Turlock High School - Alert Yearbook (Turlock, CA)

Page 29 text:

There was silence in the room for a time. Happy laughter floated through the window into the room. The children were swing- ing each other in the new swing which hung in the shade of the vines. All at once the laughter ceased. Mrs. Emerson stopped rocking and listened. Then she went quickly to the window to see the cause of the sudden quiet where the children were playing. lVhat she saw was a little drama whose actors were not aware of being watched. Albert had fallen from the swing in such a way that his leg was bent beneath his body's weight. The results were very painful. His little face was drawn with suffering. For a time his eyes remained dry, and he uttered no sound, But we know that a nine-year-old boy, though very brave, and named for a king can hardly bear the suffering that a broken limb causes-for it was broken-without in some way showing pain. A pitiful groan escaped from his quivering lips. The lad could not help trying now. Then the watchers fMr. Emerson was now at the window with his wifej saw a strange thing. NVhen Antoinette had straightened the boy's body into the most comfortable position, she gently rebuked him for crying-for the tears were falling faster now. Petit frere, do not do that. I am sure, King Albert would not cry for physical pain. The spectators saw her hands go up to the locket at her throat. Ma chere mere would not be proud of her Albert now, I think. Instantly Albert dried the tears. He even suppressed the groans. That must take sand! Mr. Emerson ejaculated, as he hurried out to them. His wife sought the family doctor by telephone, The last strip of gauze had been wound about the leg that was now in splints. Mr. Emerson had gone down the stairs with the doctor. Mrs. Emerson and Antoinette stood beside the bed where Albert lay. The boy's hand crept up to the beautiful chain and locket. As his fingers closed over the golden case, he looked up to Antoinette and whispered, They are always with us, is it not so? Then she turned to Mrs. Emerson and explained, Ma, mere's picture and King Albert's symbol are heref, She pointed to the locket. We can not forget to be good and brave when we remember. For the first time the precious case was opened to Mrs. Emerson. She looked and uttered a piercing cry, Theresa! VVhat she saw was the picture of a pretty woman whom she recognized as her sister: opposite it was the Belgian flag. Theresa, Antoinette said it wonderingly. My name is Theresa- Theresa Antoinette. Ma mere's was the first: grandmere's Antoinette. Your mother was an English woman? Yes, Muzzief' 23

Page 28 text:

The little fellow sat up very straight when he said the word king. His sister explained, Albert is named for our great and good king. He tries always to remember to be worthy of the name. At bed time Mrs. Emerson herself tucked the children into bed as she remembered her mother had always done for her and her sister when they were little. As she drew the covers over Antoinette, she noticed that the child had not removed the beautiful chain she wore. wore. Let me take your chain, dear. I'll put in on the dresser for you, she said. No, no, said Antoinette as she clutched the chain in both little hands and held it tightly. I never take it oi. Mrs. Emerson said no more about it, but passed down the stairs to join her husband. For a long time they sat discussing the events of the day just closed. The days that followed were happy ones for the four who lived in the large house on the hill, Soon the children lost the hungry, starved look that had characterized them at first. Their eyes gradually came out from their sunken depths, and the happiness of childhood again gleamed there. Of course, the dark, heavy, thread-bare gar- ments had been replaced at once by pretty, light colored ones. Indeed, there never was such a change in two children. Their foster mother was Muzzie, and Mr. Emerson, Daddy, to the children. At first they had wished to be called Mother and Father, but there were protests, and the little girl's hands went up to the chain which hung about her neck. Mr. and Mrs. Emerson then guessed that the children held those names sacred in memory of their own parents. One afternoon when Albert and Antoinette were in the arbor, Mrs. Emerson remarked to her husband, james, do you think it strange the children' have never mentioned their parents, or the trag- edies they must have passed through? Why, we do not even know how Albert lost his little hand! I have never asked, of course, but I have thought it strange they have not told us those things. But they are happy now. Let's not remind them of things that would make them sad. Let them forget all that gl' and Mr. Emerson resumed his reading. After a short silence, james, don't you think Antoinette has pretty eyes? ' He closed the book and laid it on the table before he answered. I have often noticed how pretty her eyes were. Don't you know, it is a strange fancy of mine,-but I have thought they looked ever so much like your sister's. She has the same little way of closing them, and then letting a little smile break over her face as she opens them. 22 '

Page 30 text:

Mrs. Emerson sat still, thinking. Yes, it must be. Oh, yes, the handsome young foreigner Theresa married was a Belgian. Her thoughts went back to the old home in England, and to the last time she had seen her sister, when her father had been so displeased by the marriage. Theresa had said she would not come back. She had kept her word. So they had gone to Belgium. W'ell, that was only natural after all. Had she not come to Mr. Emerson's country? She left the room, but soon returned with a photograph. Silently she held it out to the children. Both echoed the words, Ma mere- chere. Then Mrs. Emerson said, Don't you see, dears, your mere Theresa was my sister? Then you are my niece and nephew. Now won't you tell me about her-and your father? - Simply, Antoinette said, Father was one of the brave soldiers who died for Belgium. Ma mere-oh! Ma mere gave her life for Belgium, too. We saw her fall beneath a heavy beam during an air raid. A hard light came into the four little eyes. The boy struggled to sit up, but remembering the splints which made it impossible, he fell back on the pillow. The light in his eyes burned brighter as he said, They are both in heaven with the other Belgians the Germans killed. Some day God will send them down as angels to punish the Hun. I am sure of- it. I am sure that He will punish the German who cut off my hand so that I might never carry a gun-. Who said you could never carry a gun-or anything else? Mr. Emerson was at the door. I have just had a talk with Dr. Stevens, who is sure we can get you a new hand,-one that will move, too. Yes, it is strangeg but the great doctors do wonderful things, you know. Oh, Daddy! Uncle, Antoinette corrected. Yes, uncle, really: but I like Daddy better. Which do you like. ma tante, or Muzzie? A -DOROTHY ALQUIST, '19, 'iv