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

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23 A Puppet's Marriage One night a little puppet called Polkadot Bones was playing tiddleyfwinks, when in the moonlight he saw another puppet named Teena. He called to ask her if she would like to play with him, but Sally, a doll, thought he meant her and came over. Being a very polite little puppet, he did not tell her what he meant. After they had played one game Sally went back to her spot on the toy shelf, so then Polkadot Bones went over and asked Teena to play with him. She said that she would like to. You see, she was very glad to know some one. After their game was over Polkadot asked if he could introduce her to all the toys. Then Teena asked him if he would marry her and he said he would love to but first he had to get a ring. She said that she could wait, and he went outside to look for a ring. The first person he met was Wiggly Gaterf pillar. Polkadot asked him if he knew where he could get a ring, and he said, Yes, Grandma Spider could make one for you. So Polkadot went to Grandma and asked her if she could make one. She said that she could and in five minutes it was ready. Holding the sparkling ring Polkadot thanked Grandma Spider and went home where everyone was waiting especially Teena. Teena had already asked Friar Tuck to perform the wedding, so when Polkadot came in everything was ready. The wedding was soon over and everyfone was happy. PATRICIA PENNOCK, Grade VI The Gnome One day I was out in the forest, And saw a little home, I wondered what was in it, It was a little gnome. He had a little hat on, And it went tingfafling, It was a very little bell, That made it ring, ring, ring. He had a little coat on And it was scarlet red, At eight o'clock he likes to see Every child in bed. VICKI GRIFFITI-Is, Grade V The Mysterious Horse John, James and Dick Davis wanted to find a horse and tame him, but their mother did not approve. She said that they were too young and would probably fall off the horse while trying to tame him and get badly hurt. Dick, who was only eight years old, kept plead' ing with her. Finally she gave in and said, You can try, but I do not see where you can End a wild horse. They had not thought of this, but John said. Don't worry, we'll find one somehow. NI hope you don't! said Mrs. Davis. The next morning they started out. They took some lunch and walked through woods and over fields and every other place you could think of. They came home at dinner time looking very hot, hungry, and tired. They kept this up until one day at the end of the week they travelled so far they became lost. They became very hungry. They were sitting down to rest when a stray horse came up to them. They couldn't believe their eyes. The horse was brown in colour and looked as if he were thinking. Suddenly he said, Ten He said it again and looked at them with a look as ifto ask ifit was right. They were too scared to move. Dick had a sugar lump in his pocket so he gave it to the horse. Right after he had finished the sugarflump he said, Eight, add two, add six, add five, equals-N A minute after that he said, Twentyfone. Thliy C C knew then and there that something was matter with this horse. He started to go in one direction so they followed him. In exactly a day they reached home. Dick ran to his mother and said breathlessly, We found a horse but there is something funny about him. 'iWhat? asked Dick's mother. He does arithmetic, said Dick. They both ran out to see him. Suddenly Dick stopped so fast that it caused Mrs. Davis to run into him. Where is Dad? asked Dick. He went out for a walk, said Mrs. Davis with a smile. just then they heard the horse say, Two times ten isgtwentyf' and Mr. Davis jumped out of the horse costume. Mrs. Davis roared with laughter. I won't ever look for a wild horse to tame after this experience, said james. JEAN RILEY, Grade V My Cat My cat's name is Toto. He is a funny cat. He has blue eyes. He is a Siamese and he is ten years old. One day he went for a walk and he met a wizard and the wizard changed him into a dog. Instead of saying, MewfMew, he said, BoWf Wow . Then the wizard went away. He dropped his magic wand. The cat picked it up. He touched himself with it and he became a cat again. CATHERINE THOMAS, Grade I

