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

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ill. and gave her half of whal lie had prepared. While he wan thanking Vesta, he felt a brightness around him; and looking up. saw. to his amazement and wonder, in the place where the poor old woman had sat, a beautiful dazzling goddess who told him she was V’esta. As a reward, she asked him what he would like better than anything else. The old man told her he would like to he able to wear his brown coat and red vest always. Vesta then changed him into a robin, and, to this day. he wears his brow'n coat and red vest, and sings merrily all the day. THELMA LONDON. 23. THE BOLSHEVIKI My sakes alive, muttered Mrs. Matilda Gray, I do hope this hycar cake don’t go flat; 'cause Tommy al’.ers was Stuck on cream cake;’ if he don’t get none after bein’ away fur so long, he shore will be disastrofled. I wonder what the children are doin;' they bein’ so quiet like? She was soon to have an answer to this question for her eldest daughter, a girl of about fifteen, appeared in the doorway in a state of very great excitement. She pressed close to her mother’s side and whispered dramatically, Mom. I b’lieve that feller what calls himself Jim Green be a bullsheviker. Jim Green, it be remarked here, had appeared on the little Kansas farm about a week before this story opened, and had received a position as handy man on the widowed Mrs. Gray’s farm. It must also be remarked that, although the little farm itself was practically useless, it was situated in the wheat belt and was surrounded by great wheat farms. Why, Sarayandy. what ever done put that notion into yore haid.” inquired her mother. Tain’t Christian for to suspect people nohow.’ Now. Ma. don’t get het up. soothed her daughter; that man's been snoopin’ around in ol’ Cyrus Smith’s wheat belt an’ Bill an’ Jim an’ Mary an' Sue an’ the baby be out there watchin' him to see that he don’t blow nothin’ up. An’ you know all them letters he been gettin.' I’ll bet the’re from the Bolshevikers.” To Mrs. Gray the iast pari ot this statement was indeed convincing: for whereas the whole Gray family received about two letters a month, from Tommy the soldier son. Mr. Green received an average of one letter a day. “Little darlin’s,’’ she murmured, looking with pride at her lanky freckled faced, little daughter, you just keep an eye on him ’till I get this hyear cake out of the oven ’n I’ll te right out. Tommy ought t’ be hyear any minnut, now. an’ he'll lick the pie out o’ the villain. It was perhaps thirty minutes later, when Mis. Gray, armed with a double barreled shot gun. went to the relief of Uncle Sam. She proceeded to the boundary between the adjoining la: m and her own, where a row of heads of indescribable age were all gazing earnestly at the figure of a man. a short distance away, in the wheat field. He was closely examining the ground and seemed unconscious o.° the row of self-appointed guardians of the peace, who. with sharp eyes, were watching his every move. Now, Sarry. you grab hold that there stick. ordered her mother in an authoritative voice, an' you boys load yore pockets up with rocks. Mary an’ Sue. an’ Baby ’ll have to stay hyear. If he staits tuh run. turn loose on him with yore rocks; I'm skeeied tuh ahoot cause this hyear gun kicks somethin’ awful. Well, aire ye all ready? If ye be. we’ll start.” Like a general leading an army. Mrs. Gray advanced, boldly at first, then more cautiously, finally creeping on hands and knees until within a short distance of the villain, 20

