Analy High School - Azalea Yearbook (Sebastopol, CA)

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and she laJujghed gleefully. The little dog went at once to the cradle and put her paws on the edge as though assuring the child that all was well now, that she had come. But the baby was not half so serious and thought this a fine joke, clapping its hands together a nd crowing loudly. Today, how¬ ever, the dog was in no mood for romp and soon lay down before the cradle and closed her eyes. The baby’s disap¬ pointment did not last long for it was time for a nap. Soon both baby and dog were asleep. Peace and quiet reigned. The breeze was quiet and gentle and the bees droned lazily by. There were no grating sounds of toil or industry. All nature seemed resting. But sudden- ly a scraping noise startles Bijou. A long sinuous body glides from a far corner of the vine covered porch and moves toward the little sleeper. Terror and instinct of self-preservation hold sway in Bijou’s little heart. Wild dread of this unknown thing seizes her. Which will conquer, the instinct of ages or devotion to the child? The time is short, already the snake coils, startled by the dog’s movement. Who shall say what struggle took place in that doggish heart? What devotion put aside the overmastering desire to fly? In a second Bijou has thrown herself upon the snake and is caught in its coils. The struggle seems hopeless, but terror and rage lend Bijou supernatural strength and she succeeds in fixing her teeth in the head of the snake just above the eyes. Her teeth sink in and reach the brain. Gradually the coils relax. Savagely Bijou shakes the snake until it no long¬ er shows signs of resistance. In the struggle the cradle was overturned and the baby thrown on the floor where it lay crying lustily. The poor tired dog released itself from the relaxed coils of the snake and paused at the cradle side to comfort the crying child. The parents heard the noise of the fall, and very much alarmed at the cries of the child rushed up the steps. There lay the child on the floor, its cheek besmeared with blood. Hastily they came to the conclusion that the dog had hurt the baby. To think this was to act. Looking around they saw the dog still patiently waiting. They saw the blood on Bijou’s mouth, and, with a heavy blow, the angry father kicked the dog down the steps. There Bijou lay for a few moments, stunned, then she got up feebly and looked back with won¬ der, amazement and pain in the mild eyes. The fierce am} ( 16 )

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By Marie Simpson Second Prize ' T ' HE dense vegetation, that bordered a small stream of a beautiful island in the East Indies, seemed sighing in the hot wind for the cool of evening. All was (jiuiet and diows , and the birds under the green foliage seemed too lazy to sing. By the stream stood a handsome house, built high from the ground, with broad, cool verandas that prom¬ ised comfort. Wide, soft green lawns stretched from the house down to the thicket, where cultivation ceased. Here vines stretched from tree to tree, and the thick undergrowth was almost impenetrable. On this hot sultry afternoon, Bijou emerged from the cool depths of the thicket, slowly came across the green lawn and painfully climbed the steps. Several times she had to stop and rest, for her small legs were very tired and her heart beat very fast. The heat under the full glare of the sun was almost intolerable, but another purpose besides seeking the cool shelter of the veranda seemed to animate her. Bijou was a brown, silky-haired spaniel, with large, mild, patient eyes. Her home was a pleasant one. She had never known ill treatment, surrounded by the care and affection of a kind master and mistress. However, the crowning joy of Bijou’s life was the baby, and what a soft, roly-poly, pink baby it was, with such pretty blue eyes and little dimples. Baby and dog were best of chums and constant companions. Bijou watched over her young friend most carefully and her time was never so pleasantly employed as that spent with the baby. Thinking of her small charge, Bijou painfully climbed the stairs, and now at last she was there, very tired, it is true, but reviving at the sight of the baby in its crib. Placed there for its afternoon nap, sleep had not yet come, and the happy baby was seriously engaged in taking various views of her wonderful toes, and pulling them to see how firmly they were fastened. Catching sight of Bijou, the investigation stopped ( 15 )

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angry face above frightened her. And why did that hind leg pain so dreadfully and drag so helplessly? Slowly and pain¬ fully she walked toward the thicket by the stream; crushed in body and spirit, she sought a hidden place. There alone and dying, the mystery of birth took place. Vainly Bijou tried to care for the four little brown puppies, which in their eager desire to live, hurt her so cruelly. Her strength was fast failing, her little heart fast wearing itself out. The parents soon found that the baby was safe, and on righting the cradle found the large snake. In vain they call¬ ed and seal died for poor Bijou but their calls were unanswer ed. Two days later they found the hidden spot and five lit¬ tle stiff bodies. In summer’s warm and leafy month of June, When Blythe birds carol gavly in the trees; Then do the sweet hours flit by all too soon When lightly we are fanned by fragrant trees, And when the drowsy murmur of the bees, The air pervades and lulls us to repose; Then doth earth’s beauty in our eyes increase. Nor care, nor sorrow, in our glad hea rts grow, Nature’s power, the joy of living on our being flows. —H. O. ’12. ( 17 )