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

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17 The sun was just peeping over the mountains as he ascended the little hill to where a spring gushed out of the ground and started a streamlet which cascaded down the side of the mountain. Here he knelt to wash, but a noise made him look up. There were three deer, wading into the rippling water, lowering their graceful heads to drink as the water bubbled between moss- covered rocks. He rose and moved closer, but the deer, hearing his approach, lifted their heads and, sighting him, bounded away into the tall pines. The words, Good riddancef' were on the tip of his tongue but before he knew it, Alan found himself saying, What a. beautiful sight! An- noyed with himself for this change of heart over any part of this Godforsaken place, he picked up a rock and threw it in the direction of the deer, whose white flags were still visible, bobbing through the trees. Then he continued his wash- ing with more vigour than before. When he looked up again, he found a rabbit watching him with great curiosity. The rabbit stared for a moment and then hopped around a clump of violets, pausing to scratch his ear. He came back to sniff at Alan's boot, hopped away again and, as if unable to understand his presence, came back to sniff once more. As he sat watching the rabbit hop away, Alan suddenly realized how truly beautiful the snow-capped mountains were. The longer he stared at them the more they seemed to take the shape of elegant ladies, wearing hats of orange, white, or lavender, according to what time of day it was. The loud honks of wild geese flying south for the winter shattered the morning stillness and brought Alan out of his reverie, reminding him that he had many things to do. He started to walk back up the trail, past the little waterfall that looked like a cascade of topazes and by the beaver pond that shone like a sapphire in the sunlight. He thought of his ofhce job in the city, and how he had had to take a crowded bus to and from work. He thought of the sooty air and the dirty streets. Then his thoughts turned to the wild animals, timid yet curious, that he had seen that day, and of the beautiful scenery. He glanced up at the great trees where two squirrels were playing tag. They stopped and peered at him through the branches, chattering contentedly. You don't have to tell me, he called to them. Now I know this is the best place to live! KATHRYN NPIILSON-Ci1'3,Cl6 VIII The Count of Monte Cristo by ALEXANDRE DUMAS This story took place in 1815 in Paris. At the time, there were two major political factions in France, the Royalists and the Bonapartists. However, since Bonaparte had been Cl6f63.t6Cl and exiled to the island of Elba, it was a political be a Bonapartist. If a person was crime to found on or going to Elba, he would be sent to the dungeons. One day on the ship, the Pharon , there was a captain who was dying of brain fever. He gave a young boy, Edmond Dantes, an errand to do. It was to go to Elba and pick up a letter. Edmond did this, and later three men. Villeporte, Ferdenand, and Danglars, told the Royalists of his deed, and Dantes was put in the dungeons. While in prison, Dantes met the Abbe Faria who chopped his way into Dantes' cell, while trying to escape. After being with Dantes for fourteen years the Abbe died, but before dying he gave Edmond a map to treasure. Edmond escaped as the Abbe's dead body. He found the treasure: jewels, gold and coins, became rich, and called himself the Count of Monte Cristo. He finally had his revenge on the three men, Villeporte, Ferden- and and Danglars. I enjoyed this book because it showed that if you want to get ahead in life, you cannot do it by someone else's unhappiness. When Edmond found the treasure and ran it through his hands, the scene seemed very real. Edmond may have destroyed three people, but he also saved two others who lived happily ever after. I liked the book because it was exciting, romantic, sad and happy, and also because it was very realistic. CATHERINE HAMILTON-Grade VII An Impression The rays of the sun slant on my paper, Casting a curious shadowg The nib of my pen writes on, Followed by its double. A curious sight to see my pen With a shadow so long and thin, The lines so dark and definite, Fast begin to dim. For now a saucy cloud appears To cover up the sung The shadow fades and fades away, Until completely gone. DORA DEMPSTERA-G rade XI

