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

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.va U vqs . fs! pq.: 4910 ON THE WAY T0 THE MORNING PRAYERS

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15 father, Oupec, had given him a team of dogs, and for the past two weeks he had been making a komatic. The next morning before sunrise Amak don- ned his two deerskin outfits, iced his komatic runner, hitched up his dogs, loaded his komatic, and left. Very soon the family igloo disap- peared and all was quiet except for the sound of the komatic sliding over the crispy snow. He set a few traps, for a few fox furs meant much tea and flour at the trading post. Later that day Ouk, the lead dog, smelled a seal's breathing hole under the snow. Amak waited and after about twenty-five minutes a seal poked its nose up through the hole. Quicker than lightning, Amak had shot it and was hauling it onto the ice. First he skinned it, then gave some meat to the dogs, ate some himself, and loaded the remainder on the komatic. Hunting went very well, and when Amak finally had all the meat and skins and foxes his komatic could hold, he turned toward the direc- tion where the sun rose, for that was the way home. On the second day of his journey home he spotted Pauka's komatic. After a few miles of travelling together, Pauka, the more experienced hunter, suggested they take the shorter route over land. The last day of their travel was nearing, and it was already dusk when Pauka just slipped from view. Amak looked behind him where Pauka had been travelling and he was no longer there. Panic swept Amak's mind. Then he heard a faint cry and rushed in its direction. There he saw Pauka hanging onto some jutting ice in a hidden crevice. Pauka's dogs and komatic were no longer to be seen. Amak quickly took his dogs' harnesses, made of strong sealskin, lowered them into the crevice, and hauled Pauka to safety. When they arrived at the village, Amak was a hero for he had saved the son of the agnako, or witch doctor. A black curse would hover over the village if anything were to happen to the eldest son of the witch doctor. This was the greatest moment in Amak's life. Later that evening in the igloo, Amak's parents proudly watched him rub noses with Toushi. LILY Swiu-'FIELD-Grade IX It's All Over So Quickly It is Sunday night. Jan has all her home- work done for Monday. Her clothes are laid out, and she knows exactly what she is going to wear to school in the morning. It is a warm spring evening, almost ten o'clock. Time for bed now, Jan, her mother called from the top of the basement stairs. That was a phrase Jan used to hate the sound of, but now it was different. Sleep was a friend. One could just slip into a nice warm bed and forget all problems and troubles. Sleep was another world for Jan. Jan slowly dragged herself up to her bedroom. Sleeping is so nice, she mused. It's too bad I can't be awake to enjoy it. She stood up and threw her nightgown over her head, letting the cool silk float down. Jan went into the bathroom and shut the door. She leaned on the sink and gazed into the mirror. A young girl with blonde hair and freckles stared back at her. They both washed and brushed their hair. Then Jan went back to her bedroom alone. She jumped into her bed, and cuddled down, pulling the covers around her neck. She curled up like a squirrel to get warm. Then she relaxed with one arm around Wuzzie, the big furry dog that her brother, Mark, had given her last Christmas. Mark's a nice brother, she said to herself. I'm lucky to have an older brother. When I get married all my children are going to have -yawn- older brothers' Jani Wake up, Lazy! It's after eight o'clock, called Mark, her dear brother, right in her ear. Impossible, muttered Jan. But Mark was opening the curtains and the bright morning sun leaped upon her and told her it was really morning. She sat up on her bed, rubbing her eyes. It's not fair, mumbled Jan. It's all over so quickly! She glared at Mark. Murderer of sleep! What? questioned Mark. Never mind! You wouldn't understand. Mark walked out of the room. Jan smiled. That's why it's so nice! It's all over so quickly! JILL PLAXTON-Grade IX A Winter Day A few brave cars Crept on the glassy lanes, while Frosted figures Plodded along the treacherous walks. The bright, cold sun Shone on the brick buildings, while Shadows of the bare-limbed trees Stretched their netted fingers across the window panes. Across the crusted snow Skimmed a newspaper page. But, cars and people Passed without seeing the Beauty in common things. GLORIA GRAHAM-Grade XI

