Balmoral Hall School - Optima Anni Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

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20 sound above me, but it was of no avail: I just could not hold on any longer. I let go! Someone grabbed me and I fainted from exhaustion. The next day Trudi and Iulie came to see me in the infirmary, and l discovered that it had been Franz who had come to my rescue. That is the last time I go exploring without a guide, anywhere, I sighed, lying back on the pillow. Trudi laughed and added, U .... until the next time. CAROL EMERSON-Grade IX Un Pique-Nique Au Lac Un jour mon pere et ma mere decident de faire un pique-nique au lac. Ma soeur et moi prenons nos costumes de bain, et nos chap- eaux de soleil. Apres quelque temps nous Sommes prets. Nous montons dans la voi- ture et notre jour commence. Enfin, nous arrivons a un bon endroit. qui est situe sous beaucoup de grands arbres. D'abord, Marie et moi sautons dans l'eau et nous nous amusons bien. Alors, Maman nous appelle et nous venonS pour le dejeuner. Apres un bon repas, de toutes sortes de fruits et beaucoup de sandwichs, nous par- tageons une bouteille de vin. Alors, maman et papa se reposent sur l'herbe et papa fume sa pipe comme toujours. Marie et moi jouonS at cache-cache. Bientot. il est cinq heures et nous commencons a etre fatigues. Alors, nous montons dans notre voiture et allons chez nous. Nous aimons toujours un pique-nique au lac. C'est dommage que le jour passe si vite. N'eSt-ce pas? CATHERINE HAMILTON-Grade IX Mes Petites Amies I'ai trois animaux chez moi qui s'appel- lent les salamandres. Elles sont tres belles. Elles ont beaucoup de marques rouges et noires sur leur dos et elleS ont l'estornac jaune, Elles ont aussi la longue queue. Les yeux sont jaunes et noirs. Ces salamandres habitent l'eau et la terre - c'est-a-dire elles sont des amphibiens. ElleS ne restent pas plus que trente minutes a la terre. I'ai un aquarium pour mes salamandres. Dans l'eau il y a une echelle, des plantes, et un coquille. Tous les jours ces salamandres nagent et jouent dans l'eau. Ie nourriS ces betes rarement parce qu'elles n'ont pas faim en hiver. Elles ouvrent les bouches et man- gent les insectes. Ie mets de l'eau fraiche dans l'aquarium le samedi. Ie porte mes salamandres a la fenetre pour se baigner au soleil. MeS sala- mandres s'appellent Willibrord, Willford et Willibald mais nous appelons toutes les trois simplement, Bill. I'aime beaucoup mes pe- tites amies, les salamandres. MARTHA GREATREX-Grade VIII Un Pique-Nique Maman, dit Marie, allons faire un pique-nique au lac aujourd'hui. Cui, dit Marie, je vais faire un panier tu vas demander a ton pere si nous pouvons faire un pique-nique au lac. Oni, dit son pere, Hvoulez-vous partir a onze heures du matin? Qui, dit Marie, je vais faire un panier surprise pour notre pique-nique. A onze heures et demie toute la famille arrive pres du lac. Papa fait un feu. Maman ouvre le panier. Quelle surprise! Il y a beaucoup de sand- wichs, du lait, du cafe, du sucre, du beurre. et beaucoup de gateau au chocolat. Quelle surpriSe pour maman et papa! Quelle beau et bon dejeuner. Marie est tres aimable de faire un bon dejeuner pour ses parents. Quand toute la famille finit leur dejeuner, ils causent. LESLIE STOVEL--Grade IX R DRY IN THE couwrrzv- X THE seEN-ec Toun Nl W NV le tx X95 , XlNhXi.QlHQf.ll.iQgf.i

