Willard Middle School - Target Yearbook (Berkeley, CA)

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THE TARGET 5 THE BETTER SHOT AND THE BETTER MAN. Members of the Riverside Gun Club had been practicing for some time for the shooting tournament now at hand. Big Jim, a traveling trapper, got wind of it through an old news- paper. He decided to try his luck as he said. 1 M He arrived there the day of the tournament, a typical frontierman. The inferior members of the club were not in the reckoning. At the first shot, the ball went wide of its mark, while Brown, the clubman, hit on the outer edge of the bull ' s eye. In the second shot Jim did himself justice, but on account of his nerv- ousness (he was not used to facing a crowd) the third went wild. Brown had won with honors. The judge gave him the little sack of gold. When Jim was shaking Brown ' s hand he said, Waal, I thought I could shoot a little bit but I guess not, and with- out another word he stalked off the green. While walking along a wooded ave- nue, he met Brown coming up. The victor said, May I walk with you? I hope you have no hard feelings. Jim threw back his head and laughed saying, No,pard, but where are you going? I am going to visit some people with whom my little daughter Agnes is staying, replied Brown. As they neared the clearing in which the old house stood, far on the outskirts of the city, they saw with horror a great mountain lion, about to spring on a little child. My God! It ' s Agnes! cried Brown. And so it was; she had won- dered out to play in the brook and this thirsty ravaging monster had seen her. Brown dropped his gun, his nerve gone; but not Jim. Raising his rifle, he fired. The beast sprang, but it was a death spring. He fell in his tracks, shot through the head. When Brown realized the truth he said, with tears in his eyes, Jim! This proves to me, who the best shot is, and moreover, it proves to me that you are the best man. Take this money and may it do you great good. You deserve it. Jim replied shaking his head, No, Brown, I can ' t do it. If I had it I would not know what to do with it. This teaches me a lesson. Civiliza- tion is not for me. I go, and never shall civilization see my face. I can shoot in the face of danger, but not for money. WHELER JENSEN. THE MOON AND DAWN. The moon still bathed the summer sky As the dawn flung dewy arms on high. The moon, the sun ' s path craved to sea, And dawn from danger would not flee. Each sought the world that they knew not Like man in earth ' s great melting pot. Moon and sun, the heaven ' s power, Aid and source of every flower, Why not morn and darkness lighten And leave the heart the day to brighten ? Each day to life and duty bring Your nature gifts that make heart s sing. NANCY BOOTH.

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4 THE TARGET The order was quickly obeyed. When the French commander be- held soldiers in such a small place defy him, he determined tocapture the tower before continuing on his way. By this act he lost Dover, the capture of which would have made England a part of France, for it was the only strong point in England then holding out against the rebel Barons and the French. And so that stormy night the young master set out, and we will now return to find him well on his way to Dover, and the purusuing troops proceeding inland. The dawn was just streaking the sky, for by this time the storm had abated, when the youth came within sight of the walls. In less than an hour he was safe inside Dover, where he told his story to the commander, Sir Hubert de Burgh. Thus by his quick thought and action he prepared Dover for the defence. The French seeing they had under estimated the strength of the tower, left for Dover, leaving only a small force to continue the siege. But it was too late. They had been too con- fident of capturing this small tower, and thereby lost both. This story is based on facts, but the ride though true is Unknown to History. MORGAN COX. THE BUFFALO. I sing of the noble buffalo Which, in the days of long ago, Roamed the grassy M-estern lands, Raided by large Indian bands. The white man came with gun and horse, And slew the herds without remorse, And now the skins are on the floor; The buffalo roams the plains no more. HOWARD HAMILTON CLARK. 1913, MY UNLUCKY YEAR. I left camp one day with pole and bait, and started on the seven-mile hike to the big pond, a hole some twenty feet deep. A beautiful stream dashed over the rocks and fell with a continuous thunder into the pond. It was said that the place swarmed with brook and salmon trout. For a fact I could, every once in a while, see one flash in the sunlight as it tried to leap up the falls; or another splash after a dive. I baited my line and, half-crouch- ing behind a boulder began to cast; here, there, in the shade of a rock, then back to the falls again. I notic- ed that the sun had gone behind some heavy clouds, but thought noth- ing of it. After a little while, I changed my position, casting from a different quarter. At last! — a strike, then a steady tugging. Oh! how that line reeled in. Finally the trout was near enough to be seen. He wa s a beauty, about thirteen inches long. During the ex- citement, having moved too near the edge, I lost my balance, and not being able to recover myself, splashed, pole and all into the water. The line spun off the reel like a flash of lightning, and when it reached the end, — snap! Down to the bottom went fish and line. I pulled myself out, and greatly dis- gusted, angry, and also wet, started back to camp. But it seemed as if I had not gone more than one hundred yards, when the heavens appeared to open, and what a deluge descended. Thoroughly soaked already, and car- ing nothing for the down-pour, I ran from tree to tree, until I reached camp, where, after a warm fire and dry clothing, I felt considerably bet- ter. HAROLD WOOLSEY.

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6 THE TARGET A TRAGEDY OF THE SWISS ALPS. Philip was angry. Why shouldn ' t he go up the Alps alone? He was no longer a youngster who could not look after himself. Just then a great thought came into his head. He whistled and jumped about until his mother, remarking the change in him, inquired, What is the matter with you, Philip? O, nothing, said Philip again growing sulky. The day was hot and sultry and dragged slowly by, but at last evening came, cool and beautiful, and then the dark and sinister night. Midnight came, and Philip stirred slightly in his bed, then slipped stealthily out and dresed himself with nervous fingers. He crept silently out of his bed- room window, a small knapsack on his back and a flask of water at his belt. He then peered into the dark- ness to see that no one was about, but there was no need of fear as Swiss folk retire early. Philip half ran, half walked up the long, white curving road before him which led up to the world-famed Alps. The thousand and one scents familiar to the Swiss countryside lured him on. He noticed the dark outline of the mountains loom big and weird in the heights above him. They looked grim. But Philip was not to be daunted. Not he! The sun rose to find Philip before one of the innumerable chalets far up the valley. The owner looked at him inquiringly, but decided to give him food without questioning him, as Philip was not inclined to talk. After a good rest, his knapsack full of sup- plies and his flask filled with pure mountain water, Philip trod on again. The sun now glared fiercely down and Philip, hot and dusty, his flask nearly empty, sat down under the cool shade of a large, outspreading tree, and did not move from the spot till late in the afternoon. He noticed a village not far ahead of him, and headed rapidly for it. Arriving in about an hour ' s time, he decided to have another meal before atempting to ascend the dangerous trail. He again filled his flask, and his knapsack was heavy with fruit when he set off. His conscience was a little easier now, as many young lads idled about in mountain costume. Philip, how- ever, passed rapidly through the vil- lage and began the ascent by a nar- row pebbly path. He now heard a low, but distinct rumble, as of ehunder. However, he gave no further thought of it and climbed more rapidly, — the mystery and beauty of the mountains luring him on. Night came to find Philip half way to the summit of the mountain. He was dead tired by this time and only managed to drag one foot wearily aft- er the other. He suddenly fell to the ground from exhaustion and decided to wait there till the first signs of morning would awaken him. He smiled as he thought of his parents ' refusal. In a few hours he would tell the village of his wondrous feat, and the news would spread rapidly. It was well on to midnight when Philip, with a frightened cry, sprang to his feet and heard the same low roar as of the foregoing afternoon, but now it seemed to come crashing down, ever growing nearer and louder.