Girls High School - Journal Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

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The Journal THE LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN GATE Far beyond the azure dome of the earth, lies a beautiful City with Gates of Gold. It is called the City of Contentment. Just outside the Golden Gate is a garden with fragrant flowers and sparkling fountains. It is the Garden of Love. Here the Baby Angels play all the day, laughing and singing, for they have no sorrow to cast a shadow on their happiness. But every evening, when the Light of Earth fades, the Angels must pass into the City; for only within the City of Contentment is there Eternal Light. And as the sun disappears beneath the Waters of the Western Sea, the Gates close; and only those within the City can see them. One day, the littlest Angel, called Star Flower, wandered too far from the Golden Gate and was left outside. He wandered through the Garden calling to the Keeper of the Gates, Let me in, for I am weary, and I know not where to go.” But the Keeper of the Gates heard him not, and presently the Gates disappeared. Little Star Flower was left alone. All through the night Star Flower wandered, until, in the darkness, he left the Garden of Love, not knowing that he had done so. When the first streaks of dawn appeared in the Eastern Sky, Star Flower waited eagerly for the Gates to open, but alas, the Golden Gates did not appear! Little Star Flower knew that he was lost. Star Flower’s heart was very heavy as he wandered on and on, seeking the Gates of Gold. Presently he came to a little bird. Oh, Blue Bird,” cried Star Flower, have you seen two gates of shining gold? I am Star Flower, and I am lost. I cannot find my way to the City of Contentment.” Oh, Star Flower,” sang the Blue Bird, I have my nest between two tall sun flowers. They are golden when the sun shines upon them. Perhaps they are the gates that you seek.” No, little bird,” said Star Flower sadly, they are not my gates. My gates are tall and shining, and sparkling diamonds are scattered here and there. A beautiful blue arch is over them, and garlands of flowers are twined around the sides.” So little Star Flower wandered on and on, and soon he came to a gray squirrel with a long bushy tail. Oh, Gray Squirrel,” said Star Flower, have you seen two gates of shining gold?” Oh, Angel,” chattered Gray Squirrel, I have my home in a tall tree between two branches of golden brown. Perhaps they are the gates which you seek.” Star Flower sadly shook his head. No, they are not my gates. I must go on.” [ twenty-eight ]

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The Journal FLOWER MAN Little girl had crooked teeth, so she had to wear hands, ugly bands, which stretched her small mouth all out of shape and made her lisp when she recited at school. On Fridays she went with her mother to the dentist, who hurt her and afterwards patted her on the shoulder and said all in one breath, The-teeth-are-coming-along- fine-see-you-next-week.” Yet in spite of the dreaded visits to the dentist and the dreary rides in the street car. Little Girl was happy when Friday came ... all because of Old Man. She used to walk down the street from the dentist’s building to the big market where her mother ordered things to eat. She would see Old Man outside and the flower stand with all the bright flowers. Old Man wore a black felt hat, which was too large for his head, a red spotted shawl, and a poorly fitted gray suit; and only a worn pair of fisherman’s boots kept the cold from his feet. Little Girl never noticed Old Man’s clothes. She remembered only how kind his black eyes were and the gentle way his wrinkled face lighted up when she smiled at him. She knew Old Man loved her. They had been friends for a long time. Maybe it was twenty Fridays ago that Little Girl had cried, standing near the Flower Man, because her awful bands hurt her. Old Man called her to him, took her small, thin hand in his old withered one, and gave her a bouquet of faded, red roses. Ever since that day, a large part of Little Girl’s heart belonged to Old Man. Each night after her prayers, Little Girl said, God bless Old Man.” She often dreamed of him, heard him talking to her, saying her teeth would be straight and even soon. She kept all the roses in a yellow paper box with her most cherished possessions and put them in her own dresser drawer. But today there was no Old Man. The flower stand was changed, and a tall man with a cross face was in his place. Little Girl was bewildered for a moment. She asked where Old Man was. Oh, he died.” Little Girl choked her sobs back. That night Little Girl couldn’t eat her supper. She went to her room and took out the yellow paper box and gently fingered the crumpled red roses and cried, Oh, God bless Old Man.” Jeanette Gormley, December ’28. [ twenty-seven ]

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The Journal So Star Flower wandered on and on until he came to a singing brook. Oh, Singing Brook, can you show me the way to the Gates of Gold?” Oh, Angel,” rippled the Singing Brook, each day I pass between two banks covered with shining buttercups. They are very beautiful, and they look like gold. Are they the gates which you seek?” No,” said Star Flower sorrowfully, they are not my gates. I must search on farther.” So little Star Flower wandered on and on, ever searching, longing for the Gates of Gold which led to the City of Contentment. For many days Star Flower wandered, asking the Rainbow and the Ocean Waves if they could lead him to the Gates of Gold. One day as Star Flower stood on a hillside gazing wistfully at the blue sky, he heard a voice say, Star Flower, weary wanderer, seeker of the Gates of Gold, search no farther. Those who leave the City of Contentment can never return. But because you left, not of your own desire, but because you lingered too long in the Garden of Love, and because you have searched so faithfully for your home, you shall be rewarded. Stay here and watch.” So Star Flower lingered on the hillside, sorrowful because he could never again behold the home he loved so well, but happy because his Master had seen his faith- fulness and was pleased. All day long Star Flower stayed on the hillside, watching and waiting; and, just as the sun was sinking in the West, he saw a wondrous sight. He saw a beautiful bay of clear, shining water; on either side was a tall, rocky cliff. Beautiful flowers were growing upon the cliffs, and the setting sun sent myriads of light rays flashing across the waters. The ripples on the water sparkled like dia- monds, and the cliffs and the waters were as of gold. The sky above was of a hazy blue,' and fleecy clouds were floating here and there. Star Flower gazed in wonder at the beautiful sight; and then as the true mean- ing became clear to him he cried in rapture, Golden Gate! My Golden Gate! At last I have found you. Never again will I leave this hillside for it is to me a garden of love.” As Star Flower spoke, he felt a wave of happiness sweep over him; and looking down into the Mirror of Waters, he saw that he had taken the form of the little flower whose name he bore. So the Golden Gate received its name which it bears to this day. And if you will search among the flowers on the hillside, you will find a little blue flower that was once an angel who had wandered too far from the Golden Gates leading to the City of Contentment, and had found, at last, a resting place. Elizabeth Darling Best, June ’28 [ twenty-nine ]