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

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21 was serious, for he pointed the gun at Trish. Listen Mr., you - began Tommy when he was interrupted. My name is Iohn Newman-I mean Iohn Black. Tommy decided not to continue what he was saying for Iohn Newman or Iohn Black was now checking their pockets. He pulled out three rings. Tannis tried to explain to him that they had bought them in the morning at Birts, and that the initials stood for Trish, Tannis and Tommy Lampton. All right, said Trish, if you don't believe us call the clerk at Birts, and they will tell you we bought them. Iohn Newman did this, but said the lady said no one had bought any rings that she knew of. Then Tommy realized three things. Firstly the lady would not know about the rings because they had bought the rings in the morning and it was four oiclock now. The clerks change posts at noon. Secondly this man was the taxi driver who had driven them home last night and must have over- heard the children's plans. Thirdly Iohn Newman was the wanted criminal, and this is why he changed his name for disguise. Tommy explained this to the girls and they all chorused, HELP! The police came rushing around the cor- ner and everything was explained. The mor- ning clerk of Birts came down and showed the police the Lampton's bill. The police were very grateful and at last they heard Iohn Newman say, I surrender. The three Lamptons now left the tower to catch their plane to Ireland, but when the word England is mentioned, it brings a vivid memory back to their minds. SUSAN OSLER-Grade VI What the Owl Saw The owl which sits up in a tree, At night some interesting things does see, For when the night begins to fall Only the owl does see it all. He sees creeping animals, very sly, And maybe hears a coyote cry, A frightened rabbit hurries home, He fears the night when he's alone. A little deer comes slowly out, Watching to see no one's about, Slowly he goes down to the lake, A cool refreshing drink to take. The owl sees it all with his big eyes, But he's not the only one who spies, The moon and stars are watching too. As the animals sleep the whole night through. ANNE GARDNER-Grade VI Eskimo, Ho Ho! One day a little Eskimo boy went fish- ing in his new kayak. When he returned that evening, he was very cold.iThe next day he brought a heater with him. But alas! the heater burned a hole in the bottom of the kayak. The boat sank, along with the little Eskimo. Moral: You can't have your kayak and heat it, too. BEVERLY KNIGHT-Grade VI The Polka-Dotted Seal Once upon a time, up in the Arctic, there was a little island where a pack of seals lived. Among these seals was a polka- dotted one called Willie. None of the other seals ever played with Willie and they were very rude to him because he was so different from them. Even his mother and father were rather astonished at first when he was born, and because Willie was their son all the other seals were rude to them too. Every day Willie had to fight for his food but every day he became stronger. Sometimes he went hunting in the ocean far away from the little island and that way he knew a lot of hiding places where he could hide when the other seals came out to fight him. Life went on as usual for Willie and his parents until one day a fat seal came hobb- ling toward them as fast as he could, shout- ing as he ran, A band of hunters are com- ing, we must hurry and get out of here or they will kill us! Then Willie though of one of the hiding places that he had, not far away from the island. He called the seals together and told them about it. At first they would not trust him, but after a while they decided that they would have to go. Willie took the lead and all the other seals followed. Around the island and up through the Strait, swimming as fast as they could. Willie finally brought all the seals and their babies to one of his hiding places where they were safe from the hun- ters and where there was plenty of food. After a couple of days in the hiding place, the seals decided that it would be safe to go back to the island. Willie led them back again and when everyone was safely home, the seals praised Willie and made him their king. From that day on, the seals were always safe from danger and Willie and his parents were never sad again. DEBORAH FERGUSON-Grade VI

