Sarah Dix Hamlin School - Epilogue Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

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ING walked thoughtfully along the road, wondering to him- 'Dui 2 self how far it was from Tai Po to Fan Ling. Perhaps it wouldn't be too far, but somebody had said it was about ten miles. I-le shuddered but decided that walking might banish the unpleasant thought of the distance. Besides, it was a beautiful morning. I-Ie gazed approvingly at the long black road stretching before him between the green paddy fields shining in the early morning sunlight. Yes, it was a beautiful day. Suddenly his consciousness was startled by the squeak of a wheelbarrow, a large wooden one. Squeaks were good joss, for they scared away devilsg at least that's what People said.The wheelbarrow was being propelled down the middle ofthe road by a very old man in a red straw hat, the strings of which dangled down under his chin. I-Ie was obviously the center of much ill- feeling, for behind him roared a large old-fashioned car, filled with clogs and a Chinese family, all of whom were tooting, yelling, jumping up and down, and barking at the poor unfortunate in the middle of the road. The miserable one, on the other hand, seemed completely oblivious ofthe fact that he might be blocking the traffic. Finally, realizing that all was not well, he sidled over to the edge of the road, allowing the car and family to screech by. As the old man turned, he noticed little Ping with his scrubby black hair and his frayed jacket, carrying gingerly in front of him a foreigner's shabby grey hat obviously filled with treasured possessions. The old man grinned apologetically and maneuvered his wheelbarrow to a standstill. Mopping his forehead, he said, I can't get used to those con- traptions. Where I come from they don't have anything faster than this. He pointed to his wheelbarrow. North China? Ping inquired. Yes, I come down here every so often. Still have trouble with your dialect. Then he changed his tone of voice. What are you doing today, young man? Ping grinned sheepishly and looked even smaller than before. Well, I'm going to get a job. Then he added Proudly, My brother is Mr. Chesley's No. 1 dog coolie. I-le needs more help: so I'm going to be No. 2 dog coolie. Dug Clunlin

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to listen to the never ending noises of this place. His impassioned prayer had uncontrollably burst from his lips to be heard by two, instead of Cne. Slowly, pushing its way through the fog, came a faint, golden light. lt crept down silently and enveloped the soldier in a celestial cloak. As the rays reached his eyes, he slowly and steadily raised himself up, as if new strength had been born in him. He was sitting rhere, bathed in the glimmering Hood, when a new sound was heard through the silence. Another click, and the ping of a bullet, as it sped toward him, and found its target. The soldier gasped and slumped over--his face turned to the sky, his eyes mirroring the glory ofthe first moon in three nights. His lips parted once more, and the almost silent words were whispered: Thank you God, once more. Thank you for death and the moon. The sniper slid down the tree, shouldered his gun, and marched into the dark jungle, as the one ray of moonlight disappeared. Louise Mesherry, '44 9 Steel blue swallows winging skywarzi Wistful earoling cf a bell, .Echoes gffuan Capistrano, Peaegful story that they tell. Lagyfragranee gf wild roses Tumbling o'er adobed wallsg Plump white pigeons strutting proudb, Cooing sgftbv sweet love calls. Hoodetifatbers, wise and smiling, Stopped to bless and tben passed byg Onbr winds now bear tbose prayers Paying homage with their sgb. -Ioan Blatchly, '44 ,,,, L- -a , . Y.. . , ,ig-...By -.K , ,,.r, ,.... -.--,. .f,.... Lk, EJ.- ...Q--...-. ,sf-, ,

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You are pretty small to be taking a job so far off. I wouldn't be going if it wasn't for-well, it's difficult at home. You know, big family, and the crops didn't do so well this year, and well-you know. Besides it isn't a very hard job. All I have to do is brush dogs and clean their eyes and-- Anyway I'm too small for any other work. The old man nodded understandingly. Don't you know that sometimes No. 2 dog coolie does No. 1 dog coolie's work besides a lot of things that the rest ofthe servants don't like doing? Ping stubbornly twirled a wisp of grass with his big toe. Well, I want that job and I have to get it besides. So I think I ought to be getting along now. Goodbye, son. If I wasn't going the opposite way, we could go along together. Good luck! Once on the road Ping didn't look back, instead he decided that he ought to hurry. The road was getting warm now. Soon the tar would begin to squish, and then it would be too hot for his bare feet. There wasn't any grass growing by the side, either. He might have to start walking in the paddy Helds, and that was rough going. Suddenly he was attracted by a water buffalo wallowing up to its ears in mud. Thick grey slush was pouring over its horns. Ping looked on admir- ing1y.Warer buffaloes were so nice as long as one didn't get too near their horns. Strange, though, how they hated foreigners. Some said it was the smell of soap that annoyed them. Perhaps it was. People were always saying things like that: things they were not sure about. From the water buffalo Ping's attention wandered down the road. There, waddling towards him in full force were a company of quacking brown ducks, herded along by a Chinaman with a big stick. Every time they started to spread into the middle ofthe road, the man would stretch out his bamboo and wave them all unceremoniously back to the side. Presently a scratched red truck with green characters on it drew up to a momentary standstill behind the ducks which were for the tenth time blocking the way. After a great deal of swearing on both sides, the ducks were finally persuaded to the edge ofthe road, and the truck passed on. Farther down Ping saw some women carrying buckets of water on bam- boo poles slung across their shoulders. The thought of water sent him over .- .Ie V. .,... ..,.ue...,..c ,sae ..... 4......,.-- -. ,-,-...v...-,,-W 7 Y . .., ,. ..