St Ignatius High School - Ignatius Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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N ANTI-RUSS AN CHRI TMA by GERALD SBARBORO, '51 It is a cold Christmas in the year l946 in a small Polish village near Warsaw. Walk- ing down the coblestone street is a white- haired, stooped-shouldered Polish peasant. Years in a Russian slave camp brought this condition about, for you see this man is but 32 years old. The peaceful Christmas day is pierced by the shout of a sentry, x'Who goes there? Slowly in a broken voice the peasant re- plies, A Polanderf' The sentry questions him, then finally satisfied, lets him continue on his way. Arriving home, he greets all the family and together they sit down to their rationed Christmas dinner. At the end of the meal the children call for the age-old story of Christmas. The smil- ing-faced father tells of the trials and birth of Christ. Then according to an Old Polish custom the mother of the family brings in oplalitki, a bread made by the church, that is passed out on Christmas. Then all make a wish. The trembling father says, Mama, we are not supposed to have this. The Russian Communists will send us to a prison camp. At that second a hard knock at the door rings through the small house. Fear clutches the hearts of the little family. A Russian voice sounds, Open the door. Une of the children slowly obeys the command and a hard-faced gorilla-like Russian enters. ln a cold voice he asks: What are you doing with that bread? Without waiting for an answer he marches the family to the com- mandant. At the commandant's office a stern-faced Russian officer looks up at the poor family, asks the charges, and then says: 'll want them sent to a slave camp at once as an example for those who do not obey us. So, on this Christmas day of '46 this small Polish family spends it's sacred Christmas in a Rus- sian slave camp, praying for strength to keep their faith.

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DE by GERALD FOLEY. '50 Silhouetted in the cold, gray light of the evil, forboding, silver moon, a man and a loaded pack horse, followed by two dogs that appeared to be half-wolf, moved slowly across the barren stretch of desert. They traveled at a steady, determined pace away from the small town of Sagebrush, Arizona. Ever since the inhabitants could remem- ber, Old l'Nugget Ed had been prospect- ing in the Blue Mountains. These small but treacherous peaks looked down on the fee- ble old man who once more was venturing to uncover the jealously guarded secret of the hills-gold! The mysterious legends of these moun- tains had always been a challenge to the spirit of the old prospector. For twenty years now he had been unsuccessful in at- tempting to hit a vein of the yellow ore. Lately, rumors had been whispered that Ed was getting very close to the gold. He kept his two dogs away from most people and actually spoke to just one man in Sagebrush, This friend was the only hon- est man in town, Roger C. Marshall, M. D. Ed's two wolf-hounds became friendly with the doctor, and would even sniff very po- litely at his boots, instead of leaping for his throat with dripping fangs as was their usual greeting to any other citizen of the community. Nugget Ed had recently confided to the doctor the secret that he was very near the gold he was seeking. Equipment, costing one hundred and fifty dollars, was needed, so Doctor Marshall consented to finance Old Ed's last trip. As the weary prospectors form wcs swal- lowed up by the black night, Roger Marshall suddenly regretted that he had sent the old man on such a fool's errand. Turning away, he shivered as the lonesome wail of a coy- ote shattered the still, evening air ..... Some three hours later, leaping from bed, the doctor rushed for the front door at the sound of gunfire in his front yard. As he threw open the door, his gaze fell upon one of Ed's wolf-hounds lying dead on the ground. The other snarling demon was at the throat of a very hysterical sheriff. Shoot him! The dog's mad! The sher- iff's face, scratched and bleeding, was dis- torted in utter fear. The doctor drew his .44 and shot the dog between the eyes, killing the animal in- stantly. The sheriff, who was badly shaken up, stammered out a confused explanation. I-l was just walkin' through th-the street, when l cum across these two wolves a-howlin' on yer front porch. When they seen me . . . He stopped for a second to regain his breath and rubbed his neck ten- derly. When they seen me, he repeated, they both come a-leapin' fur muh throat. I plugged one, but the other wuz too fast fer me. An' that's when you came out and finished him off. He stood there stupidly, with his bloody shirt half torn open, and one arm badly mangled. Suddenly the doctor spied a leather pouch attached to the neck of one of the dogs. He brushed the sheriff aside and rushed over to examine it. Furnbling with the sealed string, he finally succeeded in opening the folder. From it, he pulled a piece of paper with a few scrawled words. lt read: Please follow the dogs. They will show you where l am. My leg is broke. Doc- l've found the gold at last. Please hurry. l can't last only a few more hours. Only the dogs can find me. Hurry! Ed

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