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

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Tl-IE COURTSHIP OF BLUE MOON Once upon a very very long time ago in a land that never was, but might have been, there lived a wise old king and his pretty queen. King Henry the Handsome that was the King's name, and Queen Gertrude the Great, that was the Queen's name, had a lovely daughter of nineteen. She was the loveliest girl in the world and she was called Blue Moon , because her beauty was as rare as a Blue Moon and she was as glorious to see. .slwfi 'I its One day King Henry the Handsome said promptly to Queen Gertrude the Great, I really do feel that Blue Moon should marryg after all she is almost twenty. The Queen sniffed. Yes, I suppose so, but I only want the best for her. After all, she is not only a princess, not only the most beautiful girl in the world, but she is also my daughter! So, during the next few days men by the million from all over the country came and tried to win the hand of Blue Moon. The third day of all this confusion, a handsome man of about twenty-three came all the way from Strogmesteel to propose to Blue Moon. The sight of him made you feel that he was very rich. His sharp looking white horse stood proudly by the palace door and the prince's clothes were made of the strongest velvet and finest satin. He walked up slowly to Blue Moon noticing her in her fine white lacy dress. Carefully he picked up her slim delicate hand and kissed it quickly. Blue Moon, he said slowly but firmly. You are the most beautiful girl in the world. I have seen many a girl but none has more beauty than you. Please will you marry me'? Blue Moon, although being very very lovely, was quite conceited. We1l, she whined. B1ue Moon, please I can give you riches that no other can give you. Please marry me, the prince cried out. She sighed heavily. All of the men, the hundreds, the thousands, the millions of men who have come from all over the world, I have turned down. You are very nice, perhaps the nicest yet, but still I must turn you down as I have done the others. Why? Why? With all the men who have proposed to you, why must you turn every one of them down? he questioned. Because, as you say, I am the most beautiful girl in the world, and I know it. And I know that I am too beautiful for just any ordinary prince or king such as you! The prince had no more to say. He walked away slowly, ashamed, knowing that he would never receive the love of Blue Moon. He was not only hurt, but quite mad. A guard by the palace doors mumbled to himself, Ha! There goes another reject! just made the prince furious. The prince turned around in a rage. Who are you that dares to talk to a prince in that manner? And with this, the prince turned the guard into a mute parrot. That shall teach you who to talk back to! the prince snickered as he walked away. Six months, eight months, ten months went by, but no one had won the hand of Blue Moon. One fine day, twelve months later a man came to the palace door. He wore a crown made of solid gold which had diamonds, emeralds, and rubies placed on it. His face was strong and handsome and wisps of silver hair fell from his

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S PRI NG THOUGHTS Down by the spring where I get water Everyday it grows hotter and hotter. ' hr tyq , . T b,.p,'f 3 if Down by the pond I saw a frog. if f, ff A. And every day I fell in a bog. Down by the lake so clean and clear. I sit down and listen to the froggies cheer. 53' :v- I ,Y ' Down in the grass that grows so high Q 1 1 I sit down and watch the birds go by. ' I I ' X Barbie Leach, Grade 3. ' 11211 .,. A V .x 4 .4 , r , '. A 1 ' Ji .1 ' - 3 I f-ah! H HAPPINESS IS... Happiness is watching the crabapple tree bloom, and the plum tree bloom, going swimming, going in a rowboat among the trees over lapping water. Happiness is walking among the trees and being surrounded by violets and weeping willows. Catherine Helen Osler, Grade 6 Happiness is friendship. Sharing secrets, holding hands, and being able to trust a friend is happiness. Happiness is playing in a fort at school together. Walking hand in hand smiling from ear to ear knowing that this person shares secrets and will never let you down and you will always be her best friend, forever. Wendy Wharton, Grade 6 Happiness is being alive, a beautiful little blue forget-me-not. Happiness is a warm gentle nudge, brushing my horse off, petting my dog. Happiness is having friends, letting the sun shine down on you. Happiness is reading a book, an exciting book. Happiness is walking through mud, letting it ooze through your toes. Happiness is a nice feeling. Leslie Konantz, Grade 6 Happiness is being with your friend who cares, when no one else cares. Happiness is being with your best friend alone in the wilderness. Happiness is being close to nature and picking forget-me-nots while the birds sing softly. Happiness is running free through waving golden fields. Happiness is watching a baby bloom to maturity. Happiness is climbing an apple tree in bloom. Bev Geddes, Grade 6 Happiness is looking through the trees at the sun. Happiness is lying in a patch of clover. Happiness is sitting by a quiet pond tossing pebbles. Happiness is to have the wind in your hair. Happiness is to go barefoot in the mud. Happiness is just plain nature. Agnes Borbely, Grade 6

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crown covering his deep deep blue eyes. The pure velvet cloak with white fur around the edges hung over the most magnificent clothing which seemed to have a picture of land and sea on it. He walked in clamly and firmly and asked where he could find the princess Blue Moon. He was shown to the drawing room where he found Blue Moon. Blue Moon, he said, getting right to the point. I am King Septem, king of the seven seas and seven continents. I am the richest man in the universe and I amquite handsome too. So, will you please marry me? You are the King of the seven seas and continents? You are the richest man in the universe? And you want to marry me? But of course! said King Septem. Why, why, certainly I will! she exclaimed. And so in seven moons King Septem and Blue Moon were to be married Nine million, nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine people were at the wedding. The church was built just for the wedding and it was the most beautiful church in the world. The ceremony started and King Septem stood in the aisle in all his glory. A hundred bridesmaids filed into the church and took their places neatly. A hundred little page boys filed in behind the bridesmaids. Up by the altar were fifty flowergirls on one side and fifty on the other side. But the best was yet to come. A hush filled the church as Blue Moon stepped in. Her dress was made out of mother of pearls and she had a veil made out of cloud dust and sunshine! Yellow daisies peeked in and out of her hair as she tip-toed down the aisle. She reached the middle of the aisle and King Septem was taking up her arm when all of a sudden a cloud of smoke filled the air. When it was gone everyone was frozen, all except Blue Moon and a strange man clothed in black. Who are you? What are you doing? gasped Blue Moon. Why, Blue Moon, don't tell me you have forgotten me as you have done the others. I am the prince from Strogmesteel. I have come to visit you as my real self, a war1ock! chuckled the strange warlock prince. So why must you complain? I have turned down others because of my great beauty. So why should you complain and make such a fuss? I have found my equal and it is he whom I shall marry. Blue Moon cried, pointing to King Septem. So, leave! ' You seem to forget that I am a warlock. All you care about is your beauty. And it is true, I have never seen such beauty in all my life. So save your beauty I will, but spare your life as a human being I will not. In a second's time he was gone, and when the people in the church unfroze, they did not see Blue Moon, but instead a peacock. Sara Richardson, Grade 'I X W-N-,X . 1 '.,sV '5.M l ffj .r wa ' ..