Burbank Junior High School - Wizard Yearbook (Berkeley, CA)

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A BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT I had been reading several books about the lives of great men and was becoming with each additional book a little more enthusiastic. I too should become famous. No longer would I waste my time on the frivolities of life but I would devote each precious moment toward the attainment of my goal. ' The members of my family were happily planning the attend- ance of an exceedingly exciting movie but I declined to accom- pany them for I had seen the announcement of a lecture to be given that same evening by a noted scientist. I succeeded in obtaining my mother ' s permission to attend the lecture if I could possibly persuade a girl friend to accompany me. We arrived at the lecture room early in order to obtain the best seats available. My enthusiasm was somewhat dampened by the small size of the group waiting to hear the famous scientist . I v;...s again disappointed by the professor who w s under- sized, bald-headed, and sin 0 ularly unattractive. owever I had hopes of being duly impressed by his -words of wisdom. The lecture began. Scarcely a word of his monotonous talk did I understand. ' y friend nudged me repeatedly, but I refused to give her the opportunity of ridiculing mu I kept my eyes glued on the professor. At last to our relief the lecture was over. There was a faint applause. Ivty friend and I hurried away immediately. Of course she told all my other friends about the lecture, and even yet a voice often calls, ' Hello Professor. ' Se you tonight at the lecture. --H elen Johnson L9y IT PAYS TO BE SQUARE A peg that’s round Won ' t fit I ' m bound In any hole that ' s square; But when a square b.oy is around He ' ll fit in anywhere. •-Alice Rezend s L9y '

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MX FIRST NIGHT IN A TENT My first night in a tent was in that wonderful old grove of redwood Ireeis known as the Ca ' laverae Big. Trees. Inn the com- pany of my Boy Scout troop I had arrived there in the after- noon. Some of us hurriedly staked out our tents while the oth- ers gathered wood and prepared the evening meal. After a hearty supper we lounged around the campfire and told stories and jokes. Soon overcome by sleep we crept into our tents and wrapped ourselves up in our blankets and lay down on a soft bed of pine needles. For a long time I lay awake gazing out through the flaps of the tent. It was quite dark outside. The crickets began their incessant chirping. The moon was unusually large and bright in the mountains. Al 1 of a sudden a twig cracked. Footsteps seemed to be approaching the tent. My heart came up into my throat. I imagined I could even hear the breathing of the monster. I could stand the strain no longer. I awoke the boy next to me and we went outside to investigate. Imagine my surprise when we discover ! a baby deer placidly quenching his thirst in our water bucket. We crept back into our blankets and were soon in the land of pleasant dreams. --Olavi Laakso L9y ' MODESTY PAYS Company was coming to tea. Mother was carefully cleaning the house and arranging the flowers attractively in all the available vases. I was only a chubby little boy but I was very much interested in the preparations, particularly the re- freshments. I insisted on wearing my best suit. At first the ladies noticed me which pleased me very much; but in a short time they became so interested in their gossiping that I was en- tirely forgotten. Determined to regain their attention I slipped from the room and returned with a plate of cookies which I balanced neatly on my head. But horrors i I tripped over the edge of the carpet and the cookies scattered in all directions. All the notice I got was reproving glances as I was being dragged from the room by my mother. — Bernhardt Rose L9y '

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UNDER SHELTERING PINES Isn ' t it wonderful to go out into a forest of pine trees and camp for a week or so? One really enjoys such a recre- ation each year. The thought of waking up in the morning and seeing these tall, lofty trees standing high overhead ig inspiring. The sun breaking through the tops of the trees tries to shower you with sunshine to start the day off right. Then it is conforting to take a long walk into the deeper part of the forest. Seeing trees that have been there for many years, some for centuries, fills you with awe. As you walk along the river, you can see logs floating down stream. It seems too bad that these beautiful trees have to be cut down and sawedJ — Raoul Viramontes L9y A WILD VALLEY Every summer on May first I go trout fishing and hunting near Cloverdale. There is a fine swimming hole there that is filled with ice cold water. It is down in a valley with tall snow-capped mountains on either side where deer lurk. There is also a stream running through the valley in which there are hundreds of trout and salmon which will bite as soon as your line hits the water. And the water is cold and sparkling and sweet. I think it is the most interesting and enticing spot in California. --John Skoverski L9y WHAT TREES COULD TELL Probably if trees could only talk they would tell things that everyone would be very much surprised to hear. They might be able to tell us if the Indians really were the first people in America or not. Trees live so many more years than human beings that they could probably tell us more history than we have ever found out. When the winds blow through their branches they seem to say something that we would like to know. People from early times have used their imagination to a great extent and have written myths, poems, and songs about trees. Wouldn ' t it be fine if these trees could only talk a little bit? — Alice Perkins L9y