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19 Settling himself in his chair, he once aga'n dozed off and finally was sound asleep and snoring. All the day's happenings were lost in his dreams. CAROLYN RICHARDSON-Grade VII Until The Next Time Tying my shoelace, I stared wistfully at my empty bed where any person in his right mind should be at four-thirty in the morn- ing. Trudi looked up and laughed when I sighed. Perhaps you regret now that you want- ed to see sunrise from one of our beautiful mountains? asked one of my room mates. No, if you've seen it hundreds of times and still think it's worth the effort of getting up, it must really be something! I replied, yawning over the last few words. I still think the sunset would have been just as nice, and we wouldn't have to get up at this unearthly jhourf' argued julie lean ing on the window sill and watching the road. Here comes someone, she finally an- nounced, A'Perhaps it's Franz. Trudi con'- firmed her guess and the three of us trooped down on to the porch. Franz smiled at us as if he knew what we were suffering to see Apollo start his journey across the sky. It is not necessary to go too high on the mountain, he explained. If we go to the end of the path, that is quite far enough. And please keep in a group, it is not diffi- cut to get lost with all the twists and turns. 'Lrudi glanced meaningfully at me and I knew she was remembering the time that I had wandered off and got lost when we were visiting Rome. When we arrived at the end of the path, we were thankful we did not have to go to the top. We all sank down to the ground, except for Franz who unbuckled his knap- sack and pulled out some sandwiches, to our great delight. A'What is that awful smell? I suddenly asked, looking around and, realized to my horror, that it was the sandwiches, Do you not care for Gorgonzola cheese? asked Trudi, biting her sandwich. Following her example, I tried mine, but de- cided that I would rather go hungry. How- ever, Franz was quite determined that no one should do so and pulled out a peanut butter sandwich that I received with much more enthusiasm. Look, he said suddenly, and we all obeyed. The dreary grey sky turned to a lovely blue and the snow-covered mountain tops began to sparkle like diamonds. The yellow and red flames of Apollo's chariot appeared above the horizon and spread their light over the valley below. We sat there spellbound until Apollo was well on his way. It was just gorgeous! exclaimed julie, again attacking her half-eaten sandwich. A'Too beautiful for words, I whispered. Franz nodded and then said, The sun- set - it is beautiful too. After supper, I suggested that we go to see the sunset. All we needed to do was follow the path. Trudi did not agree though: it was too dangerous, she had said. However. julie and I paid her no heed, but as she might worry, we did not tell her. Half way along the path, there was a division and we were not sure which path to take. Trusting to luck, we decided upon the left fork, It was very easy to follow in daylight, but as dark shadows covered the sky, we began to worry. I'm beginning to wish we had a guide even though that would finish our allow- ance, whimpered julie. A'It is getting awfully dark. Maybe we'd better start back, I suggested, It's too late to see it now. Turn on the flashlight. Flashlight? she repeated, 'AI thought you had brought it. I groaned. Well we haven't any time to waste: we'll have to try and get back before dark. We hurried along the wind- ing path as the dark night set upon us. I could barely see three feet in front of me when I tripped in a rut on a narrow stretch of path, I screamed as I slid down the rough, slanted rock which came to an abrupt end thirty feet below me. I grasped and clawed at the rock and the next moment I was hanging onto a branch which had squeezed its way through a small crevice in the rock. 'AHelp! julie! I shouted, although I do not know whyg there was nothing she could do. I hung there not daring to look down as I slowly began to lose my grip. Instead of thinking about falling, I wondered what julie was doing. Hold on! yelled a voice that was cer- tainly not julie's as I looked up into the glare of a flashlight. We're coming. I summoned my last bit of strength to hold on just a little longer. Suddenly I heard a

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., ' .. . ,W Hp i I .Jf': ' i in A Day In The Country ln an atmosphere of intense excitement the Balmoral Hall Auxiliary's new venture opened on a sunny Saturday morning at Mr. and Mrs. George Richardson's farm, Briar- meade. After the stands were erected and preparations completed, the vendors anxious- ly waited for their first customers. Then it happened. The mothers stared at the sky in disbelief as their efforts slowly drowned in the downpour. While some hastily bund- led together their precious goods and hurried to the protection of an already dripping tree. others tried to rescue the soaking tables with plastic sheets. But all efforts were futile. The peacocks, dry in the checking booth. curiously watched the crowds of drenched people scurry by in search of shelter. However, as the weatherman's promise came true, hair slowly dried, everything was brought into the open air again, and the Day in the Country went on. Throughout the day were attractions varying from animal tours in which wide-eyed children learned the names of their barnyard friends, to boatrides on a peaceful, picture- sque pond, complete with inquisitive geese. Country fresh vegetables read the sign above a stand filled with squash, pumpkins, and eggs. lndustrious mothers had baked delicious selections of homecooking, but by late afternoon every pie, cake, jam and jelly jar was gone. The handicraft stand displaying the fine articles made during the summer was never without fascinated browsers and eager purchasers. You will soon meet a tall dark stranger, whispered the gypsy mysteriously. Behind her, children clambered onto a passing hay wagon midst shouts of laughter after having filled themselves with barbecued hotdogs rig ht from the grill. Fathers were kept occupied. showing sons that they could still win in ga mes of skill. The special attractions of the day began with a flourish of bagpipes as two Scottish pipers led the guests through the woods to an open field for a display of riding. Of special interest to alll budding horsemen was a demonstration of jumping and skills in horesman- ship by the Manitoba Equestrian jumping Team, some members of which were old girls of Balmoral Hall. Both horses and riders displayed superb co-ordination and skill. Amid hoots of laughter and shouted encouragements, young and old participated in a family field competition of all kinds of races and wore proudly their multi-coloured ribbons as signs of their several victories. A teenage Barn Dance began about the mid- dle of the afternoon and continued until evening. Although the horses neighed loudly and the chickens fled, everyone seemed to enjoy himself. With a swirl of gay tartan and again to the tune of bagpipes, the Winnipeg Branch of the Royal .Scottish Country Dance Society gave a charming display of agility and grace. Then came the highlight of the day - the barbecue pit was opened, and great roasts of beef satisfied even the most ravenous appetites. Afterwards, when all had said goodbye to their farm friends, they returned home filled with the gay spirit of the country. We congratulate our mothers on the tremendous success of their new project that not even rain could spoil. ELIZABETH WEBSTER JANET HARRISON