Trafalgar School - Echoes Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

Page 15 text:

THE PHANTOM COACH The new bridge is finished, quite finished, Grandma, cried An- toinette as she danced gaily into the parlour of the old Manoir. Finished, said the old lady, Finished at last! And what will be done with the old one? The beams are to be sawn through and it will drop into the rapids to-morrow as part of the ceremony of the opening of the new bridge. What a splash there ' ll be! I won ' t go too near in my new muslin gown. All the parish is to come. M. le Cure will bless the new bridge: M. le Maire is to make a speech and there will be a grand concert at the convent in the evening. Such fun we ' ll have, Grandma! And the Phantom Coach, my dear, what of that! The Phantom Coach is too much of a phantom for any one to bother about nowa days. ' ' And Antoinette, seeing Gabrielle wending her way to where the bridge builders were collecting their tools, ran out to join her friend. The old lady rose and from the window of the house on the hill looked over the narrow winding river, crossed just below the hill by two bridges, the old one and the new. The old bridge had many memories for the old lady: across it she had driven as a bride: from that window had watched her children cross it on their way to school and afterwards on their way from the secluded home life to the school of the world. Strange emotions rose in her memory at the thought of the Phantom Coach. Many times had she heard the clatter of the horses ' hoofs, the rumble of the heavy coach, which, coming from nowhere, dashed down the steep hill, crossed with thundering noise the bridge, passed her g ates and disappeared going — where? Each time the ghostly coach rolled by the manor gates, the soul of a member of the St. David family passed to the world beyond. The streets of the little village were decorated for the celebration on the morrow and tired with the day ' s work, the inhabitants were wrapped in slumber. The air was still and hot. A rumble sounded in the distance, followed by a flash of lightning. Madame St. David rose from her bed and looked out. A vivid flash showed her the two bridges, then with quivering heart she heard the Phantom Coach rapidly ap- proaching. Madly dashing down the road on the far side of the river, it drew near the bridges. Which bridge would the ghostly driver choose? A flash! A crash! With half blinded eyes, Madame gazed again into the darkness. A flash! One bridge only could she see — the new one — and no rattling coach drove past the Manor gate that night or ever again. — L.F. VI. 13

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THE SPRING OF VICTORY In vain the Spring in sunshine clad did come, With balmy breeze and flowers of every hue, So fresh and clean was all, the sky so blue, But bees unheard their merry tunes did hum. Forgotten bloomed the purple violet fair. For thoughts were with the flowers bloody red, That grew o ' er graves of soldier heroes dead. The scorching flame of war was everywhere. But Peace hath torn away the mournful shroud. As after winter ' s death, all hearts are glad. When earth doth wake with spring and smile again, Victorious she doth come with trumpets loud. With deeper joy because of former pain. The best of springs the world has ever had. — M.B. V. THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE SCHOOL CLOCK I AM just the old school clock and have been here in the corridor for many years. No one pays very much attention to me except the prefects, and they are compelled to do so. However, in spite of this I hear and see a great deal. Some mornings I hear This clock must be fast, I started in time and now I ' m late. But this is an old cry and I expect I shall always hear it. Day by day I hear and see many things. All the little plans and secrets of the school, and as the years roll by I think of and wonder over them, but I tell no tales. The years may go on, but I hope still to be the old school clock. —B.C. II. 12

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ULYSSES AND THE CYCLOPS I Ulysses was a warrior brave, He sailed the deep sea o ' er. He had to sail for twenty years To find his native shore. n Many adventures he did have ' Ere he arrived at home. He had a ship and trusty crew To take him o ' er the foam. HI. One day he saw a rocky isle, He landed on the shore. He left the ship at anchor there. And started to explore. IV. The Cyclops was a giant, who Inhabited this isle. And when he saw Ulysses come, He smiled an evil smile. V. This giant lived within a cave Right down among the rocks. And there he kept his sheeps and goats Which he had by the flocks. VI. He had but one eye large and fierce With the eyebrow just below, He used a pine-tree for his club And was a dreadful foe. VII. Before his cave there was a door, Made of rock strong and wide. Ulysses found this open, so He quickly went inside. VIII. The Cyclops soon came to the cave His footsteps shook the ground, And echoed loud throughout the place In all the rocks around. 14