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

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14 before I could ask her about it. That afternoon I went up to the attic with Millie, but we found nothing. Millie told me to forget about it, but forget it I could not, especially when I heard more noises the next night. This time I woke Millie and we both paraded down the hall, flashlight in hand. When we got to the attic we searched thoroughly, but could not find anything. This convinced me that there was a ghost even though it convinced Millie that I was hearing things. As far as I am concerned I had heard something, and only a ghost can disappear. I spent Saturday skiing with the girls and I saw Ionsey that evening in the lodge. I started to get up to ask her about the ghost, but she saw Mrs. Larken and went over to see her. I had the feeling Ionsey was trying to avoid me, but I could not be sure. I sat down and soon forgot about the ghost in the conversation about the holidays. The noises continued all the next week but I ignored them as Millie would not come and I certainly was not going to investigate by myself. I did not think about the ghost often as we were planning a skiing expedi- tion for Friday evening. Everyone was go- ing, except Ionsey who could not ski. How- ever, Lady Luck deserted me, and I sprained my ankle playing hockey on Thursday after- noon. On Friday night after everyone had gone, I sat down by the window and start- ed to think about the ghost. The wind howled and the trees in the valley started swaying. They looked like giants waving their arms as if trying to catch the birds that flew about at night. Then the noises started again, only this time they came closer. I heard footsteps coming slowly down the hall. I could feel myself shaking with fear as the steps came closer and closer. Then the door started to open and I dived for the closet. I was about to shut the door when my curiosity got the better of me, and I left it open a little. The door opened all the way and the ghost moved across the room to my bed! I just had to find out once and for all what was going on, and so, summoning all my courage, I stepped out of the closet. The ghost spun around-only it was not a ghostg it was Ionsey carrying a cage. I asked what she was doing and she said she had come to tell me about the ghost. It appeared thc Ionsey had arrived at school with a parrot, of all things. I laughed as I though of every girl turning up at school with a pet or two. I promised to keep it a secret, and now when anybody mentions anything about noises in the attic, Ionsey and I smile at each other. After all, everybody knows there are not such things as ghosts. CAROL EMERSON-Grade VIII Apollo The dark night is over, Diana has fled: Apollo stands ready to rise in her stead: His spirited steeds with bodies of fire, Toss golden heads and stamp feet in their ire At being held backg Ah, the time is now come! Iove's stable gates open: they -dash out at a run: I-Ie guides his steeds upward, and higher and higher Climbs this god in his chariot, his chariot of fire. O'er the horizon, the first light of day Awakens the peasants who reverently say A small prayer of thanks that Apollo is here, To shine on the crops which they carefully rear, And to banish the darkness which night always brings, This god of fire, driving horses with wings. KATHRYN NEILSON-Grade IX Sunday Morning Solemn and silent day grasped the sleep- ing world with an icy hand. Stubborn clouds clung overhead as I adjusted my hat and stepped slowly out, Bible under my arm. It had snowed last night. With each step I sank further into the sticky substance whi-ch clung to my shoes and melted against my stockings. .Even the trees creaked and groaned under their unwanted burden of snow. The chirrup of a sparrow faded as he shivered, shook his feathers and then abandoned his branch for a warmer perch. Plodding through the snow, I gazed at the rows of houses standing side by side like stiff soldiers. Windows and doors turned to mocking eyes and mouths, laugh- ing at the lone figure struggling up the street. Alarmed by these grotesque faces and my straying imagination, I hurried a- round the corner. My steps crunched and echoed hollowly as I continued to church along the deserted and empty street which stretched vastly into the distance like an immense white carpet. The route seemed void of movement, for the only signs of human existence were the deviating footprints into which I stepped

