R J Reynolds High School - Black and Gold Yearbook (Winston Salem, NC)

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18 THE BLACK AND GOLD Uhr Qlhriatman Glurkvg T IYAS the day before Christmas. Mother Blickendorfer was clearing away the dinner dishes when a loud knock was heard at the p Jlkl- door. Now the Blickendorfers were in the habit of leaving their door Wide open, as an invitation to every passerby to drop in, but since the Indians had become so unfriendly during the last few weeks, the good Moravian Qiouse Wife kept the door tightly bolted even in the day- time. As the cabin was just on the out-skirts of Bethabara, and since father Blickendorfer had gone to Cross Creek on business for the brethren, there was all the more need for caution. HRun. Marie Henrietta. said Mrs. Blickendorfer, as the knocking continued, peep through the window and see who it isf' 4'It is Hans Peter Shober! cried Marie Henrietta. her round face beaming with delight at the prospect of a visitor. UPlease, may I unlatch the door? Of course. child. replied her mother, and be quick about it, else Hans Peter will batter it down. As Marie Henrietta unlatched the door. Hans Peter rushed in, all breathless and pale with fright. The baby was having a spell and nothing would do but Mrs. Blicken- dorfer must come immediately, as there were no other neighbors near enough. She hesitated as to leaving the children alone in the house. But her kind heart prompted her to go, so she left. HVVhen I am gone, shut the door and bolt it, and do not open it. were the last words she spoke upon leaving. As Mrs. Blickendorfer left her cottage, an Indian who had been sneaking around the neighborhood for several days, crept up to the house. Just before he reached the door,

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THE BLACK AND GOLD 17 little angel ob a child aint got nary Christmas present? Wl13t,S we gwine do, Zeke? 'tLawd knows, I don't known, Merandy. I aint got nary a cent to my na1ne. I don't know nothin' I can do lessen I go to town and see if I can git a little wuk.'7 Dats de thing! Clear out from here den, and don't you come back without something fur de child. Do yo' hear? A t'Yas I hear. an' I'm gwine right now. The Lloyd ls house was situated upon a hill and set back a good way from the main road. In order to save time and work, Uncle Zeke took a short cut, and half slid, half crawled down the steep embankment and started forward on his journey to town. A few yards along he stooped and picked up a small roll of paper. UFO' de Lawd! he exclaimed, 'cwhat am dis? He slipped off the rubber band and smoothed the roll with lean, tremulous fingers. His jaw dropped. '4For de Lawdf, he repeated in an awed whisper, Hdis am money- mo' money 'n I can count I So rejoiced was he that he had to go back to Hde big house to tell Aunt Merandy. Praise de Iiawd! exclaimed the old woman when she saw the roll of money. It am jist de answer to my prayer. And so it happened that when Christmas morning dawned bright and clear, little Lucy found her stocking full of Christmas toys. -Ruth Anderson, '14. 3 .

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THE BLACK AND GOLD 19 his arm was torn by a thorn bush and was bleeding when he knocked loudly on the door. Marie Henrietta looked out of the Window. The Indian. speaking in broken English, bade her let him in and give him some dinner. Dinner Was what he asked for. but Was it really dinner he Wanted? Marie Henrietta, having a kind heart, opened the door after saying to herself that she knew her mother would Wish her to under these circumstances. She immediately pre- pared him hot coffee and some fresh bread and butter. UI would give you more, but this is all We have in the house, she said as she placed the things before him on the small table. The Indian said nothing, but busied himself eating. It was then Marie Henrietta noticed his bleeding arm, and Without saying a Word. she found some soft clean rags and asked him to let her tie up his arm for him. For the first time his hard heart was touched. He might easily have killed the young girl as' she bent with gentle touch over his bleeding arm. His knife was at his side, it would then be an easy matter to strangle the other two. But strange to him. he felt powerless to harm the gentle girl. Feelings he had never known Were roused in his heart. 4 n 4'Like turkey? he asked as he rose to leave the cabin. Yes! yes! eagerly cried the children. About an hour later, when Mrs. Blickendorfer returned home, what was her surprise to find a nice fat turkey on her doorstep. It's our good lndian's C'hristmas gift. cried Gretchen, and when Mrs. Blickendorfer heard of the fierce visitor her children had, she felt thankful indeed that her Heavenly Father had cared for her little ones. -Evelyn Shipley, '1-1. V , f' W -- f. if 1 1 gfiif ' if 7 hr' . vii:-.