Trafalgar School - Echoes Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

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You encourage me, I said. Perhaps you aren ' t so studious as I imagined yo u in the picture. When did you graduate ? Ah, ha ! she said, this is History, I believe. I ' ll see what you can do. The sum- mer after I graduated I saw Queen Victoria, which was two years before she died. A voice interrupted my calculation. — I suppose the young people of Queen Victoria ' s age were rather staid, weren ' t they ? Something prompted me to stand. Oh, no they weren ' t, I said, something like us. I sat down and looked to my little friend for approv- al, but she was gone. A splodge of ink on the desk, and an inscription on the blotter, Right You Are, alone persuaded me that such an incredible thing could ever have happened. E. F.— VI a. I am the gong who stands in the darkest corner of the corridor on the second floor of the school. My motto is To look the world in the face and be a fresh sea-bree- ze. Some people make fun of me because of my broad, bronzed face and perpetual smile — but could I help smiling when I feel so happy. I love to think how useful I am, for you know, it is I who tell the teachers and girls when it is time for lessons, and one o ' clock. I am more or less looked up to for only r ' ixth Form girls are allowed to strike me. Some of them barely stroke me as if I were a pet cat, and when I try to sing the words stick in my throat. Some of them strike me with a firm, clean stroke — then I sing clearly and shi ' illy and am heard through the whole building. Then I really feci like a fresh sea-breeze ! I sometimes envy my neighbour, the fountain, whom the girls patronize after Basket- ball practices, and tell him how refreshing he is without even glancing at me ! Did you ever feel — but hush ! Here comes a prefect ; I know her by her gait. She ' ll strike me because it is certainly time that geometry lesson was over ! A. M. — VI a. I ' d love to be a daffodil Beneath the cool green trees. Where everything is calm and still. Except the passing bees. -14 —

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,T was Spring, a spring that came so suddenly that it was ahnost ahirming. Perhaps that may account for it. What the class, it matters not. Let it be sufficient to say that no questions were being asked. Aly eye was first distracted by the nume- rous pictures of j ' oung ladies of former gra- duating classes. One face particularly held my attention. It grew in size, diminished, and sud- denly a small body attached itself to the head, and a sweet, plump little person with a shining pompadour and an expression of immovable piety floated quietly over to my desk and arranged her- self on my inkwell. I was surprised, but could only be civil, so I leant forward to say How- do-you-do ? Hush, she answered, do be quiet. Don ' t you know that I ' m not supposed to be here ? Why, then, you ' d better go back. Surely your conscience is troubling you. You look so good. She turned to me with a twinkle, nay even a wink of her e.ye. Oh, that ' s where W3 of twenty years ago are ahead of your day and generation, my child. We practised that we might look angelic at all times. Your desire of appearing a little wild in the presence of those of your own age is so great that you do not mind creating suspicion in the minds of your elders. Policy ' s bad ! So you came to give me the advice to pretend to be paying attention even though I ' m not ?■ ' ' ■ Xot at all. I came because of my fellow-feeling for your thoughts. I too designed many unheard of clothes while the sparrows were twittering outside the form-room window. Oh, the sweet, puffy little sleeves, the lace and the bustle which were to make my first evening dress so charming ! Alas (take warning hy this) I broached the subject too suddenly to Mama and she wouldn ' t allow it till the next year. I began to get quite excited. I was think- ing about a black velvet with a silver girdle and long lines — only this would be my third. Your third ! What I can ' t understand is how you girls ai ' e allowed so many clothes when you can ' t even keep your hair tidy. Oh, well, it ' s the fashion. Oh, the fashion ! Then I quite approve. Mama always said I thought too much about it, but I think it ' s one of the few things that keep life interesting. Here she gave a polite yawn. — 13 —

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I ' d watch the butterflies flit by, Have grasses growing near, And branches waving upon high, With blossoms hah the year. I ' d feel the rain drops cool and clear. Falling gently down. I ' d see the little violets dear In dainty purple gown. D. H. J.— Ill b ICurnuig by the §0a. A clear light tills the western sky, Merging into the blue on high. And the pink fleecy clouds in billows rest Just over the skyline in the west. Now a great white sail comes slowly by, And no sound is heard save the seagulls ' cry, And a lapping murnuu- amongst the caves, As a little sea breeze just tips the waves. And now the rose clouds turn to grey. As slowly, slowly they fade away ; The blue and the amber paler grow As the dusk creeps on ; the breezes blow More freshly now, and toss the spray. And the waves leap higher in their play. But now the dark is all about, And the lighthouse beacon flashes out ; The air hangs dull and mistily, And the surf beats heav} out at sea. M. A. — VT a. You ask me why, tho ' ill at ease Within the school I do persist, Whose spirits falter for a rest. And languish for the social seas. Dear friend, I do it not with will, But sober Education chose That here I stay until she knows That I could pass into McGill. E. C. F.— VI a. — 15 —