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

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9 Late one night, during Passover week, four days after jesus had passed into the Holy City for the last time, a young Jewess was admitted to Androcolos' tent in the hills, and introduced herself as Hera, daughter of BethfZebel. Androcolos was scornful at first, partly because he could not believe that she had come to help him, and partly to hide his feelings towards this lovely girl. Eventually she managed to convince him of her sincerity and then told him of two incidents which she had witnessed. The first was that her father had had a warrant for the Greek's arrest issued on the charge of treason. The second was that during the evening Christ had been seized by soldiers and taken to Pilate to be tried. Androcolos, angered and alarmed, started for Jerusalem with Hera. They reached the city by dawn, circled its wall, and when they reached the north gate at the third hour, they were greeted by a strange sight. Thousands of people were gathered to the south of Golgotha, and from some people coming back towards the city, the two learned that the soldiers were crucifying the Christ. All was overj the cause was lost! In the evening, when His Body had been taken from the crude wooden cross, Androcolos returned to his encampment in the hills and Hera to her own home, each of them to ponder the Master's teachf ings and to try to reason for himself the meaning of this tragic death. Three days later, walking alone along the roads to the south of the city, Androcolos came upon a messenger hurrying from Jerusalem with the joyful news, Christ is risen today! Suddenly, as if it were a light dawning on him, the Greek found the answers to all the questions which had pursued him for so long. Whom should he tell about his marvellous discovery? Whom but she who, a short time ago, had shared his disappointment and despair. He was admitted to the house of BethfZebel and brazenly, impatiently demanded audience with the daughter of the household. Hera herself came and led him into a room furnished so splendidly as to impress almost anyone, anyone except Androcolos, who had been raised on the principle of respect for spiritual possessions only. When the two were alone, he turned slowly to her in the afternoon sun which streamed in the window, placed his strong hands on her shoulders and said breathlessly and low, Hera, we have won. She was obviously puzzled. Don't you understand? he asked. Your father no longer has grounds to arrest me, and still we have won. I wanted a revolution and I got one. I had visualized a magnificent battle against the Romans with the Hebrew people victorious. Instead, we have defeated the Romans with our minds and souls. Christ has risen from the dead, so surely God is with us. We have won a victory over mind and death, and compared with those, Rome is only a minor enemy. You see, they have only Caesar, but we have Godin juniru HARRIS, Grade XI Prizefwirming StoryASenior Literary Competition Fame I saw the star in early youth- A lovely thing, beckoning to me From so great a distance That I watched it with uneasiness, Until desire o'ercame my fear, And my footstep turned in its direction. I travelled after it, over barren deserts, And blizzardfplagued mountains: Through dark glades in silent mists enveloped. Pain, Misery and Terror were my sole companions- My childhood friends left far behind. Nor looked I back when they became obscure And faded as a dream into the early morn. In adulthood, with a metallic will, wellftempered by experience, And a heart equally hardened from sacrificing Those things precious to itselfeall Pity dissolved in ruthlessness, and love in ambition, I pressed unwavering towards my goal. In age I heeded not torn feet or dimming eye, For my star throbbed and burned more brightly than before When it had first consumed my soul, But now it shone within my grasp . . . I hesitated . . . then reached and took it in my trembling hands. The warmth of that great moment filled my spirit with such fleeting joy! Dear God! It trickled through my fingers and fell softly To the ground beside my feet. Louisa MCKBNTY, Grade XI Prizefwinriing Poem4Senior Literary Competition A Piece of Bread In the ancient city of Tallinn in Estonia, the heavy bells had been silent for two days. On the third day, before the sun had risen, before even the earliest worshipper had passed in the street, one by one the bells of the churches across the whole city began their joyful chorus and they pealed with a melodious ring that carried far along the cobbled streets, over the city walls, and out into the country' side. The Easter morning sun was beginning to disperse the fog and cold, and small, brown, twittering birds swooped from tower to tower.

