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

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28 THE STEPPING-STUNES BUUIGS IN THE JUNIUH LIBRARY A gift from the M others' Auxiliary THESE BOOKS ARE FOR YOU HSTEPPING-STONES - What is it? Stepping-Stones is a distillation of many book lists. There were two objectives in its conception: to provide a background for Literature and to emphasize the importance of a First Language at a time when this might be obscured in the general concern for the acquiring of a Second. The books selected in Stepping-Stones are common to all book-lists, but this collection differs in its plan and its brevity. It does, however, owe much to Lillian Smith, when she wrote in The Unreluctant Years , that we must ask of every book . . . IS IT GOOD ENOUGH FOR CHILDREN '? In the first part called Stepping Stones, the books suggested are foundations in good reading. In the second section called Classicsl', the list is extended in each category and should be considered concurrently. Surviving books published after 1918 are generally considered as Classics in the Making and are therefore not included. The age-groupings in Stepping-Stones are printed merely to suggest the idea of progressing from one well-written and long-loved story to another. The sensitive adult and the listening child will determine when to read, and when to listen. This is the heritage of the individual.

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27 Perky Remembers The whole Carter family was assembled by their car, ready to start their yearly trip to Sunset Lodge, a ski resort in the nearby moun- tains. Twelve-year-old Patty and her twin brother Peter, were rushing about, doing last minute jobs, and becoming more and more excited. Although they both loved many sports, their favourite was skiing, and Christmas holidays at Sunset Lodge was looked forward to most. Mr. Carter, an athletic man from whom the children had inherited their love of skiing, packed the skis into the car, and Mrs. Carter climbed into the seat. The children hopped in and they were off. Just before they reached the lodge, Patty, her usual gaiety gone for a moment, remarked, I wonder what happened to that little deer we found and cared for last year. Wouldn't it be fun if we could find him again, added Peter. He would probably never remember you if we did find him, was Mr. Carter's comment. I see the lodge! cried Mrs. Carter and the subject of Perky, the deer, was dropped for the time being. Since it was still daylight, the children were allowed to go skiing. When they reached the top of a mountain, Peter decided to go down the steeper and more difficult side. Patty, who was not to be bettered by her brother, started down ten minutes after Peter had left. She was about three quarters of the way down the hill when she rounded a corner and saw a log, half-buried in the snow directly in her path. She saw that it was too late to swerve or even stop herself by falling. She closed her eyes tightly and braced herself for the fall. A few minutes later she opened her eyes and slowly sat up. She found herself none the worse, but noticed with dismay that one of her skis was broken. Patty finally decided to try to get back to the lodge while it was still light. She was nearly at the bottom when it started to snow, slowly at first, and then faster and more thickly. Soon the whole forest seemed to be engulfed in a whirling white cloud. Patty made her way through the waist-deep snow to a small group OI birch trees where she huddled, trying to keep warm. She did not know how long she had been there when she awoke to a silent cold world of black and white. Suddenly, one of the black shadows began creeping towards her. She tried to swallow the lump of fear which had risen in her throat and reached for a nearby stick. Just as she picked it up a small deer walked into the trees. He did not show any sign of fear, but came towards her curiously. As he drew nearer, Patty noticed something familiar about him. Then, she was sure that he was Perky the orphaned fawn they had taken care of. Suddenly, she thought of a way to get back to the lodge. It will all depend on how good your memory is, she told the little deer as sho tore a piece of bark off a nearby tree. You remember how you used to take messages back to the lodge for us when we went on hikes, don't you? she went on, as she took a match from the metal container she always took on trips and lit it. She wrote a message telling her parents where she thought she was and attached it to a crude collar which she placed around Perky's neck. She then sent him off with the command, Go to the lodge, Perkyf' The little buck gave her a knowing look and trotted off. About two hours later, Patty saw a lantern bobbing in the distance. She was soon happily reunited with her family. They had come across Perky in the woods, and Peter was sure he had passed the trees in which she was hidden on his way down so he had led them to her. You did give Perky a reward, didn't you? Patty asked. No, he scampered off before I had a chance to, but I brought a block of salt, . Mrs. Carter answered. I hope he finds it, said Peter as he laid the block down. If anyone had turned to look back they would have seen a small deer eagerly come up to the salt block, lick it, and then watch them gratefully as they started their happy trip back to the lodge. IQATHRYN NEILSON-Ci1'2ttl6 VII The Things I'd Like To Be I'd never be a monkey, Swinging from a branch. I'd never be a pony, Living on a ranch. But I'd like to be a fairy, With wings of silver and gold. Or maybe even a lion, Who's very huge and bold. I'd never be a woolly sheep, Who'd sink if in a river. Or a puppy dog in the winter, Who'd sit outside and shiver. But I'd like to be a birdie, And fly up in the sky. Or maybe a little angel, Who'd never tell a lie. PA'i'iuc1A Sraiuiow-Grade V

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29 THE LIBRARY EXECUTIVE 1960-1961 CHIEF L1BRAR1ANs: Carol Cranston LIBRARIANS! Judith Cowie Carol Albertsen Julia Berry Signy Hansen Josephine Kerr Nancy Webb Diane McNaughton Linda Miller Elsa Rensaa Elsie Shandro Dilys White GRADE X-LIBRARY COMMITTEE: Dora Dempster Nora Baker Eleanor Gaskell Dale McKee Gael Swinden Clare McCulloch Cecilia Smith Nancy Russell THE SENIOR LIBRARY Processing and cataloging the three hundred new books which have been added to the Senior and Junior Libraries have kept the Library Executive and Committee very busy indeed. During one of the lunch-hour sessions over fifty picture books, for the Nursery School and Kindergarten, were processed, and the pungent smell of Bookote kept onlookers out of the library for hours. Among the hundrezl new books for the Senior Library were eight new books on Canada. given by the Richardson Century Fund, an interesting selection of new novels given by Mr. Robbins, and two excellent atlases for which we would like to thank Mrs. W. J. R. Wilson, and Mrs. Sutherland. The History section has been refurbished with many new and interesting books, carefully selected by Mrs. McEwen. During Young Canada's Book Week, a display of books from each section was arranged by the committee, and this helped the girls who were eagerly trying to find all the answers to the Library Quiz. CAfter all, what is a banya drum?j We had eighty-five entries, and some of the essays incorporating titles were very clever indeed. Suzanne Evans was the winner in the Senior division, Brenda Simmie in the Junior, and Craig Gowan was the house with the most points. It was during Young Canada's Book Week that we accessed our 3,000th volume, The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins. The Library has been used for many displays this year, including a selection of prints from the Art Gallery which were changed each month, and the weekly displays put up by the Executive, featuring different countries. The German con- sulate generously gave a large number of posters, pamphlets, and books about the Arts in Germany. THE LIBRARIANS' AT WORK