Riverbend School for Girls - Vox Fluminis Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

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12 Vox Fluminis llllll-IERARY r . A RACE WITH DEATH ACROSS the wastes of the frozen Arctic raced a sled pulled by ten huskies and driven by a lone Eskimo, a black dot against the snow. In the far north of Canada this Eskimo lived with his tribe. The settlement had been happy and contented, fishing and hunting for food and clothing, until Death in the shape of famine and dis- ease had invaded their land. The seal and reindeer on which they depended for a living grew scarcer and scarcer. Soon the older men and women and the little children died of weakness and a disease which accompanied hunger. The Eskimo, Unga, had lost three of his five children and his wife was ill and near death. Now, in a race against Death, he was endeavouring to reach Hudson's Bay to bring medical assist- ance and food back to his people. For three days Unga had been travel- ling. He rested very little and took of his scanty food supply only enough to sustain himself and his dogs. To hunger and weariness he was numb, numb to everything but the fact that he must reach Hudson's Bay in time to save his people. On the night of the fourth day, sitting by his fire, he heard through the still night a sound that brought the dogs trembling to the fire and sent a shiver through his body. How well he knew that cry. Wolves! The cry went up again, a little nearer. The dogs crouched closer to the fire and whimpered. Of weapons to defend himself Unga had but a knife, so he stumbled to his feet and in a short time had harnessed the dogs and resumed his journey. Soon the wolves would scent them and then the race would be on. At this thought he whipped his dogs harder and the sled ploughed rapidly through the snow. As the day dawned Unga sighed with relief for it was not likely that the wolves would attack in daylight. He pushed on quickly and at nightfall was only a day's journey from his destina- tion. That night the howl of the wolf- pack again disturbed the silence. Unga grimly pulled out his knife and flicked his whip sharply in the air. Looking back, he could see the dark shapes of the wolves against the snow, spreading out fan-shape behind the sled. For two hours they raced and the wolves were very much nearer. The dogs were panting and Unga himself could not hold' out much longer. Ahead was a small wood and Unga raced for its shelter. As quickly as possible he made a fire and prepared to fight the pack with what it most feared, fire. In the darkness he could see nothing but the whining, shivering forms of the dogs and by the flashing circle of eyes around him he knew they were surrounded. Soon he could reach no more branches to throw on the fire and it was dying down. The wolves grew bolder and one unfortunate dog was dragged away. Others followed and Unga flung part of his clothing on the fire and drew his knife for a last stand. Shouts from a distance, cracking of whips and dogs barking could just then be heard. Unga felt a great warm feel- ing of thankfulness come over him. The wolves vanished and a few hours later he was resting at a small post on Hudson's Bay. The traders had been out hunting, and only by chance had they passed in time to rescue him. A fortnight later in the little settle- ment in the Arctic a group of men, women and children waved and shouted good-bye to the doctor and trappers who were returning to Hudson's Bay. The Eskimos now had medicine and

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Vox Fluminis ll THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNESTH 01' THE SENIOR PLAY On Friday, April 24th, nine Riverbend Seniors put on The Importance of Bing Earnest, by Oscar Wilde, in the school gymnasium. The play was di- rected and produced by Miss Carter, who was assisted by several Grade X's as stage managers and property man- agers, also by the all-important curtain- pullers. Taking part were: Joan Harris, as the young and dashing Algernon Moncrieffg Patricia Norcote, as his friend and long-lost elder brother John Worthing, Kitty Rainey, as Lady Bracknell, and June McCrae, as her daughter, Gwendolen Fairfax. Cecily Cardeu was played by Nancy Complin and Isobel Rice-Jones took the part of her firm, but romantic, governess. As Canon Chasuble, Miss Prism's admirer, Helen Palk was realistic. Audrey Robb was Merriman, the butler, and Anne Parkhill played Lane, the manservant. Elizabeth Auld was to have been Lady Bracknell, but unfortunately she had measles, so Kittey Rainey under- studied her and made an excellent job of a difficult character part. Miss Carter gave up much of her spare time to rehearsals and the girls came every day during the holidays to practise. But the hard work that was put into it was well worth while. The money made from the tickets is being divided between the Red Cross and the archery fund. a P. N. LECTURES During the past year we have been privileged to hear talks on many inter- esting subjects. We enjoyed them very much, and I am sure each girl has profited by them. In December, Mr. James A. Plant brought us some very interesting films about skiing and vitamins. He also showed us an amusing cartoon. Mrs. J. Macdonald's talk on speech development, at the end of the Christ- mas term, was most helpful and very enjoyable. At the end of the Easter term, the Reverend A. W. Martin gave a dramati- zation of The Tale of Two Cities. The way in which he portrayed the various characters in the play gave us a vivid idea of life at the time of the French Revolution. Mrs. Botsford brought us an inside view of the life of a nurse in training. She stressed the importance of being able to associate with people4this being essential in nursing. A competent nurse herself, she was able to relate incidents which she had experienced. The last lecture we had the pleasure of hearing was given, by Mrs. Knox, who gave us some very useful ideas about writing as a profitable hobby. We have appreciated these lectures very much, and thank all the people who gave them to us. We all hope there will be many more next year. D. J. E. I SEE AN ENGLAND I see an England, fresh and fair, Filled with the sounds of happiness, In whose green land there is no care, Where God seems willing all to bless. I see an England filled with love Of family, country, King and race: There shall be found signs of the dove That point to an all-glorious peace. I see an England filled with friends Of all men, whosoe'er they be: Men who are willing lives to lend, That all may live as brothers free. I see an England filled with peace, An England raising mighty form To show that she haswon her t'f1eece, And is victorious after storm. Helen M. McLean, Grade XI, Nelson Hall. i1.. .1.1--1- GEOGRAPHY Geography, Geography, and m o r e Geography. That's all we have around our class- Geography, Geography, Geography. If we don't learn it we wonit pass. Geography! Grade IV.

