and troubled face. Time went on and he read of the ruthless treatment of the Belgians, of the devastation in Northern France. Night after night found Cedric walking the floor. He could not sleep, he seemed to hear the voice of Armenian and Belgian childhood crying at his door: and yet to leave his home, his country, to go over there, and maybe give his life! He could not do it. Day after day he fought it out; and then one rainy afternoon. he stood at the window and once more he saw the sun as it burst through the clouds and bathed the world in glory. He could hear his Mother's voice saying. Always be true to your piinciples. my boy. stand for the right. You. too. will have a quest, and you will see a vision.” It was sixteen years since he had heard that voice, but how well he remembered; and standing there, he heard the call and answered it. 15

Page 21 text:

Yes. there it was, still floating around in the yard. As she gazed at it, horror-stricken, it ceased its moving about. She then drew nearer the window to get a clearer view of it. and oh, what a relief! THE LAST BOOK 1. Now. it came to pass, in the reign of the great and good King Pinheadus, that the man Dillpickus, which was Prime Minister to the good King, fell in love with the King's cook; and he hung about the kitchen at all hours, and completely lost his heart and head to her. 2. And it came about that the Prime Minister's wife, mb sing him nights, grew suspicious, and set a detective on his trail, who returned back and reported the Prime Minister s love for the King’s cook. 3. And she. poor woman, went straight way unto the King and laid before him her troubles; and he rose up much wroth and smote Dillpickus with a heavy hand, and slew him; for he. too. loved the cook. 4. And when this came about. Dillpickus, son of Crab-appus. and nephew of the deceased Prime Minister, rose up much angeted at the rough treatment given his uncle; 5. And he gathered his followers, and slew the good King Pinheadus. and set himself up as King of the Isle of Tapioca. CHAPTER II. 1. And he did indeed rule with a heavy hand; and the people were sore distressed; and there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth. 2. And. deeming it beneath him to give the late King PjdfreadiiH decent burial worthy of his estate, he caused him ta be cast into a deep pit. and called it a funeral. 3. And he would take the beautiful Queen Cheeseheadus tor his wife, but she would have none of him; so he cast her irom him and exiled her from the Kingdom. •1. And his eye was caught by the palace cook, and he She 8hook, with silent laughter. for the moving white object was only a pair of pajamas hanging on the clothes line. HELEN AND MILDRED BASS. 20. OF PINHEADUS proposed marriage to her; and she accepted him. hurriedly, and they were married with much pomp and ceremony. 5. And he doubled his taxes and the people groaned and made protest, but to no avail. CHAPTER III. 1. And it came to pass that the beautiful Queen Cheese-headus, in her flight from the Kingdom, stumbled into the same pit into which the King, her husband, had been cast. 2. And she rose up. and looked about her; and perceiving the King, fell upon him. and wrept bitter tears; for her love for him was great. 3. And determined that he should receive proper burial and. with this purpose in view, did she set up a great call for help. 4. And it came to pass that a certain shepherd, of the name Limhurgus. heard her cries and came unto the pit to give her aisistance; and they dragged forth the King to bury him. 5. Put. as they were about to plant him. the good King revived, and looked about him; and cursing the man Dill pickus, set out for the palace to tear him from the throne and take hack his kingdom. 6. And the beautiful Queen Cheeseheadus accompanied him. CHAPTER IV. 1. And the appearance of the King which was supposed to be dead, caused terror among the people; and he came into the palace and proceeded unto the counsel chamber unhindered. 2. And his anger waxed great when he perceived the