Phillips High School - Mirror Yearbook (Birmingham, AL)

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The Mirror and Shambalo having been overheard by the birds, the gossiping of two songsters in the branches above Tidmond. as he stood waiting for the fight to end. revealed to him the truth. After the defeat of his brother, Cadmond, he questioned the eligibility of Cam-balo as the agreement had been for one of the family to fight. The silence that fell was broken when the real Cambalo and Shambalo’s mother appeared upon the scene. She believing the time had come for Shambalo to know the truth, had told his impersonator her story. She explained that the father of Shambalo had been Cambinskin’ favorite brother, who, because envious people had convinced Cambinskin of his brother’s intentions to seize the throne, had been driven from the court. Since the very sreurity of their hiding place had been kept secret, they did not know that after the passing of long years a deathbed confession had revealed the conspiracy. The resulting search for the missing family had been in vain. At last all difficulties being cleared up. the surprised Cambalo. knowing the delight it would give the king to sec his brother's wife again, brought her into his presence. After a joyous reunion. Shambalo. his right to fight for Canace now firmly established, turned and engaged Tidmond in combat, but Tidmond, a better fighter than his brother, wounded Shambalo several times. How fortunate that Tidmond in the heat of battle left himself unguarded! At that fatal moment Shambalo thrust him through the heart. As a reward Cambinskin promised his nephew anything in his power to give. After learning that Canace was willing, the victor asked for his cousin's hand. And tradition records that their marriage was a long and happy one. —Bessie Davis 119]

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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]

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'I he Mirror MARCHING Tramp, tramp, tramp; what is that steady, throbbing, earth-shaking noise? What is that peculiarly familiar thumpity-thump that accompanies the drum beat? Now I know why my nerves are tense; why my feet keep in step of their own volition. Marching boots, marching feet come around the corner. Hooray! How the glistening bayonets reflect the sun’s rays! How the shining rifles gleam in the sunlight! Here come sturdy men with sixty-pound packs on their backs. Here come officers with their leather and their sabers a-shinc. And, at '.ast—the colors! The good old red, white, and blue: Who knows a prettier flag! What of the crowd? Beside me. an o.d woman in black, gazes: her sun-bleached eyes swimming in tears, her body heaving with sobs that keep time with the boots. She felt my stare, turned, and controlling her tears, gasped, “My boy— marched In front of her, a hov and girl, about seven or eight, are screaming, jumping and waving toy flags. And there is a young lady admiring her hero as he marches, the center of the whole show. Why am 1 interested in marching men? Men have marched since they have had ability to organize. They have marched as Romans, as Englishmen, and as Americans. My forefathers and yours have marched to war and a few have come back. That is the War Spirit, the fever of war reverberating through the ages. War marches on! —Horry Koil'itx —o— WAR Beat, heat, Sounded the drums. The song of war was on. To soldiers, the future lay Unknown. Tramp, tramp. They came marching Row after row so brave. While high above, the stars and stripes Did wave. Silence— Deep, deep silence— Oppressive silence falls upon The group of weary men, marching On, on. Onward Down through the years. Shall there he eternal beat of drums? Shall there be forever the sound of weary feet And guns? [20] —Alice Huey