Trafalgar School - Echoes Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

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hard to follow the bobbing barrel as the fish zigzagged frantically in its effort to get free. After an hour or so we knew he was weakening and picked up the barrel. When the tuna was brought to the surface we exulted when we saw that he was an especially big one. With last-minute dives and turns he churned the water around the boat, but he had received a mortal wound and presently his great body floated on the surface. We made for Fox Point and home, well pleased with the results of our first tuna-fishing expedition and more enthusiastic than ever about the joys of a Nova Scotian summer. Elizabeth Anne Kendall, Form IIIa. A Sentimental Letter Observatory Hill, The Isle of Capri. Believe it, Beloved, I think of you with every breath I take, in my solitude. But don ' t let it bother you if I say it ' s you I adore. Yesterday I was out in the cold again walking in the winter wonderland, looking for a needle in a hay-stack (I found it) . Being all tangled up in love I got lost in a fog then suddenly pop went my heart at the thought of the champagne waltz that waltz you saved for me. Have you forgotten there is a tavern in the town just around the corner ? But soon my lonely feet said my man , it ' s home. Am I just a fair-weather friend? If not, say when! Don ' t ever leave me. Fare thee well, Annabelle. Your Ole Faithful, F. Lyman J. Scrimger P.S. I love you! Three Brave Pioneers ONE bright Sunday morning Miss X telephoned Miss Y, Would you and Miss Z like to go ski-ing up north to-day? . . . fine, have you three dollars to spare . . . thanks . . . g ' bye. Soon Miss X, Y and Z were merrily chatting on the 8.30 train, equipped with a compass, a lunch and a map. They made their plans for the day while the train pushed up the line. A good, energetic ski, they thought, would be the best plan and off they hopped at Shawbridge. Unfortu- nately they struck a terrible gale descending upon the train. Miss Z lest her hat and Miss Y lost her precious map. But being three brave pioneers they realized tha.t this was just part of the fun. Let ' s have a shot at the big hill, as a starter, suggested Miss X. The suggestion was accepted and they started off to have a starter on the big hill. But, as luck would have it, Miss X took an awful tumble which soaked her with wet snow right to the skin. Miss Y, having energetically climbed to the top, lost courage, took off her skis and walked down the hill, while Miss Z patiently stayed at the bottom, dry and comfortable. Determined not to let this discourage them, the three brave pioneers boldly faced the cruel wind and set out to cut a trail through the dense forests of the cold, pitiless Laurentian Mountains. Here they found, instead of wind, was soft snow and hot sun. This blissful comfort they thought was the [ 27 ]

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On Waiting In A Dentist ' s Office IT is just 5.30. You are the sole occupant of the room. Muffled howls and shrieks reach your ear. You wonder, rather nervously, if Dr. Jones is going to hurt you. Magazines are strewn carelessly around the room. You idly pick up L:berty. On opening the cover you see a most delightful cartoon of Jimmy in the dentist ' s chair. Jimmvs ' facial contortions leave little to the imagination. Liberty slides from your shaking fingers to the floor. A white ' dad nurse smiles in what she thinks is a hopeful fashion as she ushers in a new victim. It is a little boy accompanied by his extremely stout mother who keeps saying in a loud, insistent tone, Nov , Oscar, do sit still in the chair. To which the said Oscar replies dolefully but with great precision, Ah! Oscar is suddenly seized by a great and overwhelming desire to be possessor of your new green scarf. After giving two or three vigorous tugs, he is attacked from behind by his indignant mamma, who says, Oscar is so playful, mm , and gives you what is meant to be a charming smile to turn away your wrath. As she does so, you notice a few gold teeth to be imbedded in her capacious mouth. Shuddering, you turn away. The dentist appears at this moment, followed by a shaky individual who disappears rapidly. You rise hesitantly, whereat the good doctor looks at you and in a jovial tone says, Why, Mary, your appointment is for to-morrow, is it not? Anne Thom, Form IVb. Tuna Fishing St. Margaret ' s Bay, on the south coast of Nova Scotia, is a most beautiful spot. The green shores curve in a great sweep where the blue sea comes deeply inwards, and beyond are many islands. There are a few villages tucked away unexpectedly m sheltered coves. At one called Fox Point there lives a man named Boutilier, a bronzed fisherman whose acquaintance we made casually one day when we stopped to exclaim over a great tuna fish which he had just brought in. Boutilier told us that he had caught more than forty-five already and hoped to catch many more. When we found that, he took passengers occasionally I persuaded my father to allow me to go with my uncle and some of his friends . The night before the day arranged with Boutilier we spent at a little hotel near Fox Point as we had to be readv to leave at four o ' clock in the morning. When we went down to the wharf we stepped aboard a small schooner with two masts and an auxiliary engine. Built out from the bow was a small platform from which the harpoon would be thrown. Boutilier started the engine and we put out to sea. Soon we were surrounded by a heavy fog. We were most disappointed, as we were hoping to see the sun rise. But it soon cleared and it was a fine day. At five o ' clock we sighted the herring fleet, then we stopped one boat and got our bait, which was live herring. We sailed fourteen miles out to sea until we anchored beside a herring net. The harpoon, made of iron and attached by a long rope to a small barrel, was made ready. In the meantime I was told to throw a live herring outside the net every five minutes or so to attract the tuna that were sure to be hovering close by. Boutilier was standing ready on the platform, harpoon in hand when, just as I had thrown another fish over, we saw a dark shape quickly approach- ing the herring which was feebly swimming away. Boutilier, with a mighty thrust, let go the harpoon, aiming at the herring, and so beautifully timed was his throw that the harpoon pierced the tuna ' s head. At a shout from Boutilier my uncle hurled the barrel over the side, and we watched the length of rope uncoil with incredible speed as the terrified fish dived deeply. The engine was quickly started and we were ready to follow the tuna when he came nearer the surface. At first it was f 26 1

