Balmoral Hall School - Optima Anni Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

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felt a crushing sensation in my chest. And, at the same time I beheld the gaping mouth and vicious fangs of a huge snake which I realized was an anaconda, the world's largest constricting snake. The pressure increased to such an extent that I became almost breathless and was fast losing consciousness, and then . . . I wakened. During my struggles caused by the excitement of my dream, the upper bed sheet had become entwined around my chest like a tendril. There's nothing like a nightmare for a hair- raising adventure. Shelagh Kelsey Grade IX. Unfortunate Bear The polar bear, That mighty beast With shaggy hair Is so un-happy! King of kings, But not of ice Or snow and things, But 'twelve square feet of concrete! He's rather fat, And finds it hard Because of that To clamfber from this pool. His other world Is seen through bars, Of people, children, Dogs and cars And moving life. He longs to sit In quiet undisturbed repose, Upon an iceberg Trailing his tired -toes In Arctic water. Oh, unfortunate Bear! This life which he And others s-hare Is really very bare And void of life. So children when Next at the Zoo, Throw our friend bear A word or two Of sympathy. Dorothy Richardson, Grade XI. g, I7 The Chest Miss Amelia will not be able to see you for about half an hour. Will you sit down, sir? I sat down and waited for Miss Amelia to appear. While I am waiting I will tell you some- thing about myself. My name is Archibald Stephenson, I am a bachelor, and I live in a small cottage with a maid, a dog, and two cats. I work in a bank but for a hobby I am very interested in old houses. This was why I was waiting in the hall of this huge, gloomy house. Nobody knew much about the place, and some believed it to be haunted. However, I decided to discover the truth myself. In spite of the warm, sunny day and the good luck some people had hoped I would have, I felt nervous when I reached the huge, iron gates. I managed to summon enough courage to rap on the great bronze knocker, and introduce myself to a rosy-faced maid who ans- wered my knock, and then bustled away to inform Miss Amelia of my presence. While I waited for Miss Amelia I looked around the hall. It was large and gloomy and had many statues and pictures in it. A portrait of a lady and a little boy arrested my attention. Both had dark complexions that made them look attractive. The lady, I presumed, was the child's mother. I was so engrossed with looking at the picture that I did not hear Miss Amelia come down the stairs and walk over to where I was standing. Her voice violently interrupted my thoughts. I see you admiring my picture, Mr. Stephenson. I whirled around to find I was facing a middle- aged lady with iron-grey hair. I found it very beautiful, I replied softly. The boy is my son, that is me beside him. When she spoke of her son, her voice faltered, and her eyes grew soft and tender. But she recovered herself quickly and decided with me what price I should pay for a visit through the old house, As we were walking upstairs to see my room, she suddenly halted and said, Mr. Stephenson, you are free to go where you like in the house but please stay out of the front room upstairs. Now come to your apartment. During the week I roamed the old house and its garden but never ventured into the front room, though I was often tempted to. However, one night the temptation grew too strong for me. I opened my bedroom door and slipped into the hall. The house was as silent as a tomb and I

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is A g coat was made o-f vowel letters and his trousers were made of consonants. When 'he 'finally spoke to her, letters grouped into words filed out of his mouth like sparklers in the 'dark room. Frances was dumb with astonishment, f-or the 'letters spelled out this message, 'Willyou come with me to the 'Land of Letters Into Words', for I am Mr. Alpha- bet? I heard your questions and I'd like 'to help you find the answers. With a whispered yes , Frances was transformed into a 'tiny being, and they were both up in the air heading for the Land of Letters Into Words. As they drew near, Frances could see miniature houses in the shape of letters. Mr. Alphabet ex- plained to her that some letters were 'much more prosperous than others. A , he said, was the hardest-working and therefore was the most prom- inent. He also added saying, 'B', 'C', and 'D', 'A's' next door neighbors, are not ha-lf as busy as he is, and are always borrowing him to make words as bad, dab, and cad. 'C' is helping out 'K' to make its living in words like pick, stick, and brick. 'E' he continued as they came to his house, is almost as busy as 'A' is, but does not work as hard because the majority of words 'he is in, 'E' is not pronounced as in name, mane, and lane. He had a quarrel with 'I' once about which of them would come first in a word when they appeared together. They made a compromise. Here they are spelling it with the other letters now. Frances saw the letters perform and it read: 'I' before 'E' Except after 'C' Or when used as 'A' As in neighbour or weigh. They walked along from house to house until they came to a duplex which had on one side a and the other side a Mr. Alphabet ex- plained saying, 'Q', I am afraid, has an infer- iority complex and needs 'U' to make it sound properly. This also helps 'U's', unemployment situ- ation, receiving the least work of all the vowels. At the end of the road lived X , Y and The tiny man told 'her that these letters were little used. However, Y served in two ways, as a con- sonant and as a vowel and so 'had extra value. Y became used as a vowel when I was being over- worked and was able to use Y's help. Do 'you know the answers to all your questions now, Fran- ces? Mr, Alphabet asked. Frances was about to answer when she realized the question had not come from Mr. Alphabet but from her mother standing in 'her bedroom. Half awaken and 'half asleep she asked, Where are Mr. Alphabet and the letters? Her mother said, Frances, what on earth are you talking about? Are you stil-l worrying over your spelling? Oh, Mother, I know all the answers now, for Mr. Alphabet 'has helped me to understand how to put letters into words. A bewildered mother and ia 'happy daughter went down to breakfast. Mr. Alphabet had van- ished into the mythical Land of Letters Into Words . Joanne Wilson, Grade IX. Intermediate Literary C ompelilion Prize Story A cleverly-handled, amusing little story Amazon Adventure The moon shone at its very best over the still lake. Not a sound could be heard. The eerie dark- ness was terrifying. All of a sudden, a dark shadow shot out of the reeds at the side of the lake. What was it? Should I investigate? No, that wouldn't be the thing to do. just wait. just wait and see what it is. As the moving object came closer I could 'see the out- line of a canoe. How skilful the -canoer was. Would it be . . . Yes, it was Swift Cheeta! He stopped silently beside me and I climbed in. Not a word was spoken between us. Then, picking up the other paddle, we moved on. Swiftly 'we paddled up the lake, staying close to shore. Occasionally a sound 'broke the silence as we dis- turbed a frog or other animal sitting on the bank. Fina-lly we were out of the lake and on 'the river near the deadliest of al-1 places. Dangerous animals, fish and reptiles made their 'homes on its banks or in its waters. It was said 'that huge snakes would 'yank both paddle and paddler out of a canoe and swallow him alive. I 'can't believe such things but maybe they are true. It is also said that the ferocious pirana, a small but deadly fish which tears the flesh from its prey, lives in these waters. As we 'travelled up river, I began to 'think over my mission. To bring back native animals alive. Whaft a ,job that would be! Swift C-heeta 'brought me out of my day-dreaming by announcing we were approaching a 'bad bend in the river. Many other boats had crashed on this bend because they rounded it too far out and hit the rocks in the middle. -But, however, we made it safely by keeping Close to shore. fWe were also a bit wetj. About an hour later my guide told me we should stop and rest for a bit before going on. At dawn we found a good landing place and were about to pull in when there was a great up- heaval and the boat turned over throwing us into the black murky water. I heard Swift Cheeta scream what I thought was Look out! when I

