High-resolution, full color images available online
Search, browse, read, and print yearbook pages
View college, high school, and military yearbooks
Browse our digital annual library spanning centuries
Support the schools in our program by subscribing
Privacy, as we do not track users or sell information
Page 14 text:
“
MR. BLUEJAY By Harriet Maddocks. First Prize TRIM looking blue jay sat on a rail fence and gravely surveyed the surrounding country. He preened his feathers and flew to a high post on the fence, where he might be seen more clearly, and stood coquettishly with his head on one side, waiting to be admired. A few timid brown birds ventured out of the bushes to watch their grand neighbor and they looked after him, filled with awe and admiration as he disdainfully flew deep¬ er into the woods. His flight led him across green fields, swamps white with meadow foam and over long stretches of pine timber until at last he came to a deep cool canyon through which a small stream tumbled down over a high bank covered with ferns and delicate green moss, and then on down the canyon over its rocky bed. Wild ginger dipped its large shiny green leaves and curious dark red flowers into the water, and further on, where the trees were not so numerous, mats of fragrant yerba buena and yellow violets covered the ground. Above the stream the sides of the canyon rose steeply and were heavily wooded with fir and redwood. On the ground lay a thick carpet of needles, dotted with dainty pink star flowers on their wide green thrones. Over all lay the in¬ tangible fragrance of spring, and the blue jay’s heart sang within him for the mere joy of living. The world seemed perfect; the sun shone bright and warm, there was plenty of water in the canyon and best of all, there were innumerable flies and in¬ sects in the woods to feast upon, and he thought of the cherries that would be ripe later in the orchard beyond in the clearing. What more could a bird ask ? He was admired, envied and even feared by most of the birds of his size in the woods, and he was quite satisfied with his own beauty. Warm and tired from his long flight the bluejay sank gratefully into the cool shadows of the canyon, and after resting a few moments, he flew down to the water and began to bathe himself. He splashed and dipped in the water until he felt that he was clean, and then he went away to the sunniest, warmest place he could find to dry himself. He fluffed and dressed his 12
”
Page 15 text:
“
feathers to his heart ' s content and afterwards flew away screant ing, to explore the country that lay beyond the blue hills that he Could see from the great pine tree at the head of the canyon. Days passed and the bluejay began to weary of the life that had seemed so perfect to him. What could be the matter? He mounted the highest tree in the canyon and sent a shrill question¬ ing call out over the woods. Then he listened and not even an echo came back to him. Over and over again he repeated it and finally a very faint answer came to him from out in the open. Without a moment’s hesitation he went in the direction from whence the answer came, now and then stopping to utter the call again. The answer was low but quite distinct, and then all at once he saw her. It seemed to him that she was the most beautiful bird he had ever seen, and a wave of feeling, that made his heart pound against his breast, surged over him. Once more he sent out a questioning note, but this time it was lower and not quite so proud. Instead of stopping to listen she flew away and hid in a thicket, and her ardent lover followed close behind. He tried to make his voice soft and musical like the other birds of the woods, but to his dismay, he found that even if his beauty was perfect, his voice was not. Day after day he continued his courtship, and after a great deal of persuasion, she at last con¬ sented to be a partner to the nest building in the cherry orchard. They chose the very highest limb in the largest cherry tree in the clearing above the canyon and both set to work. Mr. Bluejay first brought coarse twigs, and his dainty wife told him just how to arrange them, but he was so excited that he paid no attention to her advice and threw them carelessly in a con¬ venient crotch of a limb and hurried off to pull pieces of dry grass to finish the nest with. Mrs. Bluejay carefully lined it with the softest grass and leaves that could be found. The bluejay’s heart sang in the days that followed as he watched over his mate and the nest in the cherry tree. How proud he was of those four blue eggs! The whole orchard was filled with his screams of delight and happiness. Every morning he visited the canyon and after finishing his bath and grooming his feathers, caught the juiciest insects and carried them to his mate. Then he came back again, found his own breakfast and mounted the tall pine tree at the head of the canyon, from which he could see all over the country, including his nest in the
Are you trying to find old school friends, old classmates, fellow servicemen or shipmates? Do you want to see past girlfriends or boyfriends? Relive homecoming, prom, graduation, and other moments on campus captured in yearbook pictures. Revisit your fraternity or sorority and see familiar places. See members of old school clubs and relive old times. Start your search today!
Looking for old family members and relatives? Do you want to find pictures of parents or grandparents when they were in school? Want to find out what hairstyle was popular in the 1920s? E-Yearbook.com has a wealth of genealogy information spanning over a century for many schools with full text search. Use our online Genealogy Resource to uncover history quickly!
Are you planning a reunion and need assistance? E-Yearbook.com can help you with scanning and providing access to yearbook images for promotional materials and activities. We can provide you with an electronic version of your yearbook that can assist you with reunion planning. E-Yearbook.com will also publish the yearbook images online for people to share and enjoy.
