Mondovi High School - Mirror Yearbook (Mondovi, WI)

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10 THE HIGH SCHOOL MIRROR Sancho, the G ant Killer. Once upon a time there lived in a castle, on an island far out in the ocean, a cruel giant named Tors. He was very large and had the power of transforming people into animals, and even of changing himself, by his magic, into anything he wished. On one s'de of this very large island, there lived a very kind youth named Sancho. lie was a good athlete, he ng strong and subtle. One day while Sancho was watching the ocean from a high cliff, he noticed a large castle far below him. Having never heard of this castle before, Sancho decided to go down to it. Accordingly he started down the cliff's side. As I have said before. Sancho was a good athlete, and although the cliff was steep and the castle a long way off, he rapidly neared it. Soon he came to a long bridge which connected the castle with the highway. Sancho walked across this bridge and was soon at the gate of the castle. All was still, and Sancho seeing a key in the gate, turned the monstrous lock. After going inside and locking the gate, lie placed the key under a large stone. He then walked up a large stairway. Just as he gained the top of the stairs he heard a scream, w hich seemed to come from the wall, but upon looking that way he saw' another key in the lock of a large iron door. I pon turning the key the door swung open and Sancho saw a beautiful maiden bound by thongs to the wall. As Sancho had no knife it wras some time before he released her, but as soon as he did, she cried, “Oh, noble youth, flee for your life. A cruel giant lives here and there are many other prisoners in the dungeons.” “Lead the way to the dungeon,” said Sancho. “I w ill either free them or perish in the attempt.” The girl led the way to the dungeon very quietly, and unlocking the door. Sancho said softly to the prisoners. Be quiet, lest the giant hear us.” The people, with Sancho in the lead, proceeded stealthily down the great hallway. Suddenly a terr ble cry was heard and they all turned to see Tors, the giant. He had been sleeping and had not heard Sancho freeing the pris oners. Now being very tired, Tors was in no mood for pleasure, anil as he came striding down the hallway, he shouted hoarsely: “Who dared to free my prisoners?” “I did.” said Sancho, bravely stepping to the front. “Then, by the curse of St. Dennis, you die,” cried the giant. “Hold,” cried the hero, “kill me and you shall starve, for 1 have the key t the castle.” This caused the giant to stop and consider. It was true. There were no provisions in the castle. Tors grew desperate and was on the point of speech, when Sancho said: “Tors, I will give the key of the castle to you on these conditions. First that you prove to me that you are immortal; second, that you free these people, for I have vowed never to come to terms with anv mortal.” “Ah,” cried the giant, this is easily done, but what shall I do to prove this?” “Make yourself so small that you can hide behind me without being seen.” replied Sancho. “Alright,” said the giant, “but wait until I get my wand.” Going into the room from which he had come. Tors soon reappeared with the wand. “Watch now,” cried Tors, as he waved the w'and above his head. Immediately he became small. Through

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THR HIGH SCHOOL MIRROR 9 the end of the line walked the King closely followed by the Princess, with the child clasped in her arms. “This one and the little fellow,” said the Captain and two or three men stepped forward to bind the prisoners. look of fear filled the eyes of the Princess as she tightly grasped the child. Grahme, white and s ck, stepped before the Captain who had listened w th interest to the boy’s story of his escape. Now it was the man’s turn to plead, and with a good natured smile the Captain ordered them to unloose the captive and move the procession along. With express:ons that were meant to portray joy, the royal family moved on. The Captain smiled quizzically at Grahme: “She’s an intelligent looking savage, but I quite blush at the look of gratitude she gave me when you were the real deliverer,” he said. “You are welcome to it,” replied the boy, “and may God and King George help me if I ever sail on a slave ship again.”—Ruth Melrose, ’13. JUNIOR FABLES. A Good ()nce upon a time there was a farmer named Jones who owned two dogs. )ne dog was a large Newfoundland, named Jack; the other was a small poodle, called Fido. One day Mr. Jones went out to feed his dogs; he took with hint a large, delicious looking piece of meat. He had no knife to cut the meat, so he threw the whole p ece on the ground and told the dogs to divide it equally between them. Mr. Jones stood watching them for a few minutes, but seehig that they were getting along all right, he went into the house. As soon as he was gone Jack growled savagely at Fido, snatched the piece of meat, and ran off towards the creek. Fido, who was very hungry, followed Jack, but took great pains to keep out of his sight. Lesson; Jack soon came to the old wooden bridge wh ch spanned the creek, and there he stopped to rest. As he stood there, holding the meat in his mouth and gazing into the water, he was much amazed to see another great Newfoundland holding a still larger piece of meat. Ilis selfish nature got the better of him and he dropped his piece of meat on the bridge, and with a warning growl, dived after the other dog. He struck his head on a log, nearly breaking his neck. Meanwhile, Fido came running up. and taking the piece of meat, he ran off to the woods. W hen Jack came up the bank and found his meat gone, he felt so sad that he sat down and cried. Moral: Re not selfish.—L. IT., 14. Why the Owl’s Eyes Are So Large. Once upon a time there was a school in a large forest. This school was not for boys and girls, but for little birds. They did not learn to read, write and spell, but they learned to know the best food, the best grasses, and twigs for their nests and the best places to bn Id these nests. Instead of studying out of books, they were to keep their eyes on the worm, grasshopper, or twig that the teacher was explaining to them. In this school there was a very bad little Owl, who would not obey his teacher. When she spoke to him and told h m to keep his eyes on his lesson, he would look at it' for a short time and then naughtily look around. On this particular day, he had caused the teacher much trouble, because he would not obey, and she had spoken to him a great many times. W hile he was looking around the most curious little bird flew down in the midst of the school and said, “To those who do not obey, I bring punishment,” and then flew away. Instantly the little Hvl’s eyes began to grow bigger and bigger, until they were as large as they are now. and all the other little birds flew away from him because they were afraid. And this is why the Owls have snob large eyes and why all other little birds are afraid of them.—B. G„ •14.