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result of their somewhat bad start. Noticing that they were all growing tired they found, most unfortunately, that they had several feet (no exaggerations) of snow under their skis. They were not despairing and in a few minutes they were sitting deep in the snow waxing their skis. In a short time they were ready to start, but unfortunately they had some difficulty in rising out of the very deep snow. After helping each other they were all up, only to find that they had left most of the dye of their pants behind — (a mere detail!). On they went, only to find that their skis were over waxed, with the result that they would scarcely move. At last their spirits gave out and they sat down in a nice sheltered spot to have lunch. But the sheltered spot soon changed its name and became a windy, cold corner. However, appetites were too keen to bother about the temperature. Misses X, Y and Z were now very happy. They had a good lunch in spite of the fact that the sandwiches were soaked in ginger ale, and the cake was mixed with oranges. Miss X suggested the return home as they must allow time. Miss X ' s suggestion always proved brilliant, so it was accepted again. This time she did wisely. Had she not done so, Misses X, Y and Z would probably have remained in the Laurentians and would have perished in the cold. As it happened, since they had lost the map, they consequently lost their way, but being as they were, as I have already mentioned, perfect pioneers, they went on and always on till finally they arrived at Shawbridge, and until this day they never knew where they went. When they arrived at the station they discovered that the late train was the only one that they had not missed. So among skis and people they managed to squeeze in, only to find that all the seats were occupied. And so the Misses X, Y and Z silently existed among skiers and skiers and forests of skis, among surging voices, cigarette smoke and con ' versation, until at last the train pulled in at Park Avenue Station. We shall leave them there — Miss X under a seat with her skis on top of her; Miss Y uncon ' scious in the smoking-room, and Miss Z near the car door, buried under drinking cups. We trust the three pioneers arrived home safely and were present at school next morning. Faith Lyman, Form IVa. Six- Wife Sam We left our port on a summer day, Twas a hot summer day in June, And after there came a hot summer night, With a beautiful orange moon. Then up and spake old Six-Wife Sam, Our captain took a telescope, The porpoises to see; But when we looked upon his face He showed no outward glee. The things had very scaly skirts, This moon reminds me of Mabel, And all us jolly sailor-men Did laugh all we were able. Sam was a merry old sea-dog, With a wife in every port : Their skirts were made of scales, Then said our merry sailor men, Perhaps they ' re only whales! ' They are a band of mermaids, quoth Our captain. Then said he, Some fat, some thin, some old, some young, Some fair, some tall, some short. The next day dawned with a golden flare, And the flying, fluffy foam Did lure the instinct of our men They are a band of maidens that Pull ships down in the sea! And true it was, for that same night There rose some awful gales. I know whose blasted fault it was. To wander and to roam. Sam said he saw some porpoises With lovely golden locks, A i ombing thcin with silver combs, While sitting on the rocks. It was them pretty whales! And Sam was right, for the next day The gales were awful fierce; And then those cussed porpoises Made the winds our sails to pierce. I 28 |