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13 of the school board, and her friend. After hearing Annabella's story, Mr. Brock who had ujst finished talking with her father about their weekly game of golf, asked the quiet Florence Wheeler what she had seen. Hearing this question, Florence's large brown eyes started as a young fawn's might when seeing its first human being. Slowly she opened her mouth, casting a look at Annabella, and began to say something when she was interrupted. Flora didn't see anything, Mr. Brock. She was sitting at her desk, but when she heard the crash, we decided that we should come and report it because we will be the school officers. At this Mei-Ling broke out in a series of negative statements scattered with Chinese words. Mei-Ling, please be quiet. We have a reliable witness who said that you did break the picture and that you are lying about breaking it. These girls are the candidates for officers. It is not likely that they would lie. Last term you were appointed over Annabella, although you do not have the virtue of telling the truth. I am satisfied you broke the picture and then lied about it. A statement will go up on the noticeboarcl saying this, and I shall make a statement at Assembly this morn- ing. But I didn't br . . . break it, sir, cried Mei-Ling, her hands at her eyes, which were forming a waterfall of tears. Would you please leave. His voice had an icy tone, and Mrs. Harrington happily thinking that her son, a-ccidentally killed in a hunting accident by a young Chinese boy, had been partly avenged, walk! ed from the room, followed by a smug Annabella. In the hallway, Mei-Ling, feeling a hesi- tating arm about her, looked up into the kind and pitying face of Florence. I am very sorry, Mei-Ling. I saw Annabella throw that piece of metal. I couldn't say anything, though. If I did, Annabella would never speak to me again, and she would see that I was never appointed to be a school officer. She could because her father is the president of the school board and Mr. Brock's friend. I have to stay with her if I want to do anything important. Here, take this piece of chocolate. It is very good ben cause it came from Swizterlandf' whispered the tense, little voice. Quickly she withdrew her arm, and ran down the hallway to the waiting Annabella, her future assured. THEODORA NANCE4GI'ad8 IX wh.-.1 gi 1 lu All .ll n .- 'Ali A . ,iq 1? J K IOYHO-Hxoou . Dey Taylor, Grade Xll ' l Who Believes In Ghosts? It was February thirteenth when Ioce- lyn Iones arrived at school. She was strange in her ways, but certainly not in appearance. She was quite pretty and had small features and a voice that sounded like a meadow lark. Ionsey, as we called her, could imitate birds better than than I had ever heard anyone do. However, she was shy and no one could pull her out of her shell. It was a few nights after Ionsey arrived that I started hearing strange noises. Every- one knew there were no such things as ghosts, at least everyone except me. I WHS not so sure. My grandmother was a very superstitious old lady and had told me many a weird tale about supernatural things and, after all, no one had proved them not to be true. The first night the noises started, the sixteenth, I believe, they were low and sounded like childrens voices. I slowly got out of bed and started down the hall, and then I saw a ghost. Now, do not laugh. Per- haps you do not believe in ghosts, but some people do. If you had seen a white figure gliding down the stairs in a dimly-lighted hall, I am sure you would not have gone up and shaken hands with it. Well, I certainly did not. I ran back to the room and jumped into bed, pulling the covers over my head. The next morning when we got up, I was not so sure that I had not dreamt the whole thing, but I remembered it so vividly. None of the girls believed me and when Ionsey heard about it, her face went as white as a sheet. Perhaps she believed in ghosts too, but she slipped out of the room

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15 that proved others had advanced success- fully before me. Into these impressions a noiseless breeze scattered handfuls of snow- flakes. A vague want of companionship sub- consciously overtook me as I hastened through the snow. Finally I could see the church looming in the distance. It stood, the protector of the faith, imposing majesty on all who paused to study it. With the dignity of an urbane host it welcomed everyone to its doors. As the last strains of the proces- sional hymn drifted from the organ, the ushers opened the stately doors to allow one crowd of people to stream out, while a second filled their vacated spaces for the second service. Even on the most brisk Sundays, the minister stands at the doors to bestow a hearty farewell on all his congregation. This morning, as an aged woman, bundled in scarves, was assisted down the steps, his unfailing smile rested knowingly upon her. I hoped that he would see me also. But the thronging crowd, eager to reach the warmth of their cars, pushed the obstruction in the form of a girl who gazes admiringly upon her minister, hoping to be noticed, out of their way. I clutched my Bible more tightly and stood aside while the remainder of the people hurried by with unseeing eyes, draw- ing their cloats closer about them. Then I saw someone I knew. Amongst sea of strangers was a familiar face. and I had gone to school together a years before. Luck was with me, for our paths had to cross. My lips longed to curve into a smile and to wish a hello, but a lump rose into my throat as she passed. She had forgotten. No one ever remem- bered now, I thought. For life clutters the mind with useless nonessentials, and obligations are neglected, faces unrecog- nized. Feeling foolish and meek, I reminded myself that it was Sunday, a day in which only good thoughts are supposed to enter one's head, when prejudices, aversions and animosities are to be left until Monday. On the other side of the church is a second door, much smaller than the main one. At the sight of it, I finally allowed the smile which had played upon my lips for so long to show my feelings within. I has- tened quickly through this door, and down the stairs, for at the bottom of them are the awaiting children who run to their teacher with open arms and happy hearts. ELIZABETH WEBSTER-Grade X this She few I wonder why the snow is white And why the sun is very bright. I wonder why the swallows fly, And why we havethe blue, blue, sky. r I know why the snow is white, And why the sun is very bright. God gave the sparkle to the snow, With sunbeams dancing to and fro. I know why the swallows fly, And why we have the blue, blue sky. God gave the swallows wings to soar In the blue, blue sky for evermore. NANCY RUSSELL-Grade III The Magic Broom One day a young woman broke her broom and couldn't sweep her floor. I'Ier dog got the broom in his mouth and bit it in half. She told everyone that her broom was broken but nobody believed her. One day an old woman who was sel- ling brooms knocked at her door. The young woman was glad that she came. The old woman asked if she needed a broom, and she did, so she got a broom. The old woman gave her a magic broom. She started to sweep the floor but she didn't finish be- cause the broom got away and started to- sweep by itself. If you ever see that woman you will always see her smiling because the woman never touched a broom again. The magic broom swept the floor every day. SHEREE ANN KAN DEL-Grade III The Zoo I like the monkeys at the zoo, I like the elephants and lions, too. When I see the badger he's guarding his cage, When I see the lion he's roaring with rage. The kangaroo goes jumping about, Out of the pocket the baby pops out. The tiger looks like a great big cat, He walked round the cage, then down he sat. CAROL WARDILL-Grade IV