Midland Secondary School - Yearbook (Midland, Ontario Canada)

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M. H. S. REVIEW Page Thirty-One Such in different aspects is the Mirage of nature. As the Mirage fades in the sky, so vanishes terrestrial glory, realizing the words of 2, poet :- Where is the world in which a man was born 'T Alas! where is the world of eight years past 'Y 'Twas there-I look for it--'tis goneg a globe of glass, Cracked, shivered, vanished, scarcely gazed upon Ere a silent change dissolves the glittering mass. From the Mirage of the desert may be illustrated the Mirage of life. Journeying like a pilgrim across the wilderness of this world, man thirsts for happiness. One man is deceived by the Mirage of Pleasure, another by the Mirage of Ambition, a third by the Mirage of Wealth. Each ap- pears promising in the distance but prove, when approached, deceptive as the Mirage of the desert. RUTH SYLVESTFR. Summer at 3901112 fgfter .Svunsztl The solemn group of clouds Move slowly across the sky, Night enshrouds the valley Like a veil, drawn over all. The loitering wind brings with it The sound of lowing cattle From the far-off pasture fields. The birds have ceased their singing, And have gone to rest, in their bowcry nest, While every sound is hushed away, At the closing of a Summer Day. -Agatha Carpenter.

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Page Thirty M. H. S. REVIEW The following narrative, by Ruth E. Sylvester, was awarded Hrst prize in the story contest.-lEditor's Note.j . The Mirage Let the reader imagine that, after travelling for hours across a track- less waste of burning sand in the arid deserts of the East, he has, when tormented by thirst, made the discr lery that his supply of water has failed. The last muddy drops are eagerly drained, the eyes, the mouth, and the ears are gradually filled with the fine sand of the desert until it is felt that a cup of cold water from a spring would be cheaply purchas- ed by its weight in gold. At this moment when such is the traveller's tortured state of mind and body, he suddenly sees an object which, to his surprise, he has not noticed before. In the distance is seen a large lake, its banks are fringed with verdant palms, its surface is broken here and there by islets of refreshing green, while its water seems ten times more inviting when contrasted with the burning solitudes around. Re- animated by the prospect, he presses on, eager to quench his thirst. As he advances, a strange spectacle is witnessed. The lake recedes as he approaches it. Again and again he advances, but again and again it re- tires, until exhausted by fatigue, and tortured by thirst, he sinks in des- pair on the sand, realizing that all is deception and that he has been chasing the Mirage of the desert. This unusual appearance is an optical illusion produced by the re- iiection of objects on the oblique rays of the sun refracted by the air which is rarified in the desert by the intense heat of the soil. A remarkable instance of this curious phenomenon occurred during the passage of the French army across the desert at the time of Napol- eon's expedition to Egypt. When morning dawned, says the historian who describes the scene, the army was found crossing boundless plains of sand without water or shade, and with a burning sun over their heads. All the wells on the roads were either filled up or exhausted. Hardly a few drops of muddy water were to he found to quench their thirst. In the midst of the general depression, a sudden gleam of hope illuminated the faces of the soldiers. A lake appeared in the wilderness with villages and tress clearly reflected on its glassy surface. Immedi- ately the parched troops hurried toward the enchanted spot, but it receded from their steps. Again they pressed on with burning impatience, but it ded for ever from their approach. At length overpowered by excite- ment they discovered that they had been deceived by the Mirage of the desert. In particular climates, at certain seasons of the year, there are seen in the ocean and the sky, representations or Mirages of cities, groves, mountains, bridges and ruined castles of utmost magnificence but of most evanescent duration. Like some splendid phantasmagoria they fill the spectator with astonishment and delight, then vanish into the air, oras- sume with great rapidity new combinations ever more beautiful than be- fore, Some English voyagers in the Arctic regions were so enraptured with these wonderful visions that they named the place Where they were seen the enchanted coast.

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Page Thirty-Two M. H. S. REVIEW This story, by Marcel Bellehumeur, was awarded second prize in the contest.-lEditor's Note.j A QBppnrtunitp knocks Eur QBnce Bert Newton awoke with a start for a moment. The silence of the North Woods reigned supreme. The mellow moon-light filtered through the trees and into the windows of the little cabin in the wilds and shone upon two sturdy, healthy-looking boys, lying in a bunk. One was sleeping peacefully, if not silentlyg the other Sat erect in the bed, in a tense attitude which showed that he was straining his ears for a repetition of some unusual sound which had awakened him. These boys were brothers, sons of a wealthy ferry-boat owner of one of the lit- tle villages of Muskoka Lakes district. The busy summer season was over and the boys were spending the week-end at their father's hunting camp about five miles down the river from the village. Jack, who was was sleeping, was about fourteen years old, while Bert was four years his senior. Suddenly Bert heard a banging at the door. He immediately awakened ,his brother, who sleepily groaned, What's the matter ? Leave mei- Hello there, Bert. Let me in I interrupted a voice from the door. Oh I What a relief. It's only Mark, thankfully sighed Bert, as he leaped to his feet and made his way to the door, which he opened. Before him stood another of his brothers, a tanned, husky young man of about twenty summers, tall and well proportioned. Come on for a canoe ride, Bert, he said. The deer season open- ed about ten minutes ago. I brought a rifle and the spotlight and I think that we can get a nice buck to-night. Dad didn't need me for to-morrow and told me to come down and see how you kids were getting along. I'm willing and I guess Jack is too. Come on in, this October weather is cold. You must be nearly frozen after your long paddle down here. You mean November weather. November started about ten min- utes ago. That's why the deer season has opened. Hurry up and get ready. I A very short time later they were gliding down the moonlit river. Mark paddled in the stern, Bert in the centre, while Jack sat in the bow with the spotlight, which he shone into the dense bush on both sides of the river. The rifle was loaded and within easy reach. All the passen- gers of the canoe closely watched for any sign of game. ' Meanwhile, Jack was entertaining bitter thoughts. Being the youngest of the family, his brothers called him the baby of the family. He was of a nervous temperament and his brothers often teased him say- ing that he was yellow. I'd like to get a chance, he thought. I'd soon show them that I was just as courageous as they are. These thoughts were suddenly swept from his mind by what he saw. He gave the signal to stop the canoe and reached for his gun. All eyes followed the shaft of light to its end, where they saw a magnificent doe and her two fawns, staring at the light as though hypnotized. Jack pass- ed the light back to Bert who kept it focused on the deer. Slowly Jack took aim. Just as he was about to fire, he heard Mark slap his paddle