Bourne High School - Canal Currents Yearbook (Bourne, MA)

Page 18 text:

16 CANAL CURRENTS Mrs. Blake snapped the lights and for fully five minutes only the heavy breathing of Madam Banknay could be heard. Finally after a few moans the medium said, in a husky voice, “Thirteen,” “Number thirteen.” “What about thirteen?” asked Mrs. Blake. “It’s coming! It’s coming,” said the medium in a low tone. And before I could speak I felt something passing over my face. I turned quickly and grasped something which felt like a huge mass of hair. I shouted and someone snapped on the lights. The sight I saw I will never forget. Mrs. Blake’s husband Henry was standing behind me holding a hat in his hand while I still clung desperately to a white wig. Mr. Blake was Madam Banknay. t-. i i Rachel Goggin A HAPPY IDEA There was once a man who was imprisoned in a tower for life by a king. There was no possible escape from this tower, and he thought constantly of his wife who would be living down there longing for him. For days he sat thinking of a way to escape. At last he thought of a scheme. Day by day many bees flew by his win- dow. Could he not make use of them? Yes. He found he could. He wrote a note to his wife and when she was under his window one morning he dropped it to her. She followed the instructions and caught a bee. On its head she placed honey, to its leg she tied a silk thread. When the bee smelled the honey he thought there must be honey above him so he flew upward until he came to the window at which the prisoner was waiting. Into this room he flew, drawing the silk thread after him. The man caught the bee gently, unfastened the silk and started pulling up the cord. His wife tied a rope on the end of the silk. The prisoner tied this to a stationary article in the room and escaped down the rope to freedom. So thankful were they to the bees they devoted the rest of their lives to the keeping of bees. , i • c r j Josephine Sanford KING OF NEVADA Suzanne Orford, the only daughter of very wealthy parents, lived in the mountain district of Nevada. On her recently passed birthday, her father and mother had presented Suzanne with a

Page 17 text:

LITERARY NUMBER THIRTEEN” It was a cold, windy night last fall and as I arrived at my apartment on Elm St. I welcomed heartily the fire that was blaz- ing meriily in the fire-box. As I sat down in my favorite arm-chair before the fire-place I thought to myself, “Now for a quiet evening at home.” Just as I settled myself with an interesting book, the door- bell rang. Disgustedly I arose and opened the door. A messenger handed me a note and as I glanced hastily at the writing, I saw it was that of an old friend of mine, a Mrs. Blake. I tore the note open and found it to be an invitation to attend a bridge- party at her home that evening. I readily accepted as Mrs. Blake’s parties were usually quite entertaining. 8:15 found me in a taxi on my way to the home of Mrs. Blake, which was situated in a beautiful park nearly a mile from my home. Mrs. Blake, a large and very pretty woman, greeted me cor- dially and introduced me to her friends. Among them was an old lady with grey hair who had a very deep voice, and was dressed in a black gown of very cheap material. Mrs. Blake introduced her as the great medium. Madam Banknay who had consented to entertain them that evening. After playing cards for a short time, refreshments were served. Then Mrs. Blake announced that Madam Banknay would go into a trance and commune with the spirits. Madam Banknay instructed us to sit in a circle and to hold hands. As it happened there were thirteen present, “I will sit here,” said Madam Banknay, “and that will make this gentleman,” pointing to me, “the thirteenth. Put out the lights, take hold of hands and concentrate on nothing except the number thirteen,” she instructed as she grasped my hand, “Mrs. Blake will ask the questions”.

Page 19 text:

CANAL CURRENTS 17 pair of famous collie dogs, each of which had cost one thousand dollars. One was called Sunset, because of her silky, red-gold coat: the other was named Dawn. One morning some months later Sunset very proudly pre- sented her mistress with six babies. One puppy, in particular, attracted Suzanne because of his fine build and beautiful coat. This one she called King of Nevada. Mr. Orford wished to sell all of them immediately but Suzanne would not listen to him. Although she had a liberal allowance and wanted for nothing, Suzanne had longed often for some useful task. She was discontented with her aimless, pleasure-seeking life. Therefore, when her father wished to sell the puppies, Suzanne realized that her chance to do something useful as well as interesting was before her. Because she cared so much about dogs, she decided to start a collie farm. After much persuasion her father and mother finally agreed to allow her to try out the idea. Suzanne’s puppies grew vigorously and played around hap- pily, and she was very much taken up with her business as she fondly called these bits of mischief. About a year later, she entered four of her dogs in the dog show: Sunset, Dawn, Golden Sammy, and King of Nevada. The day of the show dawned clear and bright, and the four dogs were groomed until their glossy coats shone. Then they were taken to the exhibition hall. Sunset and Dawn tied for first prize in their class. Golden Sammy took second prize in his class and walked with a proud, uplifted head the rest of the day. The feature of the day was the five thousand dollar prize to be given to the most perfectly proportioned dog under two years of age. Into this contest, Suzanne entered King of Nevada. There was much competition for the prize, but through it all King held himself as a king, as indeed he was. At last, after much indecision, the judges gave the prize to King, much to Suzanne’s joy. King, to this day, has won many cups and trophies for his young mistress. His sons and daughters are, also, prize winners. Suzanne’s happiness knows no bounds for she has, not only gained a great deal of joy through her work, but she has, also, proved to her parents that she could earn money and manage it properly. Vesta Avery.