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

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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

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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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23 The GoiIiwog's Dream One night, my golliwog had a dream, It was rather strange I think, I-le dreamed we were sailing on a wooden raft, In the middle of a sea of ink. We were sailing on a wooden raft: All alone were we, And all we had to eat and drink, Was raisin bread and tea. Suddenly a wave came along, And Golly clung to me, And then that mean, enormous wave, Swept us out to sea. When next morning did arrive, And I awakened wide, I found myself in my own little bed, With Golly at my side. CLAIRE ROULSTON-Grade VI The Forest The forest is full of beautiful things, The flowers, the trees, the bumble bee kings, The rabbits, the squirrels, the grazing fawn, The sunlight breaking through the dawn. Noon is next the sun is high, The hopping rabbit who isn't shy, In the trees the birds are singing, And in the distance chimes are ringing. As evening falls on darkened trees, Murmurs still of autumn breeze, Although the world is full of things, I think the forest is king of kings. BARBARA PALK-Grade VI Shadows There are shadows in the corners. And shadows on the stair, There are shadows in my closet And shadows over there. Some shadows come in daytime, And some come dark at night, Some come in the morning, And some come when it's light. Some shadows are of people, And some of other things, Some shadows are of creatures And some are of birds' wings. DEBBIE CASEY-Grade VI What the Owl Saw The owl's a wise old creature, Who stays awake at night, I'le usually goes to sleep In the broad daylight, Seefng every little thing That runs or Creeps along- A chipmunk running home A bird without his song. The farmer's cat comes creeping A searching for some mice. A fox sneaks by the famer's house, A chiken would be nice! At sunrise in the morning The rooster gives a call: The night is finally over The owl has seen it all. CAROLYN RICHARDSON-Grade VI JUNIOR SCHOOL LEADERS Debora Bloomer, Jill Kent, Deborah Riley, Diana Majury, Janis McKeag, Pamela Richardson. 'Fi 632291,