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17 The Hunt Dashing across the meadows, Galloping up the hills, Flying over the fences, Leaping over the rills: Mounted on a hunter, Ebony, black, or gray, While up ahead the hounds run free To bring the fox to bay. Then, suddenly, the well-bred dogs Burst into frenzied songg They've seen the fox amongst the trees- The final chase is on. Up and over the walls we go, We clear the logs with ease, Drawing ever closer to The fox amongst the trees. He comes to the edge of the woodland And darts into the field. The hounds go dashing after him But still he does not yield. Closer and closer we come to our goal, The horses are breathing fast, A few more yards-the hounds close ing The hunt has ended at last. KATHRYN NEILSONLGI'3dC VII Too Busy In a secluded room of Flat H in the Queen Joan Hospital, there is now an empty bed. But, it was not empty twelve years ago. No, in it was a tall, fair, muscular boy of eighteen. Before he entered the hospital, he had been president of the student Council, captain of the Basketball team, and an excellent student in his college. He had loved life, and had always counted his blessings. One morning, he had had a stiff neck and the next day he had sore legs. Two days later the doctor came and made the shocking diagnosis that Bob had polio , Within an hour, Bob was in the hospital. At first, he was sent many presents, received piles of letters, and there were numerous visitors to cheer him. Then, suddenly, there were no more letters or presents or visitors. Everyone seemed to forget about Bob Vickers. One day, Bob's mother ran into the room saying, Bob, your father has been offered a wonderful job in England. You can be trans- ferred to a hospital over there and we shall all be together! Next day, Bob's nurse packed for him and he was looking forward eagerly to the journey. But, it was all too good to be true. The doctor claimed that Bob could not manage the journey across the 4-can and Bob was to stay at home. Two months later, his parents left, promising to visit him the following summer. But when summer came, all that Bob received was a post card saying, Sorry, dear, Father cannot leave his business. That was the last news that Bob ever heard from his parents. He supposed that they thought that now that he was twenty five, he needed no friends or help. His parents were just too busy. Now Bob's hair was a dark blond. He was no longer muscular, but skinny , He no longer had his deep tan, but was lily white. Bob was in the hospital for twelve years. During the last five years he had not one visitor, not one letter, and not one gift. He spent his thirtieth Christmas alone, staring out of his solitary window. He never felt sorry for himself nor felt any hatred for anyone. He died that night, so quietly, in his sleep. He had no mourners at his burial. Not even his nurses in the hospital came to his burial. Everyone was too busy . BTADELEINE MURRAY-Grade IX Kidnapped fEntry in Library Quiz Book- Title Contestj One ,hne day, twenty years after the young zroyageur climbed the thornapple tree, Renny's daughter Rebecca, a girl of the limberlost, and Mary Anne were kidnapped and taken through the far forest to Treasure Island. The merry men of Iceland, Adam Bede, and Silas Marner, set out in the little ark from Rowan Farm, followed a light in the forest beyond the black stump to rescue the little women. The King's general, Mrs. Minizier, and her horse Speedy, also went to join the wagons rolling north. By chance, the eight cousins saw the shadows on the rock. This led them to the Lake of Gold and The Magic Garden where they found the Black Rose. After ten years, they found a village in a valley where the kidnapped girls were spending their seventeenth summer. They held their white banners on the long ride home from this little world. They returned with the crescent moon to the good wives at the professor's house on Green Dolphin Street inside Asia. JUDITH KNIGHT-Grade XI Snow Snow, snow, beautiful snow. In the moonlight-how you glow! You look like silver stars When you fall upon the cars. When you fall upon the ground, The wind doesgblow youfround and round. GERTRUDE TODD--GI'3.Cl6 III