December 26, 1963 (22 pages)

. December i 1963..The Nugget.. Page 7. Shall Keandl Hess No iors pudding and golden brown pumpkin pies in sending out mouthwatering odors that filled the house and drifted out into the cold winter air, gladdening the hearts of every passerby. Christmas was a magic time to Ella Mead. While it lasted she lived : in another world. If sometimes in the days afterward a vague loneliness and dissatisfaction filled her heart she thought, "I'm getting older--life isn't as much fun. " This afternoon of Christmas Eve, Gus was bothered. “Ell, I'm short supplies, I'll have to go to Marysville. Can you manage until L get back?” “Of course, but hurry, there is going tobe a mob; some big bugs, the Guggenheims from Hammonton. They willwant you for martinis. ' Darkness came early that December evening so long ago, and night rushed down from the Browns Valley hills in a fury of bitter cold and slashing rain. Ella shivered and restlessly stirred the fire. Gus was-late? ‘ And then the guests ee to arrive. Shrill cries of greeting filled the house as painted, perfumed and powdered women threw fur coats carelessly on chair and couch as they hastily made their way to the bar, and their laughing red-faced escorts lined up to sing, “We're Here Because We're Here". Something like the sound of a steam calliope outside sent them all rushing to the door to welcome the three-piece orchestra that had arrivedin Jack Kelly's discarded hearse. Ella laughed until she slid to the. floor, only to be picked up and deposited on a table with cries from the crowd. "“Can-can, Ell,” and the orchestra carefully stowing their drinks close by, struck up a lively tune. ee Ella, pulling the ‘shoulders of herred velvet dress far down and gathering her trailing skirts to her knees, kicked and whirled and danced until her hair came down and the place echoed with cries and pounding hands. The door opened and Gus came in. A quiet Gus carrying something wrapped in a buggy robe in his arms. “Ell,” he spoke hurriedly, “it's a little kid; lost, I guess. I found him on the levee road stumbling along in this awful rain. He's sick, Will you see what you can do for him?" Ella unrolled the blanket from the little body and gasped, “Oh! Gus, he looks. I'm afraid--quick send Joe for Dr. Rodgers. Tellhim to hurry!" . _ Ella Mead gently laid the little ‘--boy'‘on her snow y counterpane while she cut away the filthy rags from his body. Bruises and scars covered the emaciated little frame and, but for harsh, uneven breathing, he gave nosign of life. When she had bathed, rubbed and wrapped him in a soft blanket, and stirred the fire, she stepped to the door to apologize to her guests for deserting them. "Ish all right. Good old girl. Ell, youtend the kid, " they said, and one man came weaving his way across the room to slip something in the cigarette pocket of her dress. “Jus' to show you and ‘Merry Christmas May We Wish You A Merry ¢ Christmas anda Happy And, Prosperous New Year from your Gus lremember how I got my start." But Ella scarcely listened as she backed into the bedroom and closed the door. : Dr. Rodgers came in at dawn just as the last straggler was leaving and he looked with distaste at the empty bottles and general disorder of the place. And at Ella in the now stained, rumpled, red velvet dress. As he bent over the boy, Ella told him all they knew about him. “Probably stolen and deserted. Poor little fellow, he has double pneumonia, and I don't think he will live; -but unless I hear from you I'll come tomorrow. “ Dr. Rodgers glanced around the room. “Open the windows but keepthe fire up. It's all you can do," After Dr. Rodgers had gone, Ella Mead looked long at the tiny face twisted in pain. She went to the kitchen and warmed milk, put a teaspoonful of brandy in it, andreturning to the bedroom she picked up the little boy and, pushing a chair before the open window, she sat with him in her arms the rest of the night; at intervals feeding him drops of milk, she kept warm by the stove. Always after Ella carried a confused memory of the following week. She lived in dressing gown and slippers. The party gown hastily removed, was rolled up and crammed in her trunk with ‘the’ Hazy thought that Some day she'd see if it could be cleaned. For six days there was no change in the boy's condition; but on the seventh, Ella hastily gulping a cup of coffee by the bed, saw his eyes open and consciousness re~turn. It was the doctor's day to visit him. “Mrs. Mead, you must be the. miracle. He couldn't live, but ‘he did. "He is going toneed long weeks of nursing though. Would you like me to get a place in the County Hospital for him? You have done more than your share." Ella Mead looked tired thankfulness at the doctor's suggestion --then she glanced at the tiny face on the pillow and her heart contracted. "I'll look out for him for a month longer, Doctor, he needs specialcare. Then, if youcan.." Dr. Rodgers looked intently at the woman ashe rose to go. “You (Continued on Page 8) May the spirit of the first Christmas enter all our hearts now and throughout the com‘ing year. INTERCOMPANY COUNTY TITLE OO aN Ny get { lah in png uh i TY “teres veut tll snEltNty Hines UE wilt eA Fe ir « May you and yours enjoy in abundance all the blessings of this joyous time. Let us help you be the proud owner of savings security in 1964. Please stop in soon. MIDVALLEY SAVINGS and LOAN ASSOCIATION MARYSVILLE GRASS VALLEY OFFICE Pioneer V llage 152 So. Auburn St.

