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

Page 28 text:

THE IIWSTERIOUS GRIP Second Prize Story As I gazed dreamingly from the window near my seat of the train, I could distinguish different varieties of cactus outlining the soft, blue Mexican l101'lZ0ll. The sound of the engine was clearly heard against the dull, quiet stillness of the tropical atmosphere. 'LThis is just the right atmosphere I wished for, I said to myself, nwhen I decided to take this winter trip into Mexico. I continued my day-dreaming, but it was suddenly interrupted by a severe jerk by the train. A moment later it came to a stop. Next I heard the voices of many natives, as they were gathering around the train shouting, and selling their wares. It all seemed very picturesque to me so that it made me forget for a while where I was, until I was aroused by the conductor s voice who shouted, 'GAguas Calientes I This 11a1ne came faintly to my ears and it was not u11til then that I realized that this was my destination. I got off the train, and I headed for the business section of Aguas Calientes. On the way I met an eager young boy who wanted to carry my luggage, and I kindly let him do so. While walking through the rock-paved streets, I noticed the people decorating their doorways and outside walls of their houses with queer shaped lamps and strings of crepe paper of many colors, some of which extended from one side of the street across to the other. The natives all were dressed in their best apparel, which consisted of the brightest colors which they could find. Seeing this, I turned about to the boy and inquired, 4'What is all the commotion about?,' L'Why, don't you know, seior? he said excitedly, uthis is one of the best holidays, if not the best in all Mexico. This is the day of tl1e Virgen de Guadalupe, which comes on the twelfth of December every yearf' 'cOh, I see I I answered very politely. 'fjust watch for the great frolie and fun tonightfi added the boy. By this time we had come to the hotel where I decided to stay. I paid the boy for his services, and went i11to the hotel, and then straight up to my room. That night I went out onto the balcony of my roo111 where I could see a won- derful view of the city, lights shining brightly in every direction, the music playing in the streets, while the people sang to its melodious tune, Iirecrackers and other fireworks shooting up into the night. Out in tl1e distance I could also see a crowd of lVIexican gypsies who seemed to be enjoying themselves too. They were seated around a huge bonfire upon which they seemed to be cooking de- licious food. All these things seemed like a fairy tale out of a book to me. After watching this gay merry-making, I decided that I was tired and that I needed to go to bed. cc 20 an

Page 27 text:

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

Page 29 text:

I did not know how long I had slept when I was suddenly awakened by a hairy, rough hand which was gripping my neck tightly. I gasped for breath, but the weight of this creature, or whatever it was which was on top of me, nearly suffocated me. I tried to put on the light, but my fingers were so numb and nervous that I did not succeed. As the creature felt me struggling to get free, he slowly released his grip. The next moment I saw a shadow jumping out from the window of my room onto the halconyg as a looked at it, it disappeared mysteriously into the darkness and silence of the night. I stood very rigid, as if I were in a tranceg and when I came to my senses, I did not sleep another wink for the rest of the night. The next morning I didn't find anything about the incident which had occurred the previous night, and no one knows to this day what this mystery was. I do not think that I would care to find out about it now because it is part of the romance, excitement, adventureg and that is Old Mexico. JOE DELGADE Weed High School I F X w BILL KELLY Mount Shasta High School cc 21 by