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22 The Princess' Green Shoes Once there was a beautiful Princess who loved to dance but she had no shoes. One day she went out for a walk in the woods. She heard someone crying. She looked around and saw a little elf caught on a branch of a tree, so she let him go free. The next morning when she woke up she found a beautiful pair of green shoes on her pillow. She put on the green shoes and danced in her room and out of the door and into the woods right to where the little elf was sitting. This made the little elf very happy. ALisoN GREATREX, Grade II The Clock Everybody at school had an alarmfclock except me. I was hoping to get one for Christmas, but all I received were a few things in my stocking. Howf ever, I did not give up because my birthday was in January. Finally January came. I eagerly opened up Grandma's present, it was a dressingfgown. I opened my aunt's present, and it was bubblefbath. Finally I opened Mum's and Dad's present. It was an alarmfclock. That night I set my alarm, and wound it up. I awoke in the morning to find it had not gone off because it had stopped. I thought the money I had would pay to have it mended. I took it to the jeweller and he said it would be about five dollars. I only had two dollars, so I said that I would take it home. I went home very sadly, and I started to take it apart myself. Inside was a little compartment, and to my surprise it contained coins and dollar bills. I hurriedly told my mother and father, and they went to the man they bought the clock from and he said he knew nothing about it. We told the police and they said it was the money that was stolen from the new bank on Portage. Because it was not all the money stolen we only got half the reward money, but we were very glad anyway. Late that night the buzzer started ringing and we could not stop it. It went on for half an hour. Finally the police came to the house to see what the noise was about. We told them our troubles and they opened the clock and found a little piece of paper which turned out to be a map. The police' men knew at once what it was. Early next morning the police went with us to the woods and followed the map. Late in the afternoon we arrived at a small shack. We went up to it very quietly and peeped in. Inside were some men counting some money. The police arrested the men and we went home. Now my clock works perfectly. JUDITH CLOUGH, Grade VI GRADE THREE AT PLAY

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24 The Graceful Deer Swiftly and gracefully leaps the deer, Over a log or a streamlet clear, Up the treefclad hill he bounds, Even the quickfrunning hare he astounds With his speed, the graceful deer. His legs are slender with cleanfcut joints, His head is crowned with antler points, His ears alerted for every sound, At a strange, new noise he's off with a bound Through the woods, the graceful deer. KATHY NBILSON, Grade VI Lola and Roly Poly On October 16th, 1887, her fourteenth birth' day, Lola White went on a canoe trip with her father in the Lake of the Woods. At noon, she and her father had just finished lunch. 'LLet's go out paddling, Lola suggested. A good idea, said her father. Soon they were out on the cool, fresh water, dipping their paddles. Not a noise could be heard, until a shrill scream came from Lola. This alerted her father. He picked up the gun, looking everywhere. Suddenly he spied a big black bear, swimming with long powerful strokes for the canoe! He fired. The large, dead body was being dragged behind the canoe, when a sudden cry came from the woods, and a funny, little, black figure appeared. Daddy, it's a wee baby bear! exclaimed Lola. Let's take him home. I'd take good care of him. As a birth' day present, could I have him? Oh please! Mr. White sat thinking, sighing now and then. All right, Lola, he laughed. We shall bring him back in two years. Now, be very careful. We're going to get him. Lola sat still with one eye on her father, one eye on the bear. It was not easy to get the bear into the canoe, but with great difficulty they did. Next day Lola and her father were again back at home. When John, the butler, saw Lola leading the bear by a dog leash, he hid behind the door. What shall I name you? Lola said to the bear, as they were playing on her bed. I know, she said, after a long time, I'll name you Roly Poly. Do you approve? The little bear gave a nod of agreement. Lola and the bear got along very well together, except at Roly Poly's bath time. On her sixteenth birthday, Lola remembered what her father had said. Did he remember? Suddenly her thoughts were interrupted by her father's voice, Come on Lola, we're going on a canoe trip. Bring the bear along too. On the second day of the canoe trip at breakfast time Lola's father asked, Do you remember what I told you when we caught the bear? Yes, Daddy, said the sobbing Lola. Well, welll leave him here today, her father explained solemnly. I know how you feel, but we can't keep him any longer. They went over to the island where Roly Poly was first found. Quick as a flash Roly jumped out of the canoe and began running to the forest. Then he turned back to Lola. She took a brown button off her jacket and tied it around his neck. Ro1y, I want you to go. Please go! she cried. Roly lifted his innocent eyes upward as though he underf stood. He turned his back and waddled off into the forest, not once looking back. In the year 1890 Lola's father had a hunter to dinner. Mr. jackson, the hunter, was telling one of his bearfhunting experiences. Near the end of his story he said, he had found a string with a tattered, brown button on it tied around the bear's neck. KAY WILSON, Grade VI Portage and Main Portage and Main, In the rain, ls the busiest place I know, Umbrellas here, And raincoats there, All hurrying to and fro. Portage and Main, When the sun is out, Is quite a different place, With colourful clothes, And gay windows, And many a friendly face. CATHERINE PENNOCK, Grade V The Way 0ut Once upon a time, there was a little boy named Michael. He was always wanting to explore the woods. One night when his Mother and Daddy were away, he went outside. In the woods, he saw a light. What could it be? Michael thought. Could it be robbers? Michael listened and he heard a man say, Throw it down before someone sees that light. Throw it down where? thought Michael. There must be a hole or an underground tunnel to throw some' thing down. When the men had gone, Michael crept out from behind the bush and went to the place where the men were standing and he saw a deep hole with