Santa Clara High School - Tocsin Yearbook (Santa Clara, CA)

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TH E TOCSIN-1922 lad always had an argument, whenever denied anything he wished, and sometimes almost stubbornly refused to obey. Mr. Teller was very sorry that this trait should be found in his little boy, and he decided he must be more stern with him. Bobby, he said, that is enough from you. You cannot go. Do you understand? Now go upstairs to bed. No. It is rather warm so tell Helen to fix the bed on the sleeping porch down here for you. Bobby bade neither his father nor mother good-night . But with head bowed, he motioned to the silent Peggy, who, obedient always, fol- lowed him into the house. Before they reached the nursery where Helen was waiting for them, Bobby grabbed Peggy by the arm. Pm not gonna stand for this any longer, Peggy, he said. I'm a great big man now, but they Cwith a motion of his hand toward the porchl think that we're babies yet. Can't go no place without them or Helen. 'Spose Helen would bring us if 'twasn't her day off. Well, Peggy, will you stan' by me forever n' ever, and not tell a soul? I'1n going away and maybe I'll be an engineer or one of those airplane guys. Oh, Bobby, gasped the wide-eyed Peggy. Please, please don't run away. What will you do at night all alone, and no place to sleep? Some bad man might steal you, and I'd never see you again. Peggy had touched Bobby 's weak spot. There was one thing that he was afraid of and that was the night in all its darkness. Peggy saw him hesitating. I'll tell you, Bob, she said, you know our secret room that we fixed in my play house in the basement? No one ever goes there and every day I'll come down and play with you and bring you cookies, and bread, an' jam. Bobby did not want to give in at first. He did not think this heroic enough. And then, went on Peggy, father will be sorry and he 'll say, 'Oh, I'm so sorry, if only I'd let Bobby go. ' There Peggy shook her head mournfully, imagining herself as her father. This delighted Bobby. To picture his father repenting his ac- tions pleased him very much. Then, when he says that, you come and tell me. Then I'll go to him and he'1l be so glad I'm not far away that he 'll let us go. The door downstairs shut and the children ran quickly into the nur- sery, for they knew their mother and father had come in. The next morning Bobby was awakened through hearing Sarah, the cook, who had gone to the chicken yard for eggs. He quickly dressed himself, took his coat and cap, and slipped quietly out of the kitchen door and into the basement. Page 12

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TH E TOCSI N-1922 the saddles and became expert horsemen who could pick a flower or hand- kerchief from the ground while galloping past. The Californians were fond of singing and dancing and appeared to be born musicians, for many without training sang and played their gui- tars skillfully and spiritedly. Fandangos, or general dances, were of fre- quent occurrence, especially during the winter. While they entered the dance with such spirit and rode so skillfully, the people of the province were lazy in the extreme and would rather visit their relatives or friends or go to a neighboring pueblo to a fan- dango, than cultivate their fields or care for their cattle. Little advance- ment of culture or of commerce was made under the rule of the romantic Hispano-Californian. In politics also they were unprogressive and when the time of trial came they had no power of endurance. The temptations and excitements and often injustices and unkindnesses of the conquering race, lost for them their homes and lands and so passed the days of romance and charm with the coming of the Gringo . Mildred Mendia, '24, -1- The Best Laid Plans R. and Mrs. Teller sat on their spacious veranda one warm June evening, discussing the new bank that was going to be built at Bridgewater, New York. Bobby, who had been playing with some of his friends of the second grade, came running up the steps, his twin sister, Peggy, close behind him. Mother,,' he said, there's gonna be a minstrel show here next week. Won't you let me n' Peggy go? What day is it going to be, Bobby? asked Mrs. Teller. Joe says it's a comin' Tuesday, and only a quarter for children, he added eagerly. I am sorry, Bob, but mother and I have planned to go to the city that day, and we cannot allow you and Peggy to go to a wandering show alone, his father told him kindly. Oh, but, Daddy, the small voice was pleading, we've never seen one of those shows before, and just think when Harold comes for his sum- mer vacation, I can tell him all about it. Me n' Peggy can go alone. We 're big now, we don 't need any one to take care of us. Mr. Teller was trying to teach Bobby to be obedient, but the small Page 11

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TH E TOCSI N-1922 While Mr. and Mrs. Teller were breakfasting, Helen ran into the room breathlessly. Bobby's not in his bed, she told them, in a fright- ened tone. I have looked everywhere. He is not in the house or yard. Mr. Teller was very calm, and telling his wife not to worry, went in search of his little boy. The whole household looked everywhere, but Bobby could not be found. They' had decided that Bobby had escaped from one of the opened windows of the sleeping porch. As the screens were locked from the inside, they were easy to open. No one suspected that the quiet little Peggy knew anything about the affair. The news of Bobby's disappearance had spread rapidly and everyone was looking for the child. Mrs. Teller was a delicate woman and she was almost hysterical when Bobby could not be found. She was not superstitious nor inclined to be- lieve in the unreal, but when Mrs. Osgood came over and talked to her of the miracles performed by spiritualists, she was just in the state of mind to resolve to visit the person whom her friend recommended. She left Helen in charge of Peggy and went to New York. She found the address that her friend had given her to be an apart- ment house of the better class. As she walked up the cement steps she did not know whether to return home or to ring the bell, but hope of hearing of Bobby 's whereabouts urged her on. She rang the bell and the door was opened by a tall, blonde woman, who immediately ushered her into a prettily furnished living room. It was altogether different from what one would expect. There were none of the dark and forboding tapestries that usually adorn the mystic abodes of the spiritualists. As the blonde woman was the spiritualist herself, Mrs. Teller told her of Bobby and asked if the woman, by some spiritualistic means, could tell her where Bobby was. I feel that I can communicate with one of my spirits this evening, Mrs. Teller,', she said. If I succeed in locating it, I will send it to your home at twelve tonight. Do not be afraid, but answer any questions, if there are any asked, and do not leave your bed. You must leave the back door open, also. After receiving the street and number of the house and the location of Mrs. Teller's bedroom, she brought Mrs. Teller to the door assuring her that her son would soon be found. Mrs. Teller motored back to the little suburban town of Bridgewater and waited anxiously for the return of her husband. She learned from Helen that Peggy was playing in her playhouse. That night a little before twelve, Bobby heard a noise right outside of Peggy 's playhouse Window. He was so uncomfortable he could not Page 13