. December i 1963...The Nugget... Page 7. Shall Keandl Hess No iors pudding and golden brown pumpkin pies in sending out mouthwatering odors that filled the house and drifted out into the cold winter air, gladdening the hearts of every passerby. Christmas was a magic time to Ella Mead. While it lasted she lived : in another world. If sometimes in the days afterward a vague loneliness and dissatisfaction filled her heart she thought, "I'm getting older--life isn't as much fun. " This afternoon of Christmas Eve, Gus was bothered. “Ell, I'm short supplies, I'll have to go to Marysville. Can you manage until L get back?” “Of course, but hurry, there is going tobe a mob; some big bugs, the Guggenheims from Hammonton. They willwant you for martinis. ' Darkness came early that December evening so long ago, and night rushed down from the Browns Valley hills in a fury of bitter cold and slashing rain. Ella shivered and restlessly stirred the fire. Gus was-late? ‘ And then the guests ee to arrive. Shrill cries of greeting filled the house as painted, perfumed and powdered women threw fur coats carelessly on chair and couch as they hastily made their way to the bar, and their laughing red-faced escorts lined up to sing, “We're Here Because We're Here". Something like the sound of a steam calliope outside sent them all rushing to the door to welcome the three-piece orchestra that had arrivedin Jack Kelly's discarded hearse. Ella laughed until she slid to the. floor, only to be picked up and deposited on a table with cries from the crowd. "“Can-can, Ell,” and the orchestra carefully stowing their drinks close by, struck up a lively tune. ee Ella, pulling the ‘shoulders of herred velvet dress far down and gathering her trailing skirts to her knees, kicked and whirled and danced until her hair came down and the place echoed with cries and pounding hands. The door opened and Gus came in. A quiet Gus carrying something wrapped in a buggy robe in his arms. “Ell,” he spoke hurriedly, “it's a little kid; lost, I guess. I found him on the levee road stumbling along in this awful rain. He's sick, Will you see what you can do for him?" Ella unrolled the blanket from the little body and gasped, “Oh! Gus, he looks. I'm afraid--quick send Joe for Dr. Rodgers. Tellhim to hurry!" . _ Ella Mead gently laid the little ‘--boy'‘on her snow y counterpane while she cut away the filthy rags from his body. Bruises and scars covered the emaciated little frame and, but for harsh, uneven breathing, he gave nosign of life. When she had bathed, rubbed and wrapped him in a soft blanket, and stirred the fire, she stepped to the door to apologize to her guests for deserting them. "Ish all right. Good old girl. Ell, youtend the kid, " they said, and one man came weaving his way across the room to slip something in the cigarette pocket of her dress. “Jus' to show you and ‘Merry Christmas May We Wish You A Merry ¢ Christmas anda Happy And, Prosperous New Year from your Gus lremember how I got my start." But Ella scarcely listened

as she backed into the bedroom and closed the door. : Dr. Rodgers came in at dawn just as the last straggler was leaving and he looked with distaste at the empty bottles and general disorder of the place. And at Ella in the now stained, rumpled, red velvet dress. As he bent over the boy, Ella told him all they knew about him. “Probably stolen and deserted. Poor little fellow, he has double pneumonia, and I don't think he will live; -but unless I hear from you I'll come tomorrow. “ Dr. Rodgers glanced around the room. “Open the windows but keepthe fire up. It's all you can do," After Dr. Rodgers had gone, Ella Mead looked long at the tiny face twisted in pain. She went to the kitchen and warmed milk, put a teaspoonful of brandy in it, andreturning to the bedroom she picked up the little boy and, pushing a chair before the open window, she sat with him in her arms the rest of the night; at intervals feeding him drops of milk, she kept warm by the stove. Always after Ella carried a confused memory of the following week. She lived in dressing gown and slippers. The party gown hastily removed, was rolled up and crammed in her trunk with ‘the’ Hazy thought that Some day she'd see if it could be cleaned. For six days there was no change in the boy's condition; but on the seventh, Ella hastily gulping a cup of coffee by the bed, saw his eyes open and consciousness re~turn. It was the doctor's day to visit him. “Mrs. Mead, you must be the. miracle. He couldn't live, but ‘he did. "He is going toneed long weeks of nursing though. Would you like me to get a place in the County Hospital for him? You have done more than your share." Ella Mead looked tired thankfulness at the doctor's suggestion --then she glanced at the tiny face on the pillow and her heart contracted. "I'll look out for him for a month longer, Doctor, he needs specialcare. Then, if youcan..." Dr. Rodgers looked intently at the woman ashe rose to go. “You (Continued on Page 8) May the spirit of the first Christmas enter all our hearts now and throughout the com‘ing year. INTERCOMPANY COUNTY TITLE OO aN Ny get { lah in png uh i TY “teres veut tll snEltNty Hines UE wilt eA Fe ir « May you and yours enjoy in abundance all the blessings of this joyous time. Let us help you be the proud owner of savings security in 1964. Please stop in soon. MIDVALLEY SAVINGS and LOAN ASSOCIATION MARYSVILLE GRASS VALLEY OFFICE Pioneer V llage 152 So. Auburn St.