Elmwood School - Samara Yearbook (Ottawa, Ontario Canada)

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SAMARA 31 For the Good of the Cause DURING the close of the Civil War be- tween the Puritans and the Cavaliers, a wealthy Cavalier family lived in the beautiful county of Devonshire on the out- skirts of the small village of Alverdiscott. The family consisted of two children, Ru- pert, the eldest, a handsome boy of seventeen, who was an excellent horseman, and his sis- ter Rose, a courageous and beautiful girl of fifteen. Their father was a brave soldier and had become one of the leading generals of the Cavalier forces, while their mother super- vised the huge estate and their numerous wo- men servants, with a calm efficiency, in her husband ' s absence. The house was an old rambling one with hidden stairs and secret panels whose existence was only known by the family itself. Rupert had been very useful to his father by delivering important dispatches through the enemy lines to other branches of the Cavalier forces. It was extremely dangerous work and his mother and sister were in con- stant fear of his being captured. One windy night as Rose was retiring to her lonely room in one wing of the house, she heard a gentle tapping at the casement. Supposing that it was the wind rattling the thick ivy outside, she got into bed and tried to sleep. But then the tapping became more urgent and at last she went to the window and opened it. What did she then see, but her brother ' s pale, anx- ious face peering at her, half hidden by the ivy ' s exuberant growth? Quick, Rose, he said. Conceal the light. I am being pursued by a company of Round- heads and must seek shelter. But why did you come here? she asked. To gather some clothes and money for father ' s friend who must flee to France on the morrow, he answered. Just then they heard the noisy clatter of horses ' hooves in the courtyard below and suddenly the mas- sive entrance door was loudly pounded. Hurry, Rupert — the secret chamber, she said. Together they searched in the dark woodwork which would reveal the chamber to them. At last the black space loomed be- fore them and the boy hurriedly entered while she drew closed the aperture until with a sharp click it was a blank wall again. While this had been taking place, angry voices downstairs had been heard shouting at the bewildered servants, and then as Rose went down the broad staircase she heard the calm voice of her mother answering firmly the ringing questions of the Roundhead lead- er. Rose entered the hall where at least twenty soldiers were gathered, and her heart sank as their cruel, hard faces were turned on her. Her mother said to her: These men have told me that they are pursuing your brother, but I have repeatedly told them that he is not here. Nevertheless madam, we must search the house, the commander said brusquely. The soldiers looked in every room and in every nook, pressing panels in the hopes of discov- ering a secret hiding place. At last they ar- rived at the room which belonged to Rose, who held her breath when they began to push the dark rich woodwork . . . She near- ly fainted when at last to the Roundheads ' great satisfaction the hidden door flew open. They searched inside it and came out, not bearing a struggling Rupert, but empty hand- ed. Rose could not believe her eyes until there was a great commotion in the courtyard below and then the sound of a galloping horse. The soldiers peered out into the grow- ing dawn and saw a curly-headed lad wave his cap defiantly in the air at his enemies and speed off, having cut loose the cavalry horses which immediately ran into the forest. You shall rue this very bitterly, vowed the commander to the amazed women, as, scowling fiercely, he and his company troop- ed off in vain pursuit of their horses. When his sister had left him, Rupert had listened intently, for the angry deep voice

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PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION Margaret Gill

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32 SAMARA of the commander was ordering his men to search everywhere in the house. Knowing full well that he would not have a chance of hiding himself under that rigorous search, he opened the panel from the inside and cau- tiously made his way down the hall to his own bedroom . . . There he gathered to- gether some money and clothes, keeping his ears trained on his pursuers ' footsteps. They were steadily approaching — what could he do? Suddenly he remembered that his fire- place was a large one, and that as a little boy he had found steps in it that led onto the roof. He realized that from there it would be a simple matter to reach the courtyard. He clambered up and up until he reached the roof. From there he scrambled down the ivy, until at last he was in the courtyard frightening the cavalry horses, and soon was on his way with the money and clothes which would win the security of the French court for a friend. So a brave Cavalier girl and boy outwitted their enemies. Their friend afterwards gained the French court safely and soon helped hi s noble rescuers to escape from the Puritan clutches. Grf.tchf.n Weston, Form VC, Nightmgale Time Is Fun It ' s hard for me to write a rhyme Because I have so little time. I rush around and work all day But often have some time to play. I gallop home from school to see A little horse called Dinah Lee; She ' s shiny black with long black tail; I jump on her back and away we sail. Down the road and up the street I hear the clatter of her feet; And then we reach the woodland dell — We canter and trot, and all is well. Bktsy Jane Davis, Lower IVB Age 10 The Eruption of a Mountain It was a humid evening and towards the west was a vague eerie glow. The people in the small Mexican village were worried. As the hours dragged on, the glow became a blue red and the inhabitants of the village could distinguish low flames of fire shooting towards the sky. The heat was fierce and low rumblings could be heard. It seemed as though down in the heart of the earth the sea and lava were wrestling. The long dreary night continued. The rumblings grew louder and boiling lava shot high in the air and rained upon the deserted village. The sea which had been oily calm before had become a churning mass of waves. The people, sure they couldn ' t stay any longer, had left as quickly as possible after making certain they had everything they could take with them. Still the volcano roared. The thunder boomed again and again, and the village was covered with volcanic ash. Lava streamed down the fields, into the village and on over the flat lands. Again and again the boiling oils poured over the fields until they were wrecked be- yond repair. At last the flames died down and in their stead came sparks and a purplish glowing smoke. The long dreary night ended and a bright sun came up. The sea calmed itself at last and the little village was buried under the ashy ruins. Sheila McCormick, IVB Age 12 Bonnie Prince Charles A little prince has just been born, On a very cold November morn. And when his mother came inside She took one look at him and cried, Now put him right into the bed. So he can rest his little head. Vicky Brain, Form III. Age