London South Collegiate Institute - Oracle Yearbook (London, Ontario Canada)

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li Mickey - - H Strange Pet AST spring a nature-loving student brought to the Normal School a young red-tailed hawk which he had found alone in its nest. He thought that it would be interesting to raise the lonely bird at his home. But as this proved to be a more difficult problem than he had anticipated, he decided to present it to the Science Master at the Normal School. Prepara- tions were made at once to care for this shy. keen-eyed youngster that he might be well pro- vided for in his artificial surroundings. Since he was always on the alert. and preferred mice to any other diet, he was christened Mickey Mickey became the centre of interest at the Normal School. A platform was erected beside a basement window, where he could bask in the sun and survey the campus. The most difficult problem was to provide him with mice. Very often he was obliged to satisfy his voracious appetite with pieces of raw beefsteak. It was great fun to watch Mickey jump onto those hunks, hold them with his sharp, curved claws, and tear off morsel after morsel. He soon came to be considered a pet. He recognized his name and accepted petting readily. He liked company and was pleased to have his friends talk to him through the window. It was interesting to watch him as he sat with his head on one side, looking as if he wished to say, Won't you come in .Pu Gradually he developed real feathers which grew and grew until we thought he should be able to Hy. He occasionally made excursions about the basement, but not on wing. To try his pinions he was frequently taken outdoors and tethered by a long leash. For the summer Mickey was taken to Park- hill, to be introduced to a newly formed falconry club. Mr. McKinnon, who was training the hawks, kindly displayed some of the accomplish- ments of his bird, Lad. He would whistle and she would come Hying from a distance to perch on his gauntleted arm. Probably Mickey would be an apt pupil and be able to perform that same stunt, when he had become acquainted with Mr. McKinnon and realized that he was his friend. We felt sure that in September Mickey would be back in London, a keen falcon, who would prove to be a great asset to the city by ridding it of a few perky, prattling starlings. But we were doomed to disappointment. When we went for Mickey, we learned that he had lived only three days. Experts were of the opinion that he had died from rickets and indi- gestion. Mickey evidently needed many more mice and rats and less beefsteak to keep him in good growing condition. Perhaps if he had had some cod liver oil added to his diet, he might have been able to soar to the high trees at which he gazed for so many days through the window. Tl-IE SWAMP i SOUTH C. I. Long shadowed 'vistas through the swamp Are carpeted with mosses softg Gaunt firs are hung with lichens damp And through the green unfurl aloft. The rotting logs are rnossgrown now, And clad in dainty maidenhairg Small rustling breezes past me blow The pungent perfume in the air Of hemlock thickets, where the deer Seek shelter from the heat of day. A crystal brooklet wanders here, Between the trees that slowly sway Until it tumbles down a ledge And drops into a fern-edged poolg Then, babbling through the yellow sedge, Away it winds, so clear and cool. -Robert Calvert, VA. Page Twenty-one

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,l t I , 'ri-5.2! ,,,si , :. f, E23e9:5 . sigiqnq W' Qfwfagpw - X , .. .. :,,.--. .- f L'--17 LW.. .E-H fn-f Q -Ju' r ' f . Maxi :gf-1-.1,. ,V f M gf sl ' . :L:55E1'l 12, El'?1g,,1i' K+ 5 .l-l X -5 , f f . A V' .'i 1 x EW. 3. 3' ' l K T ' 1 t , 1 , 4 i Pi--il fi' P THE HAPPY VOYAG E ' U' 'V' The mists are cloven, Bright gleams the heaven, God-delivered, The winds go free: fleolus has loosened The cord that held them, They sweep around us Murmuringly. f'x , ,Ad-K Y' Q N Ah I um! YW vim 1' ix EM - QI-I Oh Lark, hon' cheery is thy note When Winter long and cold is past, And tardy spring is here at last, Thy song now bursting from thy throat, When first the sun's clear rays diffuse, Thou soarest through the sky so vast, With silvery trebles leaping fast, Which make me yet upon them muse. Hon' happy thou must be to sing Such melody for all to hear, Or dost thou change the sun's bright rays To joyous music sweet and clear? Thou mak'st me Wish that I could Wing So glad and free through all the days. -Robert Calvert, VA. Page Twenty C, 4 - ff Y X11 ' u X f- -.- f , , x i iv ll I -f A so it ik.- , The boatman bends to his task. Be quick! For the waves are parted To left and right, The distance nears, And there's land in sight! Be quick! For already the land is in sight! -From the German by Goethe. Translated by Lloyd Stevenson, V B .f 2, ,,, LARK THE ORACLE

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- 'RQ PoYT X!,,,... E., f A V X , ,. ,A I Q51 ?l?J?N . P? ' S f i x 1 .1 llhlll i V y yy XE ix ll ll! Kiki L l lil 1:1 1 le li! , V A7 Afk- xx figfkyh ml! fd j ml i ff-lg' 1 at gr Yi M A 0 -V-- X ' J , Y Y gr Y Y sxn - -- W '- g - -ig-i ,.i ...., 4- X xg W - -- '- -QM ,+. .-.,, l S ' 1 i Y . ,T ixf -o r ..... lst. -ig. -R, , - ix I xgi l' - f By DORIS SNIDER Illustrated by Dorothy l-luloloell, Bill Archer, and Miriam Winslow A boy with true boyish instincts . . a worried mother . . . a confident father . . . an ambiguous report - here is a comical story for everyone. 'IFOMMY had Completed his iirst day at school and on his return his mother asked the question all mothers have asked for generations: Well, darling, and what did you learn ? Mother, said Tommy hopelessly, 'Tre got to go back to-morrow. That evening Mrs. Brown looked worried as she remarked to Tomrny's father, t'I'm afraid Tommy isn't going to like school and I'rn so anxious that he should get along well. Tommy will do alright. Just give him time to become accustomed to the routinef, His tone was reas- suring. THE ORACLE