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the window. I often wondered who would be the “guy ' to plank fourteen seeds and be my proud possessor. Days went by. Finally came the eventful one. Early on this day I noticed a fine round face at the window; the nose was flattened against the glass, and two eyes were gazing intently upon me. I knew this person to be a Sophomore from the O. U. H. S.. and down in my sole ’ I felt that in him abode my fate. My prophecy proved true; for with no reluctance, he placed the fourteen bucks on the counter, and carried me away in triumph to his home. This home I found to be a delightful one. and I was pleased beyond measure at my prospects; but a!as! alack!! how' great was my disappointment. for immediately upon our arrival my possessor proceeded to put me on. As I meant to have told you oefore. I was a No. 9. and now my possessor's foot proved to be a number 10; and “Oh. Boy. 1 shall never forget tile pain and the torture I endured while being forced to encase that foot. He pulled and tugged at my sides until I really felt that my strength would endure no longer. Final’y. the foot was crowded into me. and. to my horror, he started to the dance hall. On the way. wre wrere met by a party of his friends, who at once noticed me and cried out. O! take a “slant” at the new shoes; and would you believe it. they actually spit on me. Yes. right on my polished vamp. Never did I think 1 would be called upon to suffer such disgrace. And that dunce! My sole” recoils at the thought of how I suffered during that evening, for every step stretched me until I suffered excruciating pain. I think the foot suffered, too. for when we returned home I was removed; he kicked me under the bed and cursed and groaned. In the morning I heard him say that he w as going to wear me to school that day to break me in. Indeed. I felt as If I w'as already broken. He accordingly put me on again and we went to school. It seemed that this day there was supposed to be an entertainment. at which the parents were to be present. My po-sessor was to take part in the program, and I eagerly waited for the time to come when we should appear before the audience. When that time arrived, and he took his place beside his class mates to sing Frere Jacque.” a French song, he began to laugh and caused most of the others to do likewise. I trembled with fear as the teacher approached: but luckily he did no harm, and all the visitors laughed, too. so I was immensely relieved. Time is inadequate for me to relate all of my experiences with my possessor, but many times I found myself under the desk in the detention room. However, he was a fine fellow', genial and good hearted; and. although he wore my “sole out until I am in this present horrible condition, I. with his many friends, esteem him highly. MULFRED FOX. '22. WHEN WISHES COME TRUE Once upon a time tlieie was a very poor, old shoemaker, who lived all alone in his little hut. He was very cheerfu! and all day long he would sing and w'histle as he w’orked over his shoes. Now', this old man’s happiest day was when he could wear his brown coat and red vest to a festival or on a holiday; and he longed to be able to wear it always, but that was impossible. for he did not have enough money to buy himself a new one. and he would soon spoil his old one were he to work in it. In the evening, when he ate his scanty meals, he would thank Vesta for his many daily ble. sings, and he felt rich in what he had. One day. as he was preparing hi usual meal, he heard a knock at the door; and opening it. he found an old woman who asked him for food and shelter for the night. He took her 19

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where she covered the astonished man with her gun. •‘Doan’ yuh go makin’ no fuss, now, or I'll bore yuh with my gun.” “But, madame, what does all of this mean,” stammered Mr. Green. “Well, I should think yuh wouldn't need no explainin' to; but come tuh th' house an' we’ll talk the matter over.” agreed the lady, still keeping him covered with her gun. but motioning to her stalwart sons to be ready with the rocks if occasion should demand. As they drew nearer to the house, the door opened and out stepped a bronzed, kaki-clad figure whose happy smile turned to one of amazement when he caught sight of the odd procession. Uttering a shriek of joy, Mrs. Gray llew forward, straight into the arms of her beloved son. thrusting away the gun as she went Forgetting about their prisoner, the children with wild cries of Joy followed their mother’s lead and hurled themselves onto their brother. Presently remembering her charge. Mrs. Gray turned, fully expecting him to be gone; but there he was. standing with an amused smile on his face. Tom catching the stranger’s eye. went forward to meet him. “Well. Old Timer, I see you have kept your promise.” said he with a smile. Mother, let me introduce Lieutenant James Green, my ‘Buddie Over There'.” “Well, don’t that beat yer,” muttered his mother under her breath. Jim’s an oil expert. Mother, and I asked him to come out here and see if there was any oil on the farm.” continued Tom. For land sakes. be there He on our little farm?” asked she in wonder, how we all kin bloom out in serciety.” “Yes, it’s oil. answered Lieutenant Green, “and I thought there might be some on Smith’s place, too. but there’s not a That etening while sitting around the dinner table. Tom asked. Why didn’t you tell mother who you were. Jim? That would have saved a lot of trouble.” ”1 know. answered Jim. but I didn t want to disappoint your folks if there wasn't any oil on the farm. An’ to think it was Irene’s letters that made them suspicious.’” continued Tom. glancing at the embarrassed Lieutenant: she’s the girl that nursed Jim when he was gassed. Mother; so you needn’t worry about any Bolsheviki getting hold of him.” That’s shore fine. beamed Mrs. Gray. An’ I alius did like Jim anyhow. But say, did you boys notice that I forgot tuh put any verniller In the cake?” KTHKLDA INMAN. ’21. THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF A LITTLE GRAY FORD I am one of Henry Ford’s faults; and. altho all of my brothers and sisters and myself are jeered at and laughed about. 1 find the people have a great deal of use for us. I was first bought by a large rice grower in California. He treated me very well and took good care of me; but. after he had had me about three months, he decided that I was not exactly what he wanted. So the next day he took me to a little town called Gridley. where he left me in care of a garage man. who painted a nice “lor sale” sign on a piece of card board and fastened it on me. Days passed very slowly and my tires were beginning to hurt me as they were sorely in need of air ; also, my grease cups needed filling, and I was beginning to give up to despair. One morning, while I was standing in the garage grieving 21