Elmwood School - Samara Yearbook (Ottawa, Ontario Canada)

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26 SAMARA Senior lten aA4f Sectian The Bat It was mid-night. Restlessly I lay awake in my little bed, looking up into space, into darkness, waiting for sleep to come. Outside the cool night breezes of summer were beginning to softly murmur— to whistle their way through the swaying pines. Then it happened! At first, it was a mere scratching on tentest. Probably a mouse , I said, pulling the covers up a little farther. Then the scratching grew louder, closer. There was one tiny squeak, and suddenly the air became alive with the swishing, swirling sound of the bat hysterically plunging through the inky-black room. With the realization it was trapped, the bat began to tack . Back and forth it zinged ; one minute here— thud, the next minute there— plop. Would it hit me? I shuddered at such a night-marish thought. For ten minutes, with the length of five long hours, I listened, my heart throbbing harder with each hit ; suddenly I recalled that bats went to the light. Cautiously I reached out and opened the door; a light was burning in the hall. With a hissing sound it burst forth— to what it joyously thought freedom. I slammed the door; now for sleep. Sandra Billings, 6 Upper The Date Forgotten She fell back terrified as she opened the door. The black-bearded pirate who stood before her would be enough to frighten any- one. His dress was not extraordinary for a pirate. Beginning at his huge black boots with thick cuffs her eye moved upwards and over the dirt-stained dungarees held up by a jewelled belt. It travelled on to the blue silk shirt and then to the red scarf which gave him a dashing air. Above this she noticed in his left ear a golden earring. His eyes were like black beads set deeply in his handsome face. His head was covered with a three-cornered hat that held a trailing plume. With his hands on his hips he said to the frightened woman, I ' ve come to take you away with me, for Barbara Kennedy, 5 A ' tis Hallowe ' en . Portrait of a Grandfather It was three years ago when I saw what I would call one of the most beautiful paintings ever done of an old man. It is not that I have seen so many paintings of old men that I say this, but because there, in a picture, lay the whole character of a fine old gentleman. The painting was a large and massive one bordered by a delicately carved and painted gold-leaf frame. It hung proudly on a pale cream wall and overlooked the first landing on the staircase which was covered with a soft but deep red carpet. He was a distinguished old soul and there was absolutely no doubt about it. There he sat in a leather-backed chair surrounded by mahogany and with a contented look of peace and happiness on his face. He had settled com- fortably in his chair with a pipe in one hand and a half closed book in the other. He had a high forehead with a receding hair line and his hair was as white as snow. There was some- thing that told me he must have been a wise old gentleman and full of charm. Whether it was the cheerful wrinkles cornering each eye, or the deep dimples and shadows in his face or maybe even the one deep dimple in his chin— I don ' t know, but there was such a definite look of wisdom there, that one couldn ' t mistake it. Even a small child could see the charm stemming from the twinkle in his big wide eyes. In fact, I should say every- thing about him was charming. He was wear- ing an English tweed suit and a brown buckskin waistcoat. A gold watch chain could just be seen leading from one pocket to another. Perhaps the painter ' s wonderful and expert choice of colour was what made that painting

