December 26, 1963 (22 pages)

Tare malay } : And The Places That Knew Them Shall Know Them (Continued from Page 7) are giving a life to the world, Mrs. Mead, who knows? It might be a very wonderful life. “ Before the month had passed Ella Mead, taking the little boy with her, called on Dr. Rodgers. He looked with amazement at the boy. Black silky hair lay in waves on the beautifully-shaped head andcolor came and went in rounded cheeks. But it was the large intelligent eyes he noticed first. Then the doctor's eyes traveled overthe expensive little suit, overcoat, and little capheld inthe tiny boy's hand. He smiled “Have you a magic wand, Mrs, Mead? It’s a little prince you have here, " They talked while the full waiting room fidgeted. Dr. Rodgers" face was stern. “You have done a wonderful job, Mrs. Mead, but a saloon is no place to bring up a child. A barroom, the talk he would hear from the kind of people who patronize your place, the whole surroundings. No, you better let me find him a home.” "No, I love him now. He's mine as much as your children are yours. I'll see that he is kept away from all bad influence. I BEST WISHES FOR A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. "313 Broad Street, Nevada City —— Perry Christmas HARRIET and FRANK JAK even havea cabin near the house I will fix for him. “ Dr. Rodgers shook his head as he looked at the hurt face of the woman holding tight to the little boy's hand as she went out the door. "Gus, he's about three, don't you think? Poor little fellow, no age, no nationality; could be Spanish Armenian or anything; not even a name, Let's call him Johnnie. Ihada brother once." Ella's voice trailed off. So thus began the happiest years of Ella Mead’s life.: The first year was given over to watchful care of his health and to forever banishing the cruel fear that for months lingered in the child's eyes. From then on there were lessons every day for another ‘two years and then one day when the first September rains ,had filled the countryside with dusty fragrance, she tucked the little boy in beside her, clucked to the restive horse and they were on their way to school. Johnnie's eyes sparkled. “Dear,” (his name for Ella) and Uncle Gus, had told him all about school, and children like himself, and he could scarcely wait; this was the biggest day in his six years of life. “My little boy hasn't been to school, but I've taught him at home, “ Ella told the bucktoothed woman behind the desk who looked at her curiously--not.once glancing.atthe excited. little child who edged near. "Whatever he may need in books or supplies let me know and I'll see that he has them right away." The other children, noisy and important when they came in, quieted to listen and Ella heard one of the older. girls say, “It's that kid from Deadfall." Ella's to All FROM Grass Valley PHONE 273-4288 120 W. Main Street heart sank and Johnnie sensing some sort of hostility put a cold little hand in Ella's and hung to her as she'turned togo. . "No, darling, you stay here. You'll get acquainted with the children and it will be fun." But her heart sank. They were going to dotoJohnnie what their parents had done to her. Johnnie begged and cried for a week. "Please, Dear. Oh! please don't make me go. They hate me," But Ella was adamant. Praying in her heart that they'd get tired and leavethe little fellow alone, she, too, suffered the tortures of the damned. And then one day the pony she had gottenhim came home alone. She found him far up the lane--clothes torn, face bruised, crying alone on a ditch bank. The next morning a cold-faced woman walked into the school room alone. She stood for a moment without speaking and looked them over, the rat-faced teacher and her twenty hulking pupils. And-then-she-spoke:"~ ~~" mend “Listentome, all of you. I've not come here this morning to ask for decency and kindness to a lonely little boy, but to tell you --and you better heed--that if Johnnie ever comes home again with as much as a scratch on him I'll wear you out with this," and she took from the folds of her skirt a loaded blacksnake whip. Ella lost control as her thoughts took over. “I'd love nothing better than to have an excuse to use this, so you better remember." They never actually did Johnnie bodily harm again and in time che was grudgingly half-accepted but the things they hinted about his beloved people and his home hurt just as much. But he alwaysturned home with gladness in his heart. In spite of his lack of playmates his life was good, though, for he had his “Dear”, his “Uncle Gus" ,: and a cabin full of treasures that both of them had showered on him. And Ella, determined that his life should not be lonely, gave him endless hours of her time. As Mrs. Brady grumbled, "Have todo most of the work here now. She's forever traipsing over the country with the kid." But Ella laughed at her and sang asshe dug worms with Johnnie in spring to go fishing for catfish in Nigger