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20 1 X X XNXX s -- .1-4017 I f U 10' , Our unwfs fx.. 2 Q ..... 5 It .,.. is 1 : s:1'Ei ' IQI III I X .Q I The Haunted House QTEBF I 'I It stood alone--deserted, forgotten but with a proud, haughty air about it. Any former traces of beauty had certainly been obliterated by now, although it looked as if it might have been attractive about two centuries ago. The old pillars sagged, the wlndows were covered with dust and grime and if there had ever been panes in them it had not been in my lifetime. At night dim, mysterious shadows passed across the tiny attic window and the eerie glow of bats' eyes and their piercing screams were enough to make anyone's blood run cold. It was truly an old has-been. One afternoon as I walked home from school I felt a sudden urge to explore it. I dropped my books and yielded to tempta- tion. A few minutes later I found myself pushing through the dense underbrush cov- ered with burrs and scratches and wearing a badly torn dress. I began to wish I had not been so impulsive in my curiosity to explore the old mansion. However, deciding not to stop, after pushing this far, I gritted my teeth and went on. As I climbed the rotted staircase I grew hesitant, although I was still rather interested in my idea. I opened the door and crept softly and stealthily in. As I stood in the front hall I felt disappointed. Nothing had happened. SLAM! The door shut behind mel I jumped and swallowed a lump rising in my throat. Next I faced the long hall and at the end of it I could see a tall, winding staircase with loosely-nailed, rotted boards. As I climbed it my Hsixth sense seemed to warn me of danger. But just as I climbed the last curve in the steps I saw ahead of me the unmistakable form of a man with all two hundred and six bones visible! I screamed and ran, stumbling in my haste. Down the steps the skeleton came and out into the fresh, clean air I ran, leaving a puzzled and indignant framework behind me. As I left, a disappointed skeleton took off his costume, heaved a sigh and said dis- gustedly, Girls certainly can't take a joke, and as he left, added, Not even on April Fools Day! MARY-LOU SWANSON-Grade VI A Vivid Memory It was the I..ampton's first time in Eng- lang and they had all decided on the pre- vious day that they would all go and see the Tower of London. Tommy, Trish, and Tannis were all very excited. Isn't this nice? asked Tommy after they had arrived in the Tower of London. Not quite, said a guard near by. 'AWhere is it? Where is what? asked Tommy. What do you think? answered the guard. The three rings you stole. Two have the initials TL, standing for the Tower of London on the back. The third one is quite different. It has a block face with in one corner and in the other corner. Remember if your story isn't good, I can call the police just around the corner. Now, where did you hide'em? You must have the wrong person, laughed Tannis. I-low can I when you are the only ones here? asked the guard. I don't know, but it isn't we you are looking for. This time the children knew the guard

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22 A Friend Indeed From her room high up in the gray stone palace, Princess Iocelyn looked down upon the sparkling stream which wound around the courtyard. Her blue eyes were thought- ful and her golden hair fell around her shoulders. Though she looked so pretty, she felt unhappy. As she sat by her window she saw children her own age playing and going to school, but she had to study by her- self. How lonely she felt! Her embroidery lay beside her-untouched, and books did not interest her at all. Suddenly she decided she would take a walk. As she walked along the brook an odd-shaped stone caught her attention. She picked it up, and turning it over in her hand several times, she had an idea. She would scnd a message to the world beyond the courtyard. Quickly she took a dark crayon from her pocket and wrote the following message, I need a friends who needs a friend-Princess Iocelynf' Then she threw the stone into a meadow nearby. A few years passed. Iocelyn became prettier as she grew older. She practised her piano faithfully and did her lessons. One day something delightful happened! As Iocelyn was having tea on the patio, she saw a handsome young man come riding toward the palace. She quickly walked up to him, assuming this man was a palace servant bringing a message. Iocelyn asked him saying, What news have ye brought? To her surprise he said, I am not a servant. I am Prince Garth of Ravenscourt and have come to say that I have found your stone. I am in need of a friend, too. Princess Iocelyn was astonished that someone had found the stone she had thrown away many years before. This beautiful princess and the handsome prince became very good friends until at last one day he asked her to become his wife. Not long after that they were married and she left her parents at Balmoral Hills and went happily off to be the gracious Lady of Ravenscourt. Never again did this charming princess need to send a message like the one she sent when a lonely girl, for she had found that a friend in need is a friend indeed. RUTH GEMMEL-Grade V Robin Hood There was a man called Robin Hood Who in the wood one evening stoodg He shot an arrow from his bow, So swift and silent it did go. High up in the air it soared- Strong and true like Robin's sword. And on its shaft so tightly laid A message for his fair young maid. When she saw the arrow dear Her heart was filled with sudden fear. Was he captured? Was he ill? She read the note-he loved her still. ALISON GREATREX-Grade V Surprise Package Aunt Martha was just going out to the store. when she saw a brown package on the doorstep. Well I do declare, she said. What's this? She hurried into the pretty little cottage, forgetting all about her purse on the door- step. She opened the package. It was a beautiful jewel box. Well I can't keep this, though I would like to. Her blue eyes twinkled. I'd better put an advertisement in the paper. Some- body might be looking for it. Aunt Martha bustled into the tiny bed- room, put the box under her pillow, shut and locked the window and softly closed the door. So as to keep out bad men, she had said. Off she trotted to the newspaper, on Main Street. The editor was very surprised to see her. What can I do for you Aunt Martha? Somebody left a jewel box on my door- step. so I came to put an advertisement in the paper. A'All right. Watch the paper for a reply, he said. Good-bye. After five days Aunt Martha decided no one was going to claim the box. Then the afternoon of the sixth day her sister phoned. She said, You silly goose, Martha. I put the box on your doorstep. It was Mama's. Don't you remember it? Oh, that box! Of course I remember it now! How silly of me! Thanks for the box. COLLEEN TEMPLETON-Grade V