Trafalgar Castle School - Yearbook (Whitby, Ontario Canada)

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as anybody if a sleigh-ride were being planned. Perhaps he felt at these times more completely one with the group than on any other occasion as he sat up near the driver with the students huddled about him, an arm about his shoulders, a com- panionable word of praise or endearment in his ears. It was on the return from one of these rides that he suffered the most serious injury of his life. The snow being deeper on the back road, the sleigh turned in there to the College and Tralfy jumped off as usual in joyful haste. In his excitement he failed to see a delivery truck approaching and was struck down. At first his recovery was doubtful, and when he began to mend, the process was slow. A comfortable place was made for him in the basement and I am sure I was but one of many who visited him daily. One day he was gone and I went to ask Jack Cormack about him, fearing, as I went, that he was gone indeed. O , said Jack, he ' s up and around. I smiled in relief, amusement and comprehension. Up and around! as if he were a person, just what I should have said myself. I think autumn was his favourite season; after the comparative solitude of the summer, there came the return of old friends and the pleasure of many new ones. To see him lying in front of the Cottage door before breakfast on a fine autumn morning, gazing with a happy serenity at the domain which he loved with the responsible pride of possession, one felt sure he was reviewing the pleasurable plans for the day. First the morning walk, then perhaps the delightful task of supervising the raking of the leaves, next a cosy visit to the kitchen with the bubbling sound and pleasing aroma of cooking and a morsel for himself, soon the eleven o ' clock signal which meant bread and butter with the Faculty and Staff, following this a casual visit to the English class in the concert hall and a ramble over town on his own affairs. Until late middle age this usually included a fight with one of his own kind, an agreeable excitement in the calm routine of his days. But the years were taking their toll. Last Easter he saw his friends off for their holidays and when they returned he was not there. Even amid the multiple anxieties of our time — the loss of human life in conflict, the suffering from want and other woes that follow in the wake of a world war, friends of Traffy from many lands and for many years find the time to dwell with sorrow upon the loss of a companion whose silent heart beat for us with warm devotion. A. A. Maxwell. Page Nine

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Tydffy, Dr. Carscallen s faithful shadoiv, u ' i 1 hve always in the hearts of all the stu ' dents of O.L.C. who new him. When his puppy gaiety was replaced hy the dignity of canine age and he could no longer share in student sports, he too}{ up his patient vigil in Main Hall. As he lay there con- tentedly, his soft eyes revealed his gratitude for the warm comfort of a smile or the friendly touch of a hand, for he could no longer hear the familiar voices around him. His constant loyalty and devotion endeared Ivm to everyone at O.L.C. C.H. IT IS WITH no little sadness that I comply with the request to record for the Year Book some of the characteristics of Traffy, the devoted companion of the students of the College for so many years. To those who knew him only in his wise and benign old age it will be hard to picture the fat rollicking puppy with a coat like silky brown chenille, and the charming foolishness of his youth. A Russian wolf ' hound of melancholy mien was for a time a guest of the College, and Traffy never lost faith in the efficacy of an excited rush, accompanied by vigorous barking, to lure him into a romp, which, however, never came off. Traffy ' s next phase was even more lovable — very lanky, all legs and paws, his right ear drooping, his left alert, with a smart collar and a challenging glance, he raced the College car on every occasion. With ears blown back by his speed, and a hasty glance over his shoulder at a turn, he made it a point of pride never to be overtaken. It was at this time that he began the practice, seldom intermitted for the remainder of his life, of accompanying the students on their morning walk, ranging ahead of them and racing back to the College on the return journey to take his place on the wide stone balustrade at the side entrance. Here he awaited a word of greeting or caress from every student as she passed. If, by chance, anyone omitted this, he stretched out a remindmg paw and received the salute. As the years went on and he became slower and heavier, he walked sedately instead of frisking ahead; in time he accompanied the group to a point outside the gate and, lying down in the road, awaited their return; finally he saw them off and lay down on the lawn to welcome them back. However, his idea of his responsibilities and interests were all this time growing wider, and his awareness of the College programme more complete. He never made the mistake of appearing for the morning walk on Saturdays or Sundays. He was punctual at the eleven o ' clock interval for bread and butter; he knew as early Page Eight

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f age Ten