Richmond High School - Shield Yearbook (Richmond, CA)

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the noise, nor felt anything like the biting wind; but it was all such great Jun dodging the big drops, and, when they were too slow, to watch them trickle down their gleaming hair and slide off their sillv little robes. ‘Their little white feet flashed in and out of the pools, splashng the water high on them as they whirled about. ‘What was that?’’ suddenly asked Darling, startled. There had been a erash, with a splintering of wood that shook the very ground under their feet. The little creatures rushed to the edge of the reeds as a terrific wave surged and lifted some- thing forward, and hurled it on the narrow strip of shore. Even before they saw what it was, a premonition seemed to come to them, and the little group moved silently forward and stood awed by the side of a beautiful human. Then they glanced at the shattered boat. It was the same small craft they had once seen passing. They looked back at the human. She had hair like Darling’s—wavy and golden. They pressed closer to her side and Gogonar and Darling clamored up to her face. It was still and white. They tried sing- ing into her wonderful ears, but she did not move. All the while the rest of the fairies waited quietly, staring up at Darling—and forgetting to laugh. At the turning of the tide, a huge wave came and tugged at her skirt. She stirred in the sand. A startled wail went up from the sobered fairies, as they clutched her clothes, but the water still carried her gently back over the sand. They braced their little feet. and frantically strove to hold her; but their strengths were such tiny strengths. ‘Oh! my Human!”’ cried Darling, and hurling herself on the human’s soft cheek, she clung to her by a stray lock of hair, and burst into a heartbroken wail. Gogonar struggled manfully to con- trol his quivering lips, but the tears slipped from his eyes and ran down his cheeks. Forgetting their fate if they cried, forget- ting everything in their sadness and misery, all the little fairies wept and sobbed, not knowing when their tears might dissolve them into—what would they be dissolved into? They did not know. And so the tide bore them out weeping, their little tears ming- ling with the quieted waves. Out, out, till the wind carried back only the echo of a sob. Then all was silent. The water gradually lapped its way through the reeds, and in the east the moon rose slowly. As the waters lifted restlessly, they caught the light of the moon. An iridescence tipped each wave and sparkled and glowed, woven through the green. On the crest of the highest wave, a starry glimmer danced in and out of the foam. The trail of light which followed it was Darling’s hair—immortalized. And when we go out at night, and our. dipped oar seems to stir up a fairy castle in the phosphorous, it may be Darling’s new home; it may be Gogonar’s; but at any rate it is the marsh fairies.’ LAURA TRULL, ’13.

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isla leat | se al | | rest | OO} ef gs zal evil omen. The fairies, although they loved her, looked at her derisively and one small elfish creature, whom they called Gogonar because of his gift of preachy rhymes, jeered something like this: Come, our Darling, Silly child! Come and join Our dances wild. You do look Almost afraid; And for laughter We are made. If we ever Cease to be Jaght and airy Kull of glee, Something awful Does await; Sure to be a [Llideous fate! With very little effort—for fairies have delightfully cheerful natures—she brightened and joined in the jubilant shout which fol- lowed the discovery of a smooth, level spot—ideal for a dance. But the rumbling sound grew stronger in the north. Clouds hur- ried across the sky and banked themselves low over the hills. The little, glistening green creatures pretended that the gathering gloom was only the shadow of the rushes. And seeming to substantiate their pretense, a lull fell over the island and the water, and only the soft lapping of tiny waves through the reeds interrupted their laughter. A long, tense muttering came from over the northern hills and susts of wind whistled dismally through the reeds. Simultaneously with a flash of lightning, great heavy drops of rain began to fall, one of them striking Gogonar on the head, and bowling him over. An instant’s stillness, then a shriek of heartless laughter at the dismayed countenance of the poor poet. As his dignity vanished, Gogonar realized how fickle fairies are, and gazed about him to find some way to distinguish himself. Finally he noticed that the huge drops penetrated the thicker rushes only enough to form de- lightful pools where they might dive and disport themselves glee- fully. It was exhilarating sport, and very novel. Meanwhile, without the rushes, the waves rose and fell, restlessly at first, but gaining momentum, they plunged over the moaning reeds, then hurried back, frothing themselves to a- white fury. Around ore side of the island, they lashed menacingly against the sides of a frail pleasure boat. The girl struggled with the oars, righting the boat several times just as it seemed doomed to plunge into the trough of the rolling water. The thunder pealed incessantly behind the hills, and the black skies parted only for the sharp flashes of lightning. The fairies stili played on, till, led by Darling, they ventured out to the water’s edge. They had never before heard anything lke

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ee Good Night, Lil Lam. io Cuddle to yo’ mammy, cuddle close. — trial Does mammy lub you? W’y of co’se the wi Cuddle close’s ev’ you can; lini Mammy lubs her li’] brack man. ning—al Say yo’ prayers, ’n close dem eyes, . Close ’em tight, so’s you kin s’prise tuggl : Dat ole san’ man wif his san’ t up 1 Dat shake de sleep on all de lan’. is a Good night, li’] lam’, good night. reir lit gths wer W’en de big moon comes up shinin’, lf on th Don’ you let it cotech you whinin’, air, al You jes’ close yo’ eyes up tight, y to Case de stars am shinin’ bright. eyes al Quick now, honey, quit yo’ foolin’; d, forge! Sho’ ah’ll have to sta’t in rulin’ le fairies An’ have to whip mah li’l brack man. - disgalr Close yo’ eyes now, quick’s you can. rot kno Good night, li’l lam’, good night. ars mnie ack onl or, . ’ ! reali Hush, there, Zekial, don’ you speak ! nae Cain’t you see he’s gone to sleep? Me Nother time, ’n out you'll go, i : No mattah if they’s rain er snow. fe You walk mighty still ahaid de An’ fix de eubbahs on de baid. of Ig There, there, honey, don’ you fret, Yo’ ole mammy’s got you yet. Good night, li’7] lam’, good night. fut WINIFRED CONWELL, 714.