Jack Slough. Or to go berrying insummer inthe Yuba River bottoms; or to hunt mushrooms over the valley floor in the fall. And from the days of rocking himtosleep with stories of goodness and valor to the walks they took overthe country, he learned from her nothing but the best in life, and being very intelligent, she fired his imagination with the longing to be the wonderful person he knew she expected him to be. His good mind and gentle soul absorbed Ella's "Do's and Dont's" as one accepts the gospel, and because she lived as she taught, the God she told him so much about, and she herself, seemed to him to be pretty closely related. Ella Mead bloomed and grew young again. On school days she always stood in the kitchen door and watched him out of sight, and always, as he topped the last rise he'd turn and wave. She would kiss her hand to him and turn singing back to her work. "Say, Dear, won't. you come to the school picnic with me?” Johnnie flushed, “Allthe mothers are going to be there. " "Can't, Johnnie, too much to do." Both of them knew whyshe wouldnt go but it was a thing » they didn't talk about. Johnnie's heart was heavy. “But Dear, this is my last year up there. Couldn't youcome anyway?” "Johnnie, you and I know why but we don't care. And say, you should just see what Uncle Gus and I have for your graduation present. But maybe we'll wait untiltonight; I've something special for your supper, too." Ella watched Johnnie go slowly down the pathto the river where the picnic was to be held. He turned and looked back with longing at Ella and home. “Dear,” he called, then passed down the path and away. Ella stood in the doorway and watched him out of sight and for no reason she could explain a burden of loneliness made her too restless to apply herself to any real task, Gathering clouds were fast obscuring the sun now and a bitter wind hadsprung up. It wasn't going to be a good day after all. She was inJohnnie's cabin listlessly sorting his clothes when a trembling, white-faced girl pounded on the door. “It'sJohnnie, Mrs. Mead, He's badly hurt, he fell from a tree!" All night at a rough cabin nearby Ella sat and held tightly the warm little handthat had clasped hers in trust and love for nine short years, Heldit until it turned toicy marble. Gus led her home. Larks sang joyously from every knoll and fence post, roosters crowed, turkeys gobbled and dogs 8 aBeg'* E961 ‘9Z JoquI900q ** 1088nN sy L'*'g o8eg Page 5 _The Nugget. December 26. 1963. Dage 5 .

Tare malay } : And The Places That Knew Them Shall Know Them (Continued from Page 7) are giving a life to the world, Mrs. Mead, who knows? It might be a very wonderful life. “ Before the month had passed Ella Mead, taking the little boy with her, called on Dr. Rodgers. He looked with amazement at the boy. Black silky hair lay in waves on the beautifully-shaped head andcolor came and went in rounded cheeks. But it was the large intelligent eyes he noticed first. Then the doctor's eyes traveled overthe expensive little suit, overcoat, and little capheld inthe tiny boy's hand. He smiled “Have you a magic wand, Mrs, Mead? It’s a little prince you have here, " They talked while the full waiting room fidgeted. Dr. Rodgers" face was stern. “You have done a wonderful job, Mrs. Mead, but a saloon is no place to bring up a child. A barroom, the talk he would hear from the kind of people who patronize your place, the whole surroundings. No, you better let me find him a home.” "No, I love him now. He's mine as much as your children are yours. I'll see that he is kept away from all bad influence. I BEST WISHES FOR A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. "313 Broad Street, Nevada City —— Perry Christmas HARRIET and FRANK JAK even havea cabin near the house I will fix for him. “ Dr. Rodgers shook his head as he looked at the hurt face of the woman holding tight to the little boy's hand as she went out the door. "Gus, he's about three, don't you think? Poor little fellow, no age, no nationality; could be Spanish Armenian or anything; not even a name, Let's call him Johnnie. Ihada brother once.." Ella's voice trailed off. So thus began the happiest years of Ella Mead’s life.: The first year was given over to watchful care of his health and to forever banishing the cruel fear that for months lingered in the child's eyes. From then on there were lessons every day for another ‘two years and then one day when the first September rains ,had filled the countryside with dusty fragrance, she tucked the little boy in beside her, clucked to the restive horse and they were on their way to school. Johnnie's eyes sparkled. “Dear,” (his name for Ella) and Uncle Gus, had told him all about school, and children like himself, and he could scarcely wait; this was the biggest day in his six years of life. “My little boy hasn't been to school, but I've taught him at home, “ Ella told the bucktoothed woman behind the desk who looked at her