Lisgar Collegiate Institute - Vox Lycei Yearbook (Ottawa, Ontario Canada)

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430 VOX LYCEI studies. The three cooks descended the stairs to get a little fresh air. As soon as he was free from observation, he darted up the staircase into the first study. It was his intention to visit all three. But he had no sooner entered Price's room, than he heard footsteps ascending the stairs. There was not a moment to lose. He poured a quantity of his mixture into a pot on the fire, and without even glancing at its contents turned to tlee hiding the bottle under his coat, as he ran. On the threshold he ran into Firth and thought he was caught red- handed. Looking for me. old chap? asked Firth calmly before Carson could make up an excuse. I was expecting a visit from you. XYhy didn't you accept the invitation before? XYl1y , stammered Carson, I wasn't sent an invitationu. Didnt we? How awfully stupid! XYell, you're coming now .... not a word. You must come. Terry. we made such an absurd mistake. Firth would take no denial, so at eight o'clock, Carson, the most miserable boy in creation put in an appearance with fifteen other jubilant companions at the studies. A more magnificent spread was never provided anywhere. There were chickens, ham jellies, beans, pickles-and what notl The other boys fell to recklessly, but Carson not knowing the contents of the pot into which he had poured his compound, refused all boiled food, pleading a bilious attack, but gorged himself with ham, pickles and cheese. All through the feast, the fear of discovery was hanging over his head like the great sword of Damocles. Suddenly a terrible thought presented itself. XVhat if the ingredients, harmless in themselves, were to form when combined a deadly poison and make him a wholesale murderer! To his intense and unutterable relief, the supper passed off without anybody dropping from his seat as he had expected. As the supper was about to break up, Parson said: Boys, I've discovered something new. It was trying our chemistry ex- periment with ammonia. After I boiled it, it had a much different odour from which it had ever had. I'm going to be famous. l'll be known as bl. L. Parson, the man who-hm-hm-discovered ..... Here a pillow thrown in his face by Price cut him short. The ,boys departed. As Carson was about to leave, Price said to him. Awfully sorry about the invitation, old man. How did you enjoy yourself? I enjoyed myself immensely , stammered Carson, which we may add, was a slight perversion of the truth. - D. XY. Petergorsky-sIllD. KWH ,y.., 9 Tt'l THEM x l' v f iv 4 Ox W v--..-' e pea ' WA S T N I t I I fa, I - ,ga wg X A F i fffjfx Q' I ---.' Q ,- '-' C 'X ' 'X ' Joy xg -4., f1X ' M . - ' ,gg ' ' ,. x B, '- T. ' - ' fry J 'lm' I I. ,, , .f HH A X K. Y ,... ,,. W 1 N-

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VOX LYCEI 59 That's a good one , laughed Carson. I bet you thought that it was somthing good to eat. lt means 'Reply si vous play'. That day ,the study supper was the talk of the school. Going to the supper, Carson? he would be asked time and time again. No, I don't think so , was usually Carson's reply uttered in lordly manner. XVhy, you've been asked, haven't you? would naturally be the next ques- tion, the boys not understanding how anybody could refuse such an attractive invitation. Then Carson would have to make the humiliating confession that he had not even been asked. When boys on far less intimate terms with the givers of the supper expressed their intention of having 'a jolly good time', Carson's blood rose to the boiling point. 'Revenge is sweet'-and he determined that the trio of hosts should feel the full weight of his anger. lt is easier to determine than to do. But at last, he devised a plan by means of which not only enter- tainers but also entertained would suffer. His first act was to procure a large medicine bottle. Concealing this under his coat, he stealthily made his way to the inhrmary immediately after dinner when he knew Mrs. Simmers would be dining. Mrs. Simmers was the 'needle woman' of the school but also acted as 'medicine man'. She kept her doses and cures in a cabinet in the infirmary. The door creaked noisily as Carson entered the room. From the cabinet he took out several bottles, the contents of which he knew had an exceedingly vile taste. He poured a little from each into the bottle which he carried. XYhile doing this he was musing. XVhat should he say if he were caught extracting some of the contents of the cupboard? The sweet tooth with which most boys are blessed might prove suflicient excuse for purloining jam, but who would think that any boy would steal medicine for the mere pleasure of taking it? XYhen he had finished obtaining the desired mix- ture, he retraced his steps just in time to avoid Mrs. Simmers. So far so good-or so bad. Carson felt very uncomfortable and very guilty and almost decided to give up his plan . But as he was walking through the schoolroom on the way to his desk, he encountered Firth, formerly his great- est companion. XVith a refinement of cruelty, as Carson thought, Firth greeted him as if nothing had happened to mar their friendship. Carson's temper once more arose. He thirsted more than ever for revenge, and a minute later behind his desk, he gloated over the smell, as he thought of the punishment in store for the hosts and their guests. Carson spent most of his time that evening shaking the bottle and found to his satisfaction and intense delight that the compound became nastier and nastier, as the ingredients were mixed together. Next morning when he came downstairs, his first act was to apply the cork to his tongue. The taste almost made him ill. He flattered himself that no more odious mixture had ever been brewed. The opportunity for the completion of his design came after school in the afternoon. So great was the interest in the supper that every detail of the preparations leaked out. At last, Carson received the welcome news that Firth and his colleagues were cooking the provisions in the studies. Carson took up his station at the foot of the study staircase. with the medicine bottle next to his beating heart, and awaited developments. Up above, he could hear the preparations for the feast busily going on. Every burst of laughter, every rattle of the tin saucepans made him clutch the bottle more tightly and swear revenge more deeply, Finally, it was evident that the chickens, beans and other dainties were safely deposited on the fires in the

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VOX LYCEI Regret I would have kept you far from fears or troubles, I would have loved you more than anyone, I would have shielded you from many sorrows- But you are gone! I would have helped you, till, with new hope springing, You would have conquered all, not left undone These little things that make this life worth living- But you are gone! I would have borne for you your cares and trials, I would have made this life seem but the dawn Of such a brighter one you could not help rejoicing- But you are gone! I would have made you happy and so doing I, too, had been 3-not now so pale and wan. I watch the dreary days go by, unending- For you are gone! SYDNEY HARRIS-IIID The Waterfall The Mighty river roars its destined way It swells and rolls oler the rocky bedg And then, again, it dances bright and gay 0'er rapids or cascades-instead. At length it tumbles o'er a waterfall With so great roar that it would seem Like to a million horses wild, untamed Released in the tempestuous stream. But ah! beside thy power is beauty found- The pretty rainbow in thy spray Doth vie, perhaps surpass the warmest tints That learned artists can display. The Hery sun reclines in the distant west, The falls no longer glitter bright- And in that fleeting pause 'tween day and night In Nature's beauty they are dress'd.' The falls reflect still richer colours now, The colour deepens orange to red- And darker grows, as sinks behind a cloud, The setting sung then lo! 'tis night. All through the night the ghostly falls keep guard With their incessant boom and roar- And with the dawn they sparkle in new lifeg The world awakes-'tis day once more. J. s. KETTLES-HID.