Humberside Collegiate Institute - Hermes Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

Page 115 text:

CI -,, J f THE uefawift XXIL Azwkemzzg The day of the fair at Minety had been as perfect as a ilower that bursts into bud, slowly unfolds its chalice to the sun for a few hours, fades and dies. From sunrise to sunset a happy-go-lucky, motley crowd of farmers, mingled with gypsies in their garishly coloured dress, had swept by the stalls and the tents, laughing, smiling, everyone with a song in his heart. VVhen the sun had slipped behind the tree-tops and darkness was de- scending, the merriment swelled to even greater heights of joy. In one corner of the common, the young people whirled around and around in breathless delight to the music of a violin which they had induced a slender gypsy lad to play. Scarcely could they resist dancing to the alluring music drawn from the quiver- ing strings by Kazan's skillful hand. Nobody played like Kazan. VVhen he made his violin sing, it seemed as though his very soul was speaking. Tonight, however, he had forgotten himself completely and had mounted a little hillock whence, happy in their happiness, he played gay, sprightly airs for the young folk. Now and again, the more sedate martial music sounded across to him from the opposite corner where the older people were holding their dance. The effect was charming. First the butteriiy air that Kazan played soared high and clear into the atmosphere, now a strain of an old-fashioned waltz rose on the breeze, then both would be lost in a weird but delightful har- mony, softly and faintly intermingling. A night breeze snatched the last breath of music away. Reluctantly, the girls and boys prepared to leave. Two by two they slipped away, until only a few farmers remained, collect- ing their wares. VVhen they had rumbled off in their wobbly carts and the noise of their going had faded away in the distance, a peaceful silence closed about the common. All sound had He-d, leaving a restful calm, dis- turbed only at intervals by the sound of a bird or animal abroad at night in the woods. The clock in the church tower struck four. A sleepy bird, awakened by the sound, flew up out of the turret with a frightened twitter. Below him, a small, lithe figure with ellish face paused for a moment and looked furtively about her. Nobody-noth- ing in sight. She squeezed out of her hiding-place formed by a niche in the wall of the church, sped across the moonlit square, and then retreated with increasing swiftness down the dark country road, red skirt and raven hair floating on the breeze. For ten minutes, Shuri ran as swiftly as a deer and as straight as an arrow, never slackening her pace a moment, past an ancient milestone almost buried in hedges, past fields smelling deliciously of sweet clover and trees rustling softly. Now she was approaching a wooden gate. Two rapid steps up its bars, a quick twist of her left leg, and she dropped lightly down on to the soft dirt. Once over, Shuri looked about with her dark face screwed up in perplexityf Suddenly her roving eye lighted upon the desired object far across a field of yellow Howers.

Page 114 text:

No more glowing challenge could have been hurled at a collegiate maga- zine than that which was given ours by the editors and contributors of last yearls Hermes -the best High School Publication in Ontario for 1929. With the acceptance of this challenge, the aim has been not only to maintain but also to surpass the -standards of excellence set for us. In selecting the material which should be printed we have based our decisions especially upon the style of the work and its interest to the reader. This year, third form co-operation has been better than ever, the variety of interesting subjects with which its members dealt was scarcely surpas-sed by the senior forms. The increased number of writers in the whole section has been gratifying for it makes our magazine more truly representative of the school. To those whose contribu- tions appear on the pages of this section, as well as to those whose efforts did not make the grade this time, and to those teachers who, in word and in action, encouraged their pupils to write for the magazine, you owe the pleasure and the profit which we hope will be yours as you read. May next year's Literary Depart- ment receive the same enthusiastic co-operation, and may its editors find the same enjoyment in their work! -lllarga-ref Hand, I7-A. Ra, God of Harvest Far up in the clouds, Ra, the sun-god stands. He watches o'er his people And smiles upon their lands. Far below, A the priestess, In glittering array, Chants the songs of harvest In honour of god Ra. lncense perfumes the air, The chant is low and sweet, The zealous worshippers Toss blossoms at her feet. Blue is the sky above VVhere Ra, god of the sun, Watches o'er his people, For harvest has begun. -Zlfay Fryer, IV-fl.

Page 116 text:

3 TH E H gram tif l R W - A g g g c - WEB! 22.1 D .0 qw' V sign W 'Eg Q! A zfff' . J 5' , f -' ff g 7 ,f 1 1- J V ' I. f A A , ,- f ff J Y gi O 1. A: : A q I ,f PA !Qyl .4 5' I l 1 IF' , e 1 A-Jfl L 1 ' I 'Q I I I fflf N V, l A lil A i-'11-i f ' 'W' fe Q df I' Q i v og' i I x A few minutes later, she stood eat ravenously, the biggest and juiciest beneath the spreading branches of an ancient apple tree, gazing up in antici- pation at the globes of shiny red fruit. She seemed to be revelling in the very sight of the apples which to her were symbols of the greatest luxury. A whole tree to herself! A hooting owl from the thicket across the lane which marked the boundary of the farm, broke the spell and warned her to hurry. Putting one dainty foot into the crotch of the tree, she swung her slim young body on to the first branch, paused lightly, then scrambled to a higher bough where, after perching herself comfort- ably with the trunk as a 'back-rest, Shuri, sighing ecstatically, began to apples. Une apple followed another, each more slowly than the last. Her hunger somewhat appeased, Shuri stood up to gather more. It was foolish not to get as much as she could while she had the chance. She reached up a brown hand into the leaves above her, broke off an apple and let it drop as gently as she could to the green grass below. Another was about to follow, when she lifted her head and listened intently. Borne on the fragrant summer breeze, the faint far-away strains of a violin lloated to her ears. As she hearlcened, Shuri realized that the sound was coming nearer, growing louder, for gradually she could make out some 27