Potter Academy - Wreath Yearbook (Sebago Lake, ME)

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The Little French Girl This story begins during the last World War. It takes place in a small town called Nimes, in France. Nimes is a very small town surrounded with tall, large mountains. There are just a few citizens who are still living there. The war had been going on for more than a year, and first Germany would be in Nimes, then the United States would have it. Mary Achereson was a delicately built girl, about eight years old. She had light brown hair and bright blue eyes. Her mother was a small, tired-looking woman, and she was a very hard worker. Mary had a small brother named Pete. He was about four years old, and he was a lot like Mary except that his hair was dark and his eyes were a deep blue. On the morning of May 17th, 1942, the sun rose up over the mountains and looked down on the small town that had just been taken by the Germans. All the citizens stayed in their houses, not daring to move, afraid that they wouldkbe shot or be put to work helping the Germans. A little girl, in one of the houses, wanted to do something, so her mother told her to go out in the back room to play. When Mary got there she discovered that the back door was open and it led out into a field of pretty flowers. She had been there only a few minutes when she heard a big noise, and then Mary blacked out . Mary didn't know how long she had been unconscious, and she didn't know where she was when she regained consciousness. The first thing she saw was a nice, clean room with white walls. Then she noticed that there were flowers on a table by her bed. Her eyes wandered over to the window and the re she saw two strangers. She became very frightened, and she tried to get up but couldn't. One of the strangers came near her and spoke. Please lie down and don't be fright- ened. I'rn the doctor here and I'm going to help you. Mary didn't know what to say or do. The doctor kept right on saying, Sergeant Ralph Tylor found you out in a field with a big board on your legs. He brought you here as soon as possible, for he knew that you would need help right away, Mary's eyes had big tears in them as she asked the doctor, Where is my mother and little brother ? The doctor looked at the sergeant with a look that Mary didn't understand. Then, without making any noise, the soldier got up and came to the edge of the bed. Before saying anything he took hold of Mary's thin hands. As he talked his voice was low and deep, and Mary listened while he said, Little girl, will you please tell me what your name is and how you can speak English so well? Mary Achereson is my name, the girl spoke proudly, and my daddy taught me to speak English. He was over to the big country a long time ago, and when he came back he taught all of us how to talk like Americans. At the thought of her family she began to sob very hard. Sergeant Tylor looked at her for a few minutes, then said, Mary, where is your father now ? Do you know ? Mary looked at him and smiled, saying, My daddy died for his country. Mommie says that he was the bravest man in all this world. I bet he was the bravest man, too, he said. Mary, would you like to be just like your daddy? Mary thought it was some kind of game and said she would. Now you have to be brave and fight this just as your daddy would want you to do, he went on. Do you remember anything before you came here ? No, I don't. Then she paused for a minute and said, Wait, I was playing in the field by my house. There were a lot of flowers and I was going to take some to my mommie. It was in this field that I found you, the soldier said, looking at the doctor. The doc- tor nodded his head and the sergeant kept on talking. You see, Mary, your mommie and little brother have gone up the Golden Stairs to help God. Mary's eyes were filled with tears as she said, You mean Mommie and Pete are helping God to do what is right? Yes, that is what I mean, but I also have a little surprise for youg that is, if you like surprises.

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I like them! What is it? she asked. Well, I'm being shipped back to the States and the officers here i.n France say that I may take you with me if you would like to go. You mean in the big country where you can do anything you want to without being hurt or even pushed around ? the little girl asked happily. Yes, that is the place, but there is what the doctors tell you to do. You have moved to the United States. Now will you Oh, yes, I will be good! And when promise you are never to break it. Is that right 911 one thing that you must do, and that is to do just a broken leg and that must heal before you are promise to be a good girl? Daddy came back he told me that when you make a Yes, that is right. Now I want you to get some sleep, because in three weeks we are going to the big country, as you call it. He bent down and kissed the little girl's pale, thin face . The doctor gave her a small white pill and told her to try to get some sleep, as she had a busy day ahead of her. As the two men went out the door and closed it softly behind them, Mary closed her eyes and said this little prayer: Dear Lord up above, please take care of my mommie, daddy and little brother. Please, dear God, may I ask one thing for myself? May I get well so I can go to the big country with that kind man? I will promise to obey him and do just what he tells me to, and I can't break a prornise, We shall have a test tomorrow Just inside the yellow door. Shall I pass it? Foolish question! Quoth the raven, Nevermore! I awake from pleasant dreaming, Daylight streaming through my door. Oh! That test! How shall I pass it? Quoth the raven, Nevermore! Now I hear a louder tapping, Lake an axe upon the door. Could it be my watch is running ? Quoth the raven, Nevermore! I see questions on the blackboard, Jeannie's answers on the floor. Ican't see them. Shall I pass it? Quoth the raven, Nevermore! The Raven Roberta Murch '51 I work hard upon my English, All but Jeannie I ignore. Mr. Mortland yells down at us,. This must happen nevermore! Now he has me by the collar And my feet don't touch the floor, Mr. Cobb's too late in coming, I go sailing through the door, Now I m going to the school board. Will they let me back in school ? They will let me, but they tell me I must learn the Golden Rule. Now I sit again in English. Over books I've learned to pore, ,And I take the test and pass it! Quoth the raven, Land sakes! Donald Gregory '51