Sonora Union High School - Green and Gold Yearbook (Sonora, CA)

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l GREEN AND Goto - - The Singing Vase EILEEN SIZINE '16 HE DUSTY LITTLE curio shop of Monsieur Dumeras, after standing for many years obscure and unnoticed, on a dreary little street in Paris, had suddenly become one of the most talked of and most visited places in Europe. A wonderful porcelaine vase had made its sudden appearance in this little shop. It wasn't the beauty nor the workmanship of the vase, that brought visitors from all over the world to see it. But this indeed, was a queer vase, for it could sing in a most beautiful voice many strange songs. Dumeras told that the vase was found in some ancient Egyptian ruins, but when questioned as to how he obtained it, he was strangely silent. Dumeras had a lovely daughter, Marie, who loved, and had been loved in retum by a prospering young Parisian, named Jeanne de Matte. But of late Marie had noticed a cooling of hor lover's ardor. De Matte had thought that he loved Marie, but since hearing the vase sing, he had fallen madly in love with tne voice, and try as he might, he found it impossible to remain true to the little French girl. Donaldson, an American millionaire and collector of curios, heard of the wonderful singing vase and offered Dumeras three thousand dollars for it. The old man's eyes glittered greedily, and he almost reached his hand for the check, but still he stubbornly refused. Donaldson, unused to being thwarted in his plans, and always using foul means to gain what he could not obtain by fair, employed some of the cleverest thieves in Europe to steal the vase from Dumeras. On the night of the robbery, Jeanne de Matte was unable to sleep. It seemed to him that his beloved vase was in some grave danger. He tried to brush away these superstitions, as he called them, but sleep would not come. So acting on an impulse, Jeanne arose and made his way to the curio shop. The Dumeras had taken him into their confidence and told him of a secret entrance, so he found it easy to gain access into the roam where the vase was kept. Jeanne sat down with his head resting against the vase, and sleep soon overcame him. Some time passed, when a door was softly opened and a white-rubed figure stepped into the room. It was Marie. A look of alarm crossed her face but it passed into a smile of indescriabable tenderness, when she recognized the sleeper. It was close to midnight, when Jeanne was suddenly awakened by a noise. Springing to his feet, he listened intently. There was no mistake, someone was surely entering the shop. De Matte was unarmed, and as he looked around for something to defend himself with, three large figures appeared in the door. -Page 25-

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...lal GREEN AND GOLD --1i---1 Tuolumne l-Z Tuolumne, Tuolumne, its hills and vales I love, And every fleecy cloudlet that sails its blue nbovc. Its towns and burgs that nestle in the foot hills silently, And its lucid rivulets with their sweet melody. And hillside bluehells over-crowd their neighbors for more room, April blossoms snow white lsde the air with rich perfume, And tall pines guurd its mountains where roam the decr und heur, And in its bosom deep it hides its golden heart with care. Its glens and dales and rocky runs frame pictures of delight, And utter songs of silent joy to every starfdecked nightg The lark and robin wake the day and soar to meet the sun, And Nature glad rejoices for each new morn begun. Fair Autumn gilds its valleys, white Winter robes each hill, And weaves a crystal coverlet o'er every chilly rill, And Mnytime's warm winds tune the birds a'ong each mossy creek And summer suns bring blushes to the apple's waiting cheek. Tuolumne, Tuolumne, I love it far or near. I've loved it all my life long in sadness or in cheer. 'Twas here that Nature first awoke the love light in my eye, And may my last gaze rest upon its dreamy sunset sky. F. C. S. -Page 24-

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-11 - GREEN AND GOLD - l-1- Hands up, one of them cried, and covered Jeanne with a pistol. Do you seek my life? cried De Matte Now, what 'ud we do wid dat? Just then a sweet plaintive voice arose in the darkness. IT WAS THE SINGING VASE. The four men stood spell-bound, a love-light shone in the eyes of De Matte, and awe and wonder, not a little mixed with fear, in the eyes of the ruffians. There it is, can three of us tote it? asked one of the thieves. At last De Matte realized the intentions of these men,-they were going to steal away the voice that he loved. Never! he would rather see it in mins. So picking up a short saber, that he had often noticed lying on a table close by, he struck at the vase. There was a loud crash and a cry of Jeanne Someone struck a light, and there in the midst of the shattered glass crouched Marie. Father made me do it, she sobbed, I'm the voice, J eanne. I might have known it was you, said Jeanne, as he folded her in his arms. I couldn't have loved anything else. ww iii' -Page 26-