Siskiyou Union High School - White and Gold Yearbook (Weed, CA)

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THE IHUIISTERS First Prize Story Before the two monsters made their momentous visit, peace and beauty reigned over the evergreen forest. Cool, clear mountain streams wound ill and out among the trunks of the towering trees, slowly finding their way to the sea. Here and there, quiet little pools, abounding in a great variety of fish, could be found. A gentle breeze produced a low, monotonous melody as it passed through the pines. Far above, birds flitted about, below, small creatures basked in the warm August sun or fed in the thick underbrush. ln a dry secluded spot in this forest, once unknown to greedy mankind, a glowing heap represented the remains of a camperls fire. Either through ignor- ance of the ways of the wild or direct carelessness, some glowing coals remained. Slowly and gently the breeze fanned these into a small Haute that quickly spread to the dry needles on the ground. As no rain had fallen for more than a month, this red monster greedily devoured everything in its way. A puzzled doe paused in feeding, for instinctively, she began to tremble. While pondering over this mystery, the wind shifted its position and blew a faint whiff of Slll0kC past her nostrils. Immediately she was alarmed, although she had never smelt it before, she sensed that danger lay ahead. With the speed of an arrow, the doe darted forward, followed by a multitude of wild creatures. The swift and fleet soon outdistanced the clumsy and the slow. Now, all former hates and rivalries were forgotten as they sought safety, for the red monster was close upon them, sending flaming brands and cinders through the air. Slowly the velocity of the wind increased, causing the warm red blotehes to spread far and wide. Overhead, huge trees burst into mammoth torches which lighted the sky. Blinded by thick, black smoke, the frightened animals pushed forward. Only the weak, the slow, and the helpless dropped behind to be destroyed by the fire. VV ith incredible speed, dark clouds crossed the sky which until a few hours ago was a beautiful sapphire blue. It climbed higher and higher, and it cast dark shadows over the area. The rumbling and crackling of the fire and the crashing of the trees filled the ai1'. But the red monster was not to go unchallenged. In the distance a thunderbolt flashed across the sky. This meant that a storm was approaching. It 1-umbled and roared as it drew closer and closer. At last it rested above the huge, red mass, then large vats of water fell in sheets on the parched area. Two great forces engaged in war: fire and water. Since each was determined to out-do the other, the battle raged for many an hour. Neither wished to sur- render, and thus show his weakness. Later, after a hard-fought battle, the greedy monsters paused to rest before ce 18 Pb

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1 H DFW Ill ll SIllHllT0llIl1 First Prize Essay Smoke curls lazily out of chimneys. A cat stretches his glistening body in the warm sun. A dog whines at a back door. Somewhere in the distance, ehildre11's voices are heard i11 morning play. A factory whistle blows warning for the men at work. Clothes dance merrily in the early morning breeze. The small town has begun its day! Little pans simmer gaily, on little black legged stoves. Everybody is in a hum of work. Marketing is being done at the corner grocery. lt is a friendly little place, the corner grocery. It is red with big white letters written all over the glass windows. In the middle of the room is a stove-a popular place in the winter when the chilly north Wind blows his icy breath. Fresh fruits and vegetables are always on display. Toni, a little kindly old man with large eyes that snap at you when he laughs., is the owner of the little red grocery store. He loves all the old village people and young ones too, who come to his store. They are all he has-they mean every- thing to each other. The little red corner grocery means so much to the small town. It spreads a warmth and friendly feeling among the men who come and chat on long after- noons. There is a bounding friendship upon which no outsider can intrude. WllCll marketing is done, and the daily chores are performed, and twilight softly falls, the sun plays hide-and-seek among the rooftopsg these simple llOlllC- folks gather around their fires while another night passes. SIDNEY HOGAN McCloud High School THE PIUIIEERS Honorable Mention Slowly and steadily on came the long and trailing caravansg Onward to new-found homes, Came the fearless and brave pioneers. They built up the first settlements for the white man And helped to establish liberty. Witli their everlasting toil and endeavors- They helped make a land of the free. Jos CATALANO Weed High School 44172

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lighting in another battlefield. Like dreadful plagues and useless wars, they left their imprints on the land. As the smoke cleared from the battlegrounds and the sun shone once again, everything appeared bleak and lonely. These two powers had brought only destruction, ugliness, and death. Instead of sturdy green trees, huge, black skele- tons were silhouetted agains the horizon. The ground was a mass of embers, and in spite of the recent down-pour, still gave forth heat. Desolate and lonely, stripped of its splendor, and deprived of all life stood the remains of uforestn! J EAN ZARWELL '40 Tennant High School THE REDIUOODS First Prize Poem The lofty sentinel rears its head Against a balmy sky. It looks far, wide o'er land and sea. It saw the Indian die. The haughty warriors of the west Made pow-wow 'neath its shade, And often smoked the pipe of peace There in the forest glade. But Hnally through this sweet content Broke harsh the bugle's breath, And pouring from the east there came The white nien bringing death. With honeyed words sweet on their tongues They stole this paradise And many men, both white and red, Beneath its branches lic. Supreme the white man ruled at last. The redwoods saw and sighed, For in the race for power and gold They knew that they must die. In once primeval forest glade There coils a SilVC1'y strand, A highway gleaming sharp and bright ls guardsman of the land. WILMA SMITH Butte Valley High School 44 19 sb