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8 X SLCNL T5 Revolution This is an account of the strangest revolution the world has ever beheld. lt was fought by men and women who had waited for the right time and the right leader. They had been so subjugated that it would take little to incite them to bear arms and to fight. They did rebel and they did win, but not an arm was raised to kill, no battle cry was heard, 1'iOt a drop of blood was spilled. To be born of a slave was to be born a slave. Such was Androcolosg Greek by nationality, lsraelite by birth. and slave by inheritance. How' ever, his lot had been more fortunate than that of his fellows. His master, Simon, of the house of Bethfzebel, who could proudly trace his lineage to the tribe of Benjamin, had died leaving a will, the last paragraph of which declared Androcolos a free man upon his master's death. Since he was skilled in nothing save servitude, he went to his dead master's brother, Saul, a wealthy merchant, and asked for permission to work his passage to Athens on one of BethfZebel's ships. Unfortunately Saul, unlike his Sadducean brother, was a Pharisee, and thus highly prejudiced against all except Jews. He refused Androcolos' request, but, upon observing the strength and manner of the youth, asked if he would consider a return to slavery by accepting a high position in BethfZebel's household. Androcof los, however, had inherited from his people a profound love of liberty, and now, as he was taking his first taste of the cup of freedom, he was in no way willing to give it up for more security. Enraged by his refusal, Saul threatened to use his authority with the leaders of government and church to force Androcolos back into servitude. The youth fled the home of BethfZebel to a northern village called Nazareth. He was aggrieved that he had found no friend in his old master's W Q UZ' Drgrorr' gp,-2.2 1 Tffghg F? Eggs C115-3:11 0. SRE? 2311.2 Cl.--rvrv FV mv-1 2-Sa' I3 CJ mmgw FP Egg-gf Ev-rg'CL 35333 r-rdg,-f D' Snugg- ECP D'o 4552 sow -1589 mgtrim .Cl-drrglff SSG-If-199 f-f3f-r :J-,g,':.f' fro? C-230- ii 1 1 5 . Q in-Q-WCS 33 S Q fea- Q is In Nazareth Androcolos was befriended by a carpenter and his wife whose Son, they said, was travelling with some friends, teaching the people in the surrounding countryside. Eventually he met their Son and was moved by the almost divine quality of the Man. A Man who appeared physically weak, who had been born of a carpenter's wife and raised in a peasant village, yet who seemed to radiate strength all around Him. His speech was more eloquent than that of the famous orators and His thoughts far exceeded the wisdom of any man Androcolos had ever encountered either in person or in writings. And so, over days and months, he slowly, unwittingly, acquired a deep faith in the principles which Jesus taught and in what people said about Him-that He was sent by God to be a king. Possessing the spirit of youth, Androcolos could imagine the great Man sitting in royal splendour, or leading victorious legions against the hated Romans. He realized, of course, that this would mean a revolution, for Pontius Pilate was procurator of jerusalem and a Caesar ruled the world. He imagined himself being the first to offer his services to the Master when the right time came and fighting side by side with Him to liberate Israel. Thus, with a few of his friends he hid out in the hills of Hinnom, just south of jerusalem, training and preparing for the day when the Master would call them into His service. Eventually the story of this tiny band of rebels reached the ears of Saul of BethfZebel, who laughed in scorn, and then confided to his beautiful daughter, a plan of vengeance against the haughty Greek.

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10 By midmorning the cathedrals were filled with the poor folk and the rich, and together they sang the triumph of Christ risen. Among the devout and indifferent, standing with their heads bowed and holding between them a loaf of bread, was Nicholas Saar and his wife, Maria. Once or twice he raised his head slightly to look at her face and when she smiled or nodded in return, he closed his eyes again and moved his lips without speaking. Following the custom of centuries, they now went forward in their turn and laid at the altar the loaf of bread that they had brought to be blessed. This sacred loaf they would take home to share with friends or relatives and any poor folk who might ask. Maria confided to her husband that she would like her mother to receive this loaf, for her mother was too old to come with them, and lay at home alone. It was a short time after the blessing of the bread that he led his wife to their small carriage and started the single mare at a pace fast enough to allow them to reach home by the noon chimes. They exchanged few comments, for the most part their thoughts were their own. At the cross road turning Nicholas suddenly stopped the carriage and reached for the loaf of bread in his wife's lap. He indicated the beggar Ender the cross road marker and was about to step own. Leave that! Whoever that peasant is, this bread is not for him! Leave go I say! But, Maria, called Nicholas, I must give him a piece. Look, the man needs it and your mother will still have some. Do give me a piece, only a small piece. My dear Nicholas, my own mother is waiting at home, and you will deny her this loaf of bread? Maria, you are a hard woman. Will you not give me even a corner? I tell you, I feel I must give this man something. Look at his face, and he is lamed in one leg. Perhaps he is holy, all sufferers are holy on the day that Christ rises! Come, my own good wife, how can you force me so against my conscience? You will rue this Nicholas. Please drive on. In one movement she seized the reins and slapped the mare until it progressed at a rapid trot. Nicholas sat back, then called once more to his wife before they had gone very far. For the sake of heaven, Nicholas, you are persistent! Very well, take this piece, but I am staying here in the carriage. Without another word, Nicholas ran back to the cross roads, but when he reached the spot, he looked about in disbelief. The man had gone. Only a moment ago he stood here, by this marker. There-there is his print. In heaven's name, I must give him this piece of bread. Where has he gone? There was not a further trace of the peasant's whereabouts. The piece of bread lay in Nicholas' hand, small, moist, and somehow bitter. He threw it by the side of the road. At least the birds may eat of it. But the peasant-he looked at us with eyes of pity not given to every man. Perhaps he was indeed holy! O God, what have I done! Why did I delay? Why did I listen to foolish words? You, good wife, how shall I live with you now and with your selfishness? You care for your mother at home and would not deny her a loaf of bread, but for a poor man whose need is greater, for him, on Easter Day, you could not spare a piece! Nicholas did not return to the carriage as he had gone, running, but at a slow walk, from time to time shaking his head as though it were filled with heavy thoughts. Only after they were under way again did his wife dare to speak to him for he looked at her strangely. And was the peasant glad to get the bread, or did he laugh at your charity, my impulsive Nicholas? Neither, Maria. Well then, didn't you give him the bread, Nicholas? No, Maria, I did not. The man had gone and not a sign did he leave. I could not find him, and I returned. And the bread? The birds eat it by the roadside. Here he shook his head once more, slowly, wearily. Ah, but why are you so sad then, Nicholas? And Nicholas looked at his wife with a deep, strange expression in his eyes that she could not understand. Because, Maria, we have cruciied the Christ . 15 that was risen. SIGNE SALZBBRG,-Grade XII Decadence Once he was a man so proud, Always leader of the crowd. Once he was a man so bold, Conquering the unforetold. Once he was a man so great, Never dreaming of his fate. But greed became a parasite, Which fed upon him day and night Until his soul cried out, Be vain, Much wealth is there for you to gain, Be not humble, help not others, No need to treat them as your brothers. Apathy, jealousy, hatred and scorn Pierced his heart, and he died from the thorn. JEAN Lnsun,-Grade XII