Branksome Hall - Slogan Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

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THE BRANKSOME SLOGAN. 23 to this 1 don ' t believe that more than one of those soldiers discovered tlie trick played on them, and that one wais the captain ! He found out three or four years after because his wife told him, and I don ' t suppose I have to tell you who his wife was ! A LIBRARY TALE The hour was almost midnight, Beside the dying fire In idleness I sat and dreamed Till close beside my ear there seemed A sweet voice to enquire: Did you know that ' Richard Carvel ' And ' The Lady of the Lake With little ' David Copperfield ' And others whom ' The Spy ' revealed, ' A Tramp Abro ' ad ' will take? They are going by ' The Two Faiths ' And along ' The Right of Way, ' But when ' The Crossing ' they approach ' King Lear ' will meet them with his coach. Just at ' The Peep of Day. ' As they draw near the ' Hamlet ' Where ' Evangeline ' resides. Behold ! ' The Crisis ' comes too soon. For ' Tom Brown ' ' Kidnapped ' ' Lorna Doone ' And many more besides. To their ' Deserted Village ' ' The Spoilers ' go, ' twould seem, With booty rare ' To Have and To Hold ' . Our ' Mutual Friend ' then wliispering told, ' Twas all ' A Mid— night ' s Dream. — G. M. M.

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THE BPtA TKSOME SLOGAN. When the people came rushing up the village street shouting The Yankees ! the whole family were at dinner in their own house. They had kept little of value there, as the war-like times kept them con- tinually on the watch for an invasion by the Americans. But there was a whole cellar-full of wine and eatables in the tavern, all the winter ' s provisions, and a new consignment of china in the shop. What was to be done ? If the goods had been their own they might have trusted to good luck, but as their neighbors ' property, it must be guarded ! Suddenly Gertrude, the girl, said, Why not bring everything we can into the house, and put them in the room where father keeps his good furs? It was a brilliant suggestion, for the door to that one small, strongly-built room was hidden by the sidebo ' ard in the dining-room. Her father dealt in valuable furs, and always kept any specially fine ones in that room. The whole family immediately set to work to move the goods from the two houses into this room. Meanwhile, the Amerieans were com- ing nearer -and nearer, and they knew that they would not have time to complete their work unless the soldiers were delayed in some way. It was no easy task, and no quick one, to remove many casks of wine, whole hams, and crates of china, and there were only two young boys, one man, one girl and one woman to do it. Again the girl ' s wit came to their aid. She said, You know the roads are terribly muddy, and they will be having a hard march. I shall go and try to persuiade them to let me show them the easier but longer way over the common. It will give you at least ten min- utes more, for, of course, they will come straight to the tavern if they can ! Her mother objected, as she feared the men might harm the girl, but at I ' ast she consented, and Gertrude ran down the street to intercept the soldiers. When they came in sight she found that the majority were dead tired and swearing profanely. Nothing daunted, she finally made the captain notice her, and explained that she would take them round to the tavern by a longer, but easier, route if they would trust them- selves to her guidance. He finally consented, as he saw that his men could stand little more of the rough road; also, the girl was pretty and he was young. When they reached the tavern everything was put away but some fruit, one ham and a keg or two of beer. The soldiers satisfied their hunger and thirst, but there was not enough liquor to become drunk on, and they did not know that in a tiny, oonoealed room in the next house there were quantities of liquor and food. From that day

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24 THE BRANKSOME SLOGAN. THE SOUTHDOWNE RACE JESSIE FERRIEB. The morning of the 24th of May broke bright -and clear in South- downe. The town was in a state of excitement. For it was the one day of the year when everyone turned out to witness an impoTtant event — a horse race. This was to take place on a high and level I i track, at two o clock. But already a great crowd had collected in order to get good positions. It was a curious gathering. All the people in Southdowne were there: lumbermen in their every- fiWp J day clothes; miners, distinguished by their bright red |:f| | Nj bandannas, and here and there an Indian or half- y-f - ' breed. But there was one figure which aroused much curiosity. It was that of an Indian, Red Wing, chief of the Mohawks. An Indian likes nothing better ' than a good, swift horse, and to this passioji Red Wing certainly lived up. He was about twenty years of age, tall, and slim as a pine tree. His features were clear-cut and his swarthy skin was brightened by a pair of black eyes, which sparkled like live coals. With him were two others. One was John Cobbett, known as Cobb, a lithe little fellow with a thatch of yellow hair and a pair of crafty blue eyes. The other was Terence Kelly, a witty little Irishman. His homely features were lighted up by an irrepressible smile and a pair of twinkling eyes. These three were to compete in the race. As they hurried to the stables, not together, however, each felt deep down within him a longing for victory. Red Wing ' s horse, Wild Fire, was a beautiful little roan, sleek and well-groomed. She was a fiery creature, but her owner had complete confidence in her power, if only she did not get her temper up and go too quickly at first. Tally Ho, Cobb ' s horse, a bay, was capable of remarkable endurance. Trained by its master, it could trip a horse quite easily. Wild Fire ' s chief enemy, however, was Bally Brae, Kelly ' s horse. She was not so distinguished in appearance as Tally Ho, but her speed had been proven before, and the merits of her rider were well- known. It was already two o ' clock. By this time the enclosure was packed. All was in readiness for the exciting event. The course was to be twice around a mile track. Across the latter was placed a wooden screen, behind which the riders took their poisition. At the crack