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16 Where am I? Marianne cried indignantly. What is this place? You're in a hospital, was the gentle reply. You've had a nasty experience. My legs, Marianne demanded, why won't they move? I'll get Doctor Harrison, the nurse said sympathetically. Why won't anyone tell me? Marianne wondered as the nurse left. She could hear the sure voice of the doctor outside her door. Jamie is fine, he explained, nothing to worry about. But, Marianne, he hesitated, won't be able to walk again without an operation. Won't walk again! She choked unbelievingly. How will I ever face my friends? Why, o why did this have to happen to me? Well, hello, young lady, and how are you feeling today? Feeling! Feeling! How can you ask me how I feel when you know? 'Never walk again,' you said. No need to feel sorry for yourself, he said firmly. There are lots of girls who will never be able to have an operation to walk. Think of them, and consider yourself lucky. Luckyl huh! she mumbled. It will be a long, hard fight but you can get to that wheelchair in no time. These thoughts reeled through her mind. Wheelchair! Lucky! Never walk again! and she fought back the tears. For three months no one could budge Mari- anne from her bed. Friends and family alike had an icy reception. One day, a fifteen-year-old girl with the tiniest limbs and warmest face ever seen was wheeled in. I don't want any visitors! Marianne snapped. Oh, I think you'll want this one, the nurse twinkled back. Marianne snatched one quick look and in- stantly every sympathetic instinct in her arose. Just the sight of this merry-eyed girl made her lose all interest in herself. From that moment Joy and Marianne were fast friends. Joy came every day and Marianne drew quickly out of her shell It was six months before she had her first trip in the wheelchair. This no longer meant confinement, but just the opposite. She was out of her room for the first time in nearly a year, and this was the final step before the operation which would enable her to walk once more. Her parents had saved every cent and the whole family had given all that was possible towards the operation. How will I ever pay them back?', she said one day to Joy, who would never walk again. Just the look on your face at your first step will be all the reward they'll want, was Joy's reply. Marianne pondered. My Hrst step! Just another month and my first step. I.eft with this comforting thought, she was alarmed when Jamie walked into the room, looking haggard. Jamie, what is it? Her heart leaped with the question. Slowly he poured out the story of their fatherls serious attack during the night. She could picture the pain on her father's face as he was carried out to the ambulance, and the look of shock on her mother's face as she suffered with her husband. He was in the operating room now and Marianne knew that all the money would go for her father's operation. Of course he will have the money, she said, proud to be able to give it to save her father- After all, if I've waited for one year, I can certainly wait a little longer. She reassured Jamie and when he left, she lay back and thought of the struggles of the past year with a calmness and tranquility which she had never known. She was glad to make the sacrifice, and would have done it a thousand times over to save a life. NANCY SMITH-Grade X The Best Place To Live Bah! not even running water in the place, grumbled city-bred Alan Barker as, cold and sleepy, he stamped through the only room of the ranger station in the Kootenays. He had been perfectly happy in his job at the Forest Con- servation Office, but he had been chosen to replace old Jim Walker who had been the ranger for twenty years. He had been told that if he did not like this new job, he could return as soon as they found another man. Since they were so short-handed, this might take some time. For Alan that could not be soon enough for he was obviously already bored with his new job al- though he had been there only twenty-four hours. And so it was that Alan was not in the sunniest of tempers as he stalked down the path to the spring in the grey light of a cool September dawn. The birds were up before him and two jays announced his coming with loud screeches. Noisy pests, muttered Alan.

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18 Another Milestone - The llpening of Dalton House September 22, 1961 Every morning for a week before The Opening we practised methodically, each day adding a stage or two more. Everyone knew her position. No one was confused. Then on the day itself, rain blessed the new building and the ground, without a thought for our plans. At Prayers we heard the rudiments of Number Two, The Rain Planu, and pictured the cutting of the ribbon in its new indoor location. At four o'clock with a minimum of panic we moved into position for the first part of the ceremony. Dr. C. C. Ferguson, the Chairman of the Board, welcomed the assembled parents and friends in the Gymnasium, and Mr. J. D. Riley, Building Campaign Chairman, thanked all those responsible for the new building. Miss Murrell-Wright expressed her thanks to the mothers for the sunshine which had been created in the School even though the dark clouds outside hung low. The new building was officially named Dalton Jouse in honour of Miss Dalton, the first Head- mistress of Havergal Ladies College which opened in 1901 and later became Rupert's Land. The White House was re-named Aikins House in memory of Sir James Aikins who gave his house and grounds to the United Church for the founding of Riverbend School. The Most Reverend H. H. Clark, Primate of Canada, then led special prayers and the service closed with a Hymn of Thanksgiving. The second part of the ceremony began when The Honourable Errick F. Willis, Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, and the platform party walked through the halls of the old buildings, into the new glass passage, their entire route brightened by autumn flowers and lined on both sides by a guard of honour of the girls of Balmoral Hall. The honoured guests were followed by the Choir who arranged themselves in the old glass passage. Two juniors, Pamela Puttock and Elizabeth McIntosh, presented Mrs. Willis with roses and His Honour with the scissors with which he cut the ribbon, oficially opening Dalton House. The Reverend D. Ray, representing the Moderator of the United Church, then said the Prayer of dedication and the Choir sang the Doxology. A tour of the new building followed while Miss Murrell- Wright entertained the platform party at tea in the Drawing-Room of Aikins House. Serving at tea, and later presented to His Honour, were the Head Girl, School Captain, and Sports Captain. Dalton House provides classrooms for the Nursery School, Kindergarten, and Grade One. Sixty boarders now enjoy a well-equipped recreation room, gay bedrooms in a variety of colour schemes, and a dignified and hospitable blue drawing-room. The dining room for one hundred and twenty is serviced by a pantry that communicates by dumb waiters and a circular stairway, with the kitchen on the floor below. The old carved sideboards look perfectly at home with the modern tables and chairs. Having spent memorable times in the old Red House, we still feel nostalgic about it as do many others, but Dalton House is beautiful even as it is functional. ' NORA BAKER AND BETTY NICHOL A Bedroom In Dalton House