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THE HIGH SCHOOL MIRROR 11 this Sancho saw Tors’ great power, and quickly devised a scheme to do away with him. Running to a large jar, Sancho cried, Horrors, what have we here?” Tors, in h s excitement, rushed to I he jar, for he had thrown his sword of sharpness into it some time before. s soon as he reached the jar he reached up to the rim so that he could look into the jar. for he was very small now. Hut no sooner had Tors climbed u lie side of the jar than Sancho shoved him into it, and placing the i . ci it, grasped it in his strong arms and flung it out oif the window. The people who had been captives tha.iKeu the hero with tears in their eyes. Sancho married the maiden, who proved to be a princess of the castle. They changed the dungeons into beautiful rooms and lived happilv ever after.—C. K., ’14. A Little Girl’s Visit to Fairyland. A l'ttlc girl lay on the grass bv the brook, wondering what it was saying. As she listened she heard the sound of music. It came nearer and nearer, until she saw a very, very small boat— a pond-lilv boat filled with small fairies. The hairy Queen stood in the center of the boat. She was most b anti fill: she wore a golden crown on her head and carried a staff in her hand. The boat was anchored by a flat stone covered by moss. There the fa’ries stepped out of the boat upon the stone and began to dance and play. hen they grew tired of this, they began to eat a lunch of honey and dew. The child on the bank thought this a poor sort of lunch, and picked some ripe strawberries growing close by. and threw them to the fairies. Then the fairies saw her. and after talking among themselves, two of them approached the child and asked if they could do anything for her. ()h, let me go to Fairyland, she sa:d. ”1 long to go there more than to any other place.” “We seldom take children to Fairyland, but we will take you, for we know that you would not harm anything,” said one of the fairies. As the fairies spoke, she looked sad and said: “I’m too big; I could never go.” The fairies touched her with their little hands and told her to look into the water. She looked and saw a tiny, tiny child in a white dress and a pink-sun bonnet. The fairies then took her to the rocks where she learned to play their strange games. When they started for Fairyland, the child thought, “Now, 1 shall find the way to Fairyland and can go whenever I like.” But the fairies did not want her to know, so they put her to sleep and she knew noth'ng of her journey until she reached Fairyland. In this wonderful land it seemed to be sunset, for the sky was very red. the little birds were asleep in their nests, arid the flowers had closed their petals for the night. ‘ The Fairy Queen. Mab, took the child to her own home—a very beautiful house, in which the rooms were separated by cobweb curtains, and the dainty bed-covers were of pink rose petals. In the morning the fairies had breakfast of honey, fruit and fresh dew from the flowers, and the child found it very good. Queen Mab then took her to visit the fairy school, the birds, the flowers, and all the wonderful, beautiful things in this most beautiful land. Then the fairy bade her goodbye, and the child was rowed back to the bank by the fairies in their beautiful boat. And do you know, not the child, or any other child, ever was taken to Fa ryland again?—1. R., ’14.