Santa Rosa High School - Echo Yearbook (Santa Rosa, CA)

Page 5 text:

—— THE PORCUPINE 3 said, with a twinkle in his eye, “Didn’t you know, ‘little Miss Wisdom, that your erandparents were cousins?” “Oh,” gasped Nell, “and that made grandma an Alder- ly, didn’t it.” We were all quiet the rest of the way and finally we drew up before the great gate of the old home-place, where, without waiting for assistance, we jumped out of the high, spring wagon and rushed up the walk to greet the dear old lady who was standing in the doorway. This was our first visit so we spent the remainder of the day exploring the old haunts where our mother and numerous aunts and:uncles spent their childhood; but the next morning bright and early, and arrayed in chec k- ed aprons, Nell and I assisted in the making of the Alderly cake. Grandma bustled about the kitchen like a girl of twenty with a bright red spot in either cheek, while Tommy stood and looked on, wide-eyed and silent as usual. The cake was a great success and it came out of the oven, baked to a beautiful, golden brown. ‘“It never turned out better, but once,” said grandma, as she spread the last touch of pink and white icing. “hat was when your ma was married, but this is nearly as good.” “Tt couldn’t be better,” cried Nell, dancing about the room, in’ her tomboyish manner. © “It just couldn't. [ tell you, Tommy,” pinching his chin, greatly to the little fellow’s annoyance, “I believe the witches will come and dance around that cake tonight. I truly do.” , “T'l] just put this in the oven for a minute now,” said erandma, laughing at Nell’s gaiety. “You girls can go and straighten up the front pz ia and Tommy, you'd better go out and play. ” We all turned away at this and all would have gone on well, if Nell hadn’t caught her foot’ in the bear-skin rug and upset the center table. A’ big, glass’ vase fell to the floor with a erash and grandma, hearing’ the ‘noise, rushed into the: parlor.) She didn’t ‘say a word but: we

Page 4 text:

Che Porcupine VOL. Xile ', “SANTA ROSAYCAL,, JANUARY, 1906 NO. 5 a Prudent People Purchase Prickly Porcupines That Wonderful Cake. We were to have a great family re-union: that twenty- second of february, and Nell, Tommy and I went over to erandmother’s early in the week to help prepare for the festivities. “The most important thing of alls” said our only bachelor uncle, John, as he drove us, home) from the station, “is to be the Alderly cake. Mother wrote down every ingredient for me and read them over ty ice so Vd be sure and not forget oue.” “T know about that cake,’ chimed (in, “Nell, “We've heard about it ever since we were little’ tots, and we’ve tasted pieces sent to us, but now we'll, get to,see the real, big cake. Won’t that be grand, ‘Awd’ she: gave Tommy such an estatic hug that he alos (-Xcredined. or) “It’s a family secret, that cake, continue: q) ‘Uncle John, unmindful of Nell’s interruption, “Nobody but an Alderly ever mide it, and no Alderly, before, ever made it as good as mother can.” | “But grandma couldn’t have been an Alderly before she married grandpa,” said Nell, wisely, “so how did she find out the recipe?” “Don’t ask impertinent questions, Nell,” said I, using’ ' an elder sister’s authority; besides, I was not sure how, much one might dare to impose on this grave looking unck. «4 ae Nie ols But ae didn't mind in the least, and siniling at } Nell,

Page 6 text:

4 THE PORCUPINE could see that she was terribly vexed and it was a very grave little trio that picked up the splintered remains of the vase. We spent several moments thus when, sud- denly, grandma remembered her cake, and left us. We heard the oven door click and then, “Girls, girls! The cake. It’s gone.” Had she lost her senses! Was the destruction of the vase enough to unbalance her! Such thoughts surged through my mind as we hurried to the kitchen, for how could a cake just simply disappear. But it was too true. It was gone, our beautiful cake, and no suspicious looking tramp lurking around the corner. there was no one far or near, who could have taken it, Nell sank into a chair, weeping convulsively and de- claring that nobody but a witch could have taken a cake right out of the oven without opening the door, and I, blundering as usual, suggested that we immediately pro- ceed to make another. “Another,” cried grandma, almost fiercely, “I never had to make two Alderly cakes at one time before, never, and I’) not do it now. That cake’s gone and we'll just do without it, that’s all,’ and she rushed into the parlor, and began to sweep the already spotless carpet, energeti- eally. Nell and I followed, meekly. “Girls,” said grandma, when she saw us, “Don’t you ever mention that cake to me. You can tell John, and then [ won’t have a word spoken about it, not a word.” We nodded, submissively, and so the ill-fated cake was not mentioned again, although we couldn’t forbid our thoughts to stray to it quite often. The next day was the 22nd and everything else proceeded as well as possi- ble. Nel] and I displayed our artistic ability in arrang- ing the tables beautifully. But we couldn’t put anything where the cake was to have been. We tried flowers, but even that wouldn’t do, so we left the spot vacant and regretted that the days of fairies were over so that we might hope that our cake would appear by magic.