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Vox Fluminis 13 food. Spring was coming, the great snows were melting, and Death per- force had to flee the land. Elizabeth Auld, Grade X, Nelson Hall. - UNDER THE SWASTIKA JOAN and Michael sat before the fire gazing absently at its last glowing embers. Nearby sat their father, the evening paper lying beside him on the floor, while he listened intently to the news broadcast. The announcer's voice broke sharply into their thoughts: Today the Vichy Government an- nounced that fifty more French host- ages had been executed in reprisal for the shooting of a German official. The words rang in Joan's mind and she began to think of her own home in Canada, of the love and security which surrounded her. Oh, but it could never happen here! she exclaimed im- patiently, and banished the unpleasant thought from her mind. In Europe, however, people knew otherwise. It could and had happened there. In a tiny farmhouse in Denmark, an old couple was conversing in low tones over their evening meal. Did you take those cows into the village this afternoon as the German officer ordered you to? inquired the little old lady, as she laid down her serviette after finishing the scanty meal of bread, cheese and milk. All but one, replied her husband. I couldn't bear to part with the large one, Gourm. She has served us faith- fully for many years, and has been almost like a child. But where did you put her? asked the old lady with a frightened cry. You know how angry the Germans will be if they find her! They will not find her. She is pas- tured behind the high stone wall in the garden. At that moment a sharp knock was heard at the door, and, without waiting for a reply, a German officer strode into the cottage. You! cried the ofiicer, jabbing a blunt forefinger at the old man, have disobeyed my orders. We have found a cow tethered in your garden. For your insubordination you shall be sent to a prison camp, where you will do hard labor until you die from exhaustion. At this the old lady covered her face with her hands and sank to the floor. All is gone, she cried with a low moan. The Brahnds were gathered about their dinner table in Vienna: Herr Brahnd, a stout Horid wine merchant of fifty years, his wife, a small, fragile lady: and his fifteen-year old son, Hans. Herr Brahnd was speaking: They are stupid, the Germans. They cannot un- derstand how or where the new Free- dom paper is printed. If they would but search my wine cellars, they would find the answer to their puzzle. They are getting badly beaten in Russia, and when they try to rereat, we in Austria will rise up and kill them in revenge for the hundreds of our countrymen who have suffered at their hands Fraulein Brahnd sat in silence, a glow of hope lighting up her eyes. But this light was not reflected in the eyes of her son, who sat staring down at his plate. The next night a similar sight could be seen in the Brahnd household. This time Fraulein Brahnd was discussing the meat rationing. Suddenly a Ger- man squad car drew up in front of the house, and two members of the Gestapo alighted from it and were shown into the house. Upon rising to greet them, Herr Brahnd was informed that he was under arrest. Please explain, gentlemanf' pro- tester Herr Brahnd. At these words his young son stepped to the officer's side: I have told these men about your newspaper, father. I am an officer in the Hitler Youth Movement, and you are a traitor to the New Regime. The level prairie of Poland extended for many miles before the eyes of the peasants, who were cultivating the fields in order that food might grow to feed the gluttonous German war