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SAMARA 25 watch the girls working. Right now Marilyn and Sandy are doing a Geography lesson. They are studying about lake villages. Angelica and Caroline are working very hard at Arithmetic and are not even looking up. Anne Leonard, Elizabeth and Lindsay are making cut-out Noah ' s Arks— they have paper animals all over their desks. Morna, who is Form Captain, is being a very good example to the others by working very quietly back there by the window. A new member of the form is Marta Plate from Argentina. Miss Schurman, as usual, is making things nice for everybody. Toni and I wish we could be in Forms 2 and 3 also. We are very fond of school and would like to come every day. Transition and Form 1 ' Way down in the primary room is the land of Peter Pan and Cinderella, and here we find twelve little ladies with Mrs. McAuley, Miss Perry, and Mrs. Ketcheson. These are very energetic little people; after all the lessons are done, they turn into story book folk. There is Cinderella, who has lost her front teeth (Antonia, really) and the Fairy God- mother, who takes piano lessons (Debbie); the two mean stepsisters, who really are sweet (Cynthia and Katherine) and the cruel step- mother, who wears a bright orange wig (Roxy). Of course, we mustn ' t forget Prince Charming (Judy) and all his family. The King (Linda) has a beautiful fur cape and two trusty dukes (Margot and Lynn) to do his bidding. The Queen (Jane) wants to get the Prince married and the Princess (Susie) sug- gests that they have a ball. Who would guess that these courtly figures, who dance so beautifully, and the dainty tap-dancer (Alex) are really lively little girls who work hard at Number Work, Reading and Writing? lifuuaad Old Qin l in the Alew.4, (A clipping from The Gazette , March 22, 1955) 17-Year-Old Explores Nation River in West Unruffled by First : Janet Chapman, 17-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cyril Chapman (he left the Seigniory Club two months ago after 20 years as manager of the Log Chateau to take up the post of manager of the Empress Hotel, Victoria), may have been one of the first white women to ascend the Nation River in Northern British Columbia. Janet, who accompanied her parents to the Pacific Coast, is tall, good-looking, writes exquisite poetry, sings, loves music and headed her classes at school. Now she rates as something of an explorer. Janet ' s experience in ascending the Nation River came last summer. When she graduated from Elmwood School for Girls in Ottawa, she was determined to go west. With the help of Mrs. George Murray, who owns and is editor of Fort St. John ' s Alaska Highway News (she heard of her through a mutual friend), she got a job on the newspaper. But it was only 10 days later that she had the chance to join a geological expedition up the Peace River. She was one of three women on the trip. The party travelled up the Peace to the Parsnip and then up the Nation River until they reached impassable falls. Now she is in Victoria with her family and taking a business course in preparation for college where she plans to study journalism.

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SAMARA 27 what it was. He used soft oils and painted in such a way that everything blended or stayed in definite lines to bring out the main characteristics. He had deep blue eyes and soft pink cheeks. The gold chain almost glistened as though it were real when the sun streamed through the nearby window and shone on the painting in all its glory. The background was painted as a dream or fairy tale. It was almost as though he were sitting in front of another painting in which the trees blended hazily with the pale sky and the old English cottages with thatched roofs were half melted into the earth. Although I have not seen it for three years, the vivid picture still lies firmly in my mind. I have never forgotten it. Caroline Grant, 6 Matric Bravery Into the flame of battle they went, Those horses, one hundred and three— Into the flame of hot desire Their allies no more to see. Oh, to be back in the stable so calm, Back to the homeland so free. Back with Topsy and Ginger and Jack, Back to the land by the sea. But they must go on For their jobs had been given, And they must not flinch For on they were driven. Never more would the stable Their happy neigh hear; Never more with the hounds Would they hunt down a deer. Back they have gone From whence they had come; The last dash is over The last sprint ' s been run. But their ghosts shall live on. Those brave hundred and three, For they have gone back To the land by the sea. Sarah Jennings, 5C Crossword Puzzle (By Franny Drury) Across Down 1. Part of the hand 2. Article 3. Sudden sharp pull 4. Prefix for again 5. Preposition meaning a 5. Suitable, having a place tendency to 8. Players of Scottish musi- 6. Beverage cal instrument 7. Mark up, soil 11. Everything 8. Flat stretches of land 13. Baby ' s thanks 9. What banks are for 14. Fear or wonder 10. Conducted 16. To wander 12. Affection 18. Ardent, keen 15. Fermented drink 19. Compete with 17. Personal pronoun 20. Wrong-doing by Bible 18. . . . white ... a sheet 21. Low marshy land, in 21. Fourth note in scale England 22. See 22 across 22. Part of verb to be 23. Circulate 24. Final profit 25. Can be bad for the eyes 26. Thin cord 27. See 17 down 28. Prefix meaning out of 29. An alternative 30. To rip 31. Section of hospital Looking for Something Where is the spring? Where has it gone— The birds, the flowers, the breezes calm, The sunshine beating warmly down. The dandelion with its golden crown. The blossoms, buds that should be here. Why don ' t they now begin to appear? But we have wind, and snow and sleet Which turn to slush beneath our feet; The groundhog from his hole can ' t get. Its iced-up entrance is solid yet. But let ' s be patient while we freeze And pull our tunics beneath our knees. Rona Brodie, 5C