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l8 walked silently to the door of the forbidden room for fear of waking Miss Amelia. Before I entered I glanced around to make sure I was alone. I quietly turned the handle and entered. I had not brought a light nor did I need one for the moon was shining in at the window. Its eerie rays revealed a bare room except for a large oak chest. It was beautifully carved and something made me hasten toward it, lift the lid, and discover its secret. Before I reached it a voice said coldly behind me, I see you have disobeyed my orders, Mr. Stephenson. I turned swiftly to find Miss Amelia standing behind me with a candle in one hand. I couldn't resist it, I finally managed to say. Something in the steely features of Miss Ame- lia's face softened then and she said, Since you have found the chest I will tell you its secret. Come to my sitting room. We walked across the hall to her sitting-room. It was warm in there after the coldness of the hall. She began to tell her story. It happened when I was young, I was married and had a little boy. I was very fond of my child, and I seldom left his side. But one dark day I was visiting my mother who was ill, and I left john alone. When I came home I could not find him. Panic began to take hold of me, and I rushed blindly from room to room calling his name imploringly. When I came to the front room I burst in, but I was too late. I caught sign of a small curly head under the lid of the chest. I tried to stop it from closing, but I could not. I never saw my little john again. I am very sorry, I said softly. Never mind. Good-night, Mr. Stephenson. Late that night when the village church clock began to strike midnight, Miss Amelia's door softly opened and a figure appeared. It glided down the hall like a shadow and stopped by the door of the front room. It looked around -fear- fully, as if afraid of being seen, then pushed the door open. Softly, silently, the lid of the old oak chest opened, then closed. Down in the village, the church clock sounded its last strike of midnight. Susan Dickinson, Grade VIII. Destination Driveway The corner loomed 'before her. She straightened, bolt upright. just how was 'she to manage, With the light-'post on her right? Slowly, is-he eased into it, And squeezed past two parked cars. The truth was, she'd come through it all, With no new 'battle scars. Destination: Driveway. But, much to her dismay, A snow-plough, very early, had gone past And blocked her way. She retreated, then she halted. I-Ier anxiety was enhanced. For, as dinner was at six o'clock, She didnt stand a Chance. Again, she backed up hopefully Stopped, then trying hard- The motor roared: the tires spun And forward lunged the car. Once over the disaster, She observed the welcome scene. PK Pk Pk A driveway, is of no use With a snowbank in between. Judy Smith, Grade XI. King I think I'll take this one, Larry Willson said to Mike the Trader. He'll do nicely, When can I have him, Mike? Now, if you like, replied the Trader. They were making the sale of a handsome, black dog, called King. King was an extremely 'handsome dog of part Husky and Wolf 'breeding with a well- slhaped head and ears. H-is coat was rich, dark, black, thick, and deeply ruffled at the throat, only partly concealing the ripple of musoles elsewhere on his magnificent body. Standing on his hind legs, he could easily kiss his six-foot master. King weighed ninety-two pounds. Larry was with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and his recent lead of his dog team had died, so Larry thought he would try a younger dog as a leader. Larry didn't use King immediately as 'he had to 'break 'him into -the 'harness Erst. King was very