Branksome Hall - Slogan Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

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A Korean Legend Once upon a time in the ancient land of Korea there lived a king who found that life was getting dull. To relieve the monotony of his daily routine he an- nounced that to the man who could tell him a lie that he could not possibly be- lieve he would give ten thousand won, which is in our money, about five thou- sand dollars. One of the prominent vices of a Korean is his appreciation of a cun- ning and complicated lie, and this king was no exception. Many competitors came, confident that their tales were unbelievable, but went home disconsolate because, however un- believable a story was told, the king agreed with them perfectly. At last, the king got tired of the common lies and said that unless their lies were absolutely unbelievable not to take the risk of tell- ing them for there would be a serious penalty. One day, a young man came who was exceptionally smart-looking, and the king, although eager to hear his lie, warned him. Young man, he said, you know that there is a severe penalty for any believable lie, so I warn you not to begin if it is believable. Oh, the young man replied, excuse me, your Majesty, but you cannot pos- sibly believe this lie. Proceed, said the king. As you know, began the young man, in the south of Korea we have a wonderful sacred sphinx. Now, one day as I was going past it I saw an unlucky crow building a nest in its ear. I realized that this must not be or the gods would be angry, so I took stones and threw them at the nest but, as I soon ran out of stones, I picked up chestnuts and threw them. At last, the bird fled. A few days later, I noticed a wonderful tree growing in the soil on the head of the sphinx and, instead of growing at an ordi- nary rate, it grew very quickly, and at last I saw chestnuts on it and remembered that the tree must have grown from a chestnut I had thrown up there. A few days later, I saw that the chestnuts were ripe and wanted to pick them. If I wait- ed till they dropped they would be of no use as they would drop on the head of the sphinx and it would be impossible for me to get them. At last, I had a plan and went home to get a basin of pepper and with a pair of bellows blew it up 23

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22 The Branksome Slogan ' Ah, Georgina, do not play with my heart ' , he said in a low, tense voice. ' How can one so beautiful care for a poor thing like me? But you will bid me hope — is it not so, Carissima? ' Rupert — yes, indeed, I replied. Ah, the fragrance of the garden, the odor of tropical flowers, the sound of music in the distance — Georgina sighed in memory of the scene, and the girls gazed at her spell- bound. Well, a week went by and each day we saw one another, and I fell more madly in love with him every time I saw him. We decided to elopel Unfortun- ately, however, my family heard of our affair, and, foolishly thinking that they could break it off, moved on, the day before our proposed flight, to Rome. Rupert followed me there, and, of course, we met secretly at every possible oppor- tunity. From Rome we went to Paris, and from Paris to London, and thence homeward. Rupert followed me all the way. The family, of course, knew no- thing of this, and imagined that I had not seen him since leaving Cairo. Un- luckily, though, Dad met him on the street near our house one evening, and next day I was packed off here to school. Rupert writes continually, begging me to flee with him to Europe. He says he has a beautiful castle in Spain, but I cannot yet make up my mind what I shall do. Rupert says he will wait for mc until the end of all time, and that there can never be anyone else for him if I do not consent to — Her sentence was left unfinished, for the going-to-bed bell rang out suddenly, and her audience abruptly fled, though not without a sympathetic glance and a reassuring pressure of the hand from three or four of the girls, which meant, Poor dear — we can imagine what you are go- ing through. We understand. That night after lights-out bell had rung, and the dormitories were presum- ably wrapped in slumber, Georgina stir- red sleepily, a smile on her lips as she thought of Rupert. How lucky that she had brought that actor ' s picture with her when she left home to come to school. What a great thing imagination is, she murmured to herself. But I do wonder what that bill at the florists is going to amount to. M. H. H., Form V.

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24 Thu Branksome Slogan the sphinx ' s nose. Immediately it sneez- ed and down came the chestnuts. I gath- ered them up and found I had five bags full; one of which I gave to my father, one to the people of our city, sold two at an enormous price, as they were sacred chestnuts, and kept the last for myself. I believe every word of it! ex- claimed the king. I haven ' t quite finished yet, said the young liar. I was informed by your steward that you wanted this last bag, and though very loth to part with it. I at last consented when offered ten thou- sand won for it, and to-day I came to collect the money. At this, the indignant king stood up and said, It ' s a lie! Of course, it ' s a lie, said the young man, and now give me my prize. Thus the king paid the ten thousand won. HAZEL GRIERSON. A Battle Flag Tattered and torn as you flutter, Riddled with shot and with shell, Ribboned and bloodstained and ragged. Many a tale you can tell. Tales of the wounded and weary. On the dark, drear battlefield; The spit and fire of the cannon From the men who do not yield. A crash, a roar, a cry, a moan, A livid streak, and thunder. Sizzling, hissing, shrieking, booming. Near rends the world assunder. Yet you ' re the cause of the turmoil. Around you it is they fight; You are the ensign of all things. For both the wrong and the right. There is one for every nation, Each man for his own must fight; For one there is joy and vict ' ry, For the other comes the night. ELEANOR WYLIE, Form II.