George E Westinghouse High School - Sketch Book Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

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April Nights The grass stirs softly in the breeze Like waving ripples on the seas, The birches bend as breezes blow While stately elms sway to and fro, And aspens quiver with delight, It was, I thought, a pleasant sight On this, an early April night. How different in some far-off land Where barren wastes of steppes expand And o'er-cast skies, gray, cold, and bleak, Are met my many a snow-clad peak, It was, I thought, a dreary sight On this, an early April night. Here freemen strive to master truthg Here wise men stifle views uncouth. Resigned are they across the sea, For servant, master, bond, and free All cling to life with dull insight: For all of this is nature's right On this, an early April night. HELEN M. Life ceaseless current, to the sea, feeble spirit on thy tide. stream into eternity, soul upon its ocean wide. In tender years around thy gurgling source I paddled in the trustfulness of youth. But soon into the fullness of thy course I plunged. And lo! I find thy ways uncouth. With carping dogmas and with creeds outworn Vast hordes of prating pilots would enslave Mine own free mind. Their bigotry I scorn. 'Tis truth, not warped tradition that I crave. I'll seek alone. They shall not me suborng Life's truth I'l1 know. But oh, how soon the g Roll on, thou And roll my Roll on lifeis And free my -'Q Y Y- -r - V -'f-'fx-I-ffgy' 1 -rev ,, ...N Y-gz'JanItuai2lus'-1-'IIDZJLI ,... M.. ....,..,..... ,-.gcvw-...., .. -. rave l BIEHL, '3l. ALEXANDER STEVENS. .S'cvr11teen

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old, onward travelled the heart-sick band of peasants, led by Ivan, a dispossessed land owner. Day was the only time for rest, for darkness was their cover. One gloomy night the tired little legs of Luba, youngest child of Ivan, refused to carry her further. Lagging behind, she stumbled and would have fallen had not the low hanging branches of a tree caught her dress. Fearful of being left behind, she called to her mother, but the latter did not hear her cry. Only the gray wolves of the steppe answered her wail with their long-drawn howls. Terror-stricken, shivering and exhausted, she sank to the ground, where merciful sleep shut out her desolate surroundings. Soon would have ended the trials of Luba had not God willed otherwise. Hirshke, her brother, discovered her absence and returned to seek her while the refugees huddled about a scant fire. Nearly falling over his small sister as she lay in the path, I-Iirshke wakened her and together they joined their apprehensive parents. Dawn was sending her first shafts of light into the darkness of night when Ivan and his band resumed their weary march. Past sleeping villages, nestled beneath the cold, silver moon, they trod. At Srerbernick they halted to snatch a bite and secure two hours of rest. After this brief respite, onward they plodded again. Exhausted from want of sleep and exposure, they staggered into the Welcome haven of Yurburg, a border town, only to find each small hut filled beyond capacity by the fleeing peasants. Finally, only the stable of a sympathetic Gentile remained. Creeping through the door, they found it, too, filled to overflowing. Revolting was the stench of human bodies mingled with the filthy odors of the stable. Wave after wave of foul air nauseated the Weary travellers as they struggled for berths among the disturbed, cursing peasants. When quiet again settled over the reeking stable, sleep soothed the soul-sick seekers of peace. The Hrst stars of night dimly lighted the foreboding sky as Ivan staggered forth to secure the services of Leo, who knew so well how to smuggle Russian peasants into Germany without passports. Arriving at Leols hovel, he offered him a portion of his precious hoard for the security of safe conduct into Germany. So had many others given their life's savings into the grasping, clutching talons of this vampire. Trafficker in lives though he was, yet he alone held the keys to freedom and a new life. Leo promised to aid Ivan and within the hour guided the little group toward the border. A suggestive tinkling as of rubles passed from Leo to the sentry on guard. joyful anticipation of freedom surged in the souls of the driven peasants. Then suddenly across the horizon moved the dark shadow of the patrol inspecting the posts. The leader discovered the fleeing peasants and sent volley after volley of shot in pursuit. Frantically Ivan collected his separated brood and returned to the proffered protection of Leols hay loft. Into this dank, miserable hole they climbed to await a more propitious moment. Again stealing forth on the following night under Leo's guidance, they safely passed the newly posted sentry, but not before Ivan had parted with more of his fast diminishing savings. After enduring hardships indescribable, they reached Hamburg, Germany, from which city they embarked for America, there at last to find the long sought peace and freedom. Shaking myself free from these disturbing reminiscences of Russia, I arise and close the window. shutting out the chill wind that aroused them. Then I burrow deeper into the cushions of my couch to dwell upon the pleasant reflec- tion of the opportunities America has given Ivan, my father. PEARL LEVITIN. Si.rIr'f1z f L., - -.., .n-f,,,................ mv,--, ....,..... .

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...bw -..- Eighfeen -f W-.M W. 0. N.----... V ...ww , ,I , . .,a.f-'xv -1 W- , , -.U ,., ,,.t. X- ,.,.... Y - , 1-W.- ,....n,-............,.,..... ..,,. ...fy- The Outlaw Beware! With footsteps soft The outlaw slinks aboutg And ere we know that he has come, He's gone. Cast out By all mankind From realms of life and love, He grimly steals about the world Alone. He left The ways of right To live alone in fear Of God and man And hold them both In hate. ROBERTA HORNER The Voice of the Deep 'Tis a madness I have for the sea dashing high VVhen it thnnders and breaks on the rocks near by. As its spray taints the air with the salt of the sea, And it splashes and gurgles and churtles with glee, I feel a wild urgeg it is calling for me. Gnce I stood on the rocks with the sea pounding near, Looking forward to danger but feeling no fearg Then trembling I poised on the highest jet, Leapt, dove into spaceg I can feel it yet As the sea and the spray and my human self met. There Heaven I'll find, I cried as I dove, ' For the sea and the spray were my First true love. So I sank with the waves to a bed of rocks Where the warmth of life the cold sea mocks, And the mermaids dance in seaweed frocks. In a new dawn I awoke on a golden strand VVhere the waves and the clouds walked hand in hand And Aurora rode high through the spray and the mist 'Till with one graceful dart my hand she kissedl I knew then, with God I had kept my tryst. LOLA E. SICKLES Y - wsa.-,,,.,,,..... V , ,..,....,,,s.:.,-,-,.,,,,,,,. N-,.v-,..:,..-,..s. , A1 2--1-'L V, WEA-,f --...-.,........f- T ,L ,i',,V,,m-'wi -Y,,,, W -S-: Y I-..:,,,-,A.m'v,,,-L rt :E i- - -- .asf - --,,.---,,, -V -...fs-...i,..1!,YAK f,