Phillips High School - Mirror Yearbook (Birmingham, AL)

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T H E M I R R () R TWICE-TOLD ROMANCE nj NE May morning Spring frolicked in the outdoors. It drew Camba.o out to the open woods. Birds sang overhead and some startled flew from his path. Early spring flowers peered shyly from amid the tail grasses, and the fresh blue skies of early morn smi.ed above him. Rapt in the beauties around him. Cambalo wandered idly along. As the sun rose higher, Cambalo suddenly awoke to the fact that noon was near and he was far from home. Sw n the members of his father's court would be sitting around the table at their midday meal, and his practical father would be growing impatient as he wondered what could be keeping him. Rebellion tided his soul, for he was not like his brother, Algarsyf, who was fond of jousting and adventure. Rather for him was the quiet of the woods and the companionship of God’s creatures. Only his sister, C’anace, really understood him. Dear Can ace—she too loved nature. But. since her coming marriage was not far off. preparation for the festivity filled her waking hours. As he was thinking, his meditations were interrupted by a noise in the bush. Lo! suddenly, he stood face to face with his double! “Who are you and whence come you?” he asked after a brief moment of silence. “I am called Shambalo, and mv home is here in the forest, answered the vouch. “And you?” 1 am Cambalo, son of Cambinskin,” answered he. “You are far from home,” answered the youth, “and it is lunch time. Won’t you share my lunch with me? 'With pleasure,” answered Cambalo. After lunch they lay upon the bank of a sma.l stream and looked dreamily at the waters be ow. A mutual liking had sprung up brtween the two. and they began to exchange confidences. One told of his longing for rite gay life of the court; the Other, of his longing for the pensive life of the woods. Finally, it was agreed upon that since each desired the life of the other, they would exchange identities. By this arrangement each would enjoy for a time the life he wished, and no one would know the difference. 1 have always lived in the woods.” said Shambalo. “My mother and I are here alone now. While my father lived, the three of us hail an enjoyable time, for he taught me the use of the sword and told me stories of the wondrous times of his youth. Since he died a few years ago and left the two of us alone. 1 am unable to leave my mother for long periods. I love my mother and these woods, but youth wants the companionship of youth, love, and gay adventures. These thing never come here: my mother and I sec only each other years upon end. “I understand how you feel, said Cambalo. “1, tot), like court life at times. But one ever wants what one can not have, and of late I have sought the quiet woods where everything seems a friend. Because court life makes many demands and allows [17]

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T h £ Mirror kewpie land “Knoxvcst thou the land” where the Kcwpics dwell Far over the sea in an emerald dell? I is said they awake with the meadow lark’s song As it flies past their home at the break of dawn. I heir wine is the dew'drops left in the flowers; I heir food, the honey from clover bee bowers. I hey have nothing to do the livelong day Hut to sing and to dance the hours away, Or to swim in their sparkling, Sapphire stream (Where on moonlight nights fairy wings gleam) 1 ill twilight steals across the sky And the birds sing the Kcwpies a lullaby. Lilian Dclotty [16J

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The Mirror one little time to himself, I fear that 1 have often been missing when duty called, in spite of the fact that my father has little use for shirkers and consequently cannot understand me. How I should enjoy being in your position for a time! • « • In the meantime, events at court were of a less pleasant nature. Canacc had looked into the magic mirror, and there before her astonished eyes was the face of her fiance, Cadmond, shown false to her. Cadmond accompanied by his brother Tidmond, came at the summons of the king. When charged with the truth, he said, “Since all men walk with a ‘long tether,’ I shall not relinquish your daughter without a strugg.c. She has been promised me, and it would ill become you to go back on your word.” “My honor is good,” said Cambinskin. “I love my daughter and she wishes to be free. Will you not show your knighthood by giving her freedom? Either I or one of my family would like to protect the honor of his house on the field of combat. Canacc has been ill used and she must be avenged.” “On one condition, said her fiance, “in case of my death.'Tidmond, ray brother, will fight my slayer, and the winner of the combat shall have Canacc to keep and hold.” In the midst of the excitement which prevailed in the castle while Cambinskin’s armor was being buckled on, Shambalo entered unnoticed and listened as Canacc, afraid for her father, begged him not to fight. “Dear father, she said, I know that you are doing this for me. Hut have you thought of the sacrifice that you might be called upon to make? Please, father, consider your loving daughter and spare her the fear attendant upon such a risk. The distress of the beautiful Canace touched Shamba’.o’s heart, and he, too, joined in her pleas. These were the conditions: if Cambinskin were killed, his subjects would suffer: also, Cadmond had a strong following among the knights; and Algarsvf, the logical successor to the throne, was far distant from his country; then too, Cambalo was not versed in the affairs of state. So the result would be that Cadmond, or Tidmond, (if Cadmond were dead), would probably seize the throne. For this reason it behooved Cambalo to do the fighting, and this argument finally convinced the king. When Canacc turned her entreaties upon the supposed Cambalo, she was gently but firmly put aside and told that there were some things that men must fight for. During the battle Shambalo carried the magic sword and the magic ring which would not let him bleed; Cadmond, on the field of honor, wore a black suit which made him immune from ail sword thrusts except those dealt bv one free from sin. Since he was wicked he never expected to meet in battle a virtuous knight, but such was his fate. Shambalo, having lived all his life alone in the woods, had never been tempted to sin. The consequence was, after a brief period of fierce fighting, Shambalo won by virtue of his strength. Strange to tell, both combatants had the assistance of magic. Canacc'$ ring was not the only aid to the understanding of bird tongues, for Tidmond by virtue of black magic was also able to understand. As a result, the conversation between Cambalo [18]