curiously--not.once glancing.atthe excited.. little child who edged near. "Whatever he may need in books or supplies let me know and I'll see that he has them right away." The other children, noisy and important when they came in, quieted to listen and Ella heard one of the older. girls say, “It's that kid from Deadfall." Ella's to All FROM Grass Valley PHONE 273-4288 120 W. Main Street heart sank and Johnnie sensing some sort of hostility put a cold little hand in Ella's and hung to her as she'turned togo. . "No, darling, you stay here. You'll get acquainted with the children and it will be fun." But her heart sank. They were going to dotoJohnnie what their parents had done to her. Johnnie begged and cried for a week. "Please, Dear. Oh! please don't make me go. They hate me," But Ella was adamant. Praying in her heart that they'd get tired and leavethe little fellow alone, she, too, suffered the tortures of the damned. And then one day the pony she had gottenhim came home alone. She found him far up the lane--clothes torn, face

bruised, crying alone on a ditch bank. The next morning a cold-faced woman walked into the school room alone. She stood for a moment without speaking and looked them over, the rat-faced teacher and her twenty hulking pupils. And-then-she-spoke:"~ ~~" mend “Listentome, all of you. I've not come here this morning to ask for decency and kindness to a lonely little boy, but to tell you --and you better heed--that if Johnnie ever comes home again with as much as a scratch on him I'll wear you out with this," and she took from the folds of her skirt a loaded blacksnake whip. Ella lost control as her thoughts took over. “I'd love nothing better than to have an excuse to use this, so you better remember." They never actually did Johnnie bodily harm again and in time che was grudgingly half-accepted but the things they hinted about his beloved people and his home hurt just as much. But he alwaysturned home with gladness in his heart. In spite of his lack of playmates his life was good, though, for he had his “Dear”, his “Uncle Gus" ,: and a cabin full of treasures that both of them had showered on him. And Ella, determined that his life should not be lonely, gave him endless hours of her time. As Mrs. Brady grumbled, "Have todo most of the work here now. She's forever traipsing over the country with the kid." But Ella laughed at her and sang asshe dug worms with Johnnie in spring to go fishing for catfish in Nigger Jack Slough. Or to go berrying insummer inthe Yuba River bottoms; or to hunt mushrooms over the valley floor in the fall. And from the days of rocking himtosleep with stories of goodness and valor to the walks they took overthe country, he learned from her nothing but the best in life, and being very intelligent, she fired his imagination with the longing to be the wonderful person he knew she expected him to be. His good mind and gentle soul absorbed Ella's "Do's and Dont's" as one accepts the gospel, and because she lived as she taught, the God she told him so much about, and she herself, seemed to him to be pretty closely related. Ella Mead bloomed and grew young again. On school days she always stood in the kitchen door and watched him out of sight, and always, as he topped the last rise he'd turn and wave. She would kiss her hand to him and turn singing back to her work. "Say, Dear, won't. you come to the school picnic with me?” Johnnie flushed, “Allthe mothers are going to be there. " "Can't, Johnnie, too much to do." Both of them knew whyshe wouldnt go but it was a thing » they didn't talk about. Johnnie's heart was heavy. “But Dear, this is my last year up there. Couldn't youcome anyway?” "Johnnie, you and I know why but we don't care. And say, you should just see what Uncle Gus and I have for your graduation present. But maybe we'll wait untiltonight; I've something special for your supper, too." Ella watched Johnnie go slowly down the pathto the river where the picnic was to be held. He turned and looked back with longing at Ella and home. “Dear,” he called, then passed down the path and away.. Ella stood in the doorway and watched him out of sight and for no reason she could explain a burden of loneliness made her too restless to apply herself to any real task, Gathering clouds were fast obscuring the sun now and a bitter wind hadsprung up. It wasn't going to be a good day after all. She was inJohnnie's cabin listlessly sorting his clothes when a trembling, white-faced girl pounded on the door. “It'sJohnnie, Mrs. Mead, He's badly hurt, he fell from a tree!" All night at a rough cabin nearby Ella sat and held tightly the warm little handthat had clasped hers in trust and love for nine short years, Heldit until it turned toicy marble. Gus led her home. Larks sang joyously from every knoll and fence post, roosters crowed, turkeys gobbled and dogs 8 aBeg'* E961 ‘9Z JoquI900q ** 1088nN sy L'*'g o8eg Page 5 _The Nugget.. December 26. 1963. Dage 5 .