Trafalgar School - Echoes Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

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bottom upwards into the sea and now it is Spencer ' s Island, a dome ' shaped island, lonely and un ' inhabited, yet not far from the mainland. There were many more interesting places connected with this legend but, as it was getting late we planned to leave for home. We went by another route and part of the road took us over the Boar ' s Back, a narrow road about nine miles in length with a sheer drop on either side of from thirty to sixty feet in places. This road was formed by Glooscap for the convenience of his friends to enable them to attend more easily their many feasts on Partridge Island. Ruth Simpson, Form IIIb. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow In Sleepy Hollow dwelt a man, A worthy pedagogue, And it was said his whole delight Was his poor boys to flog. His frame was very loose and lank, He had a long sharp nose, His feet were shovels in disguise And he shrank in his clothes. Now Ichabod ' s poor head was filled With tales of ghosts and spooks. And all the knowledge that he had Was from this kind of books. To pay his board he did odd jobs And helped in house and farm. And though he carried many a tale He really meant no harm. A rich old man, who owned a farm. Also had a nice daughter. And though she had another swain, Poor Ichabod still sought her. One night this farmer gave a feast Which lasted very late, And when our hero homeward rode It was to meet his fate. Brom Bones, who was the other swain, Had gone home long ' ere this; Which very fact itself did show That something was amiss. A legend through the town oft told Was very weird ' tis said, A headless horseman, riding fast, Went seeking for his head. 1 6 1

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A Nova Scotian Legend TT THILE travelling in Nova Scotia last summer we were much impressed with the stories and W legends connected with the different parts of the country through which we passed. One very interesting legend was that of Glooscap, the great demigod of the Micmacs, who was supposed to have ruled the world and by means of a magic wand was able to bring the birds and animals to his side. Early one morning we set out to view the haunts of Glooscap. We motored some miles through a very beautiful country, until at a sudden turn in the road we came in sight of Cape Blomi ' don, a very bold cliff rising high from the waters of Minas Basin. We were told that from Partridge Island there would be a much better view. This island is a beautifully wooded mountain almost joining the mainland near Parrsboro. We climbed through winding paths, up and up, until we came to a clearing about seven hundred feet above the sea. It was here that Glooscap and his friends had their feasts, and from here we had a most wonderful view of Blomidon. Blomidon is famous for its amethysts which are said to have been scattered there by the Indian god. The legend tells us that a strange light called the ' ' eye of Glooscap is often seen flashing with unusual brightness out of the dark face of the mountain. Cape Split, at the opposite end of Cape Blomidon, was once joined to the mainland, but one day Glooscap in a rage brought his axe down on the ridge and it swung around, at the same time making a gash in it, while the piece fell out and is now a small island. Although Glooscap loved the birds and animals, the beavers were his special enemies. The Five Islands are supposed to have been rocks he threw at them when in great wrath one day. These islands differ from each other in size and shape, perhaps the most interesting being Cathedral Island which, however, is not rightly one of the five, for at high tide it is joined to one of the others, but at low tide, if one is in the right position, one may see the exact shape of a cathedral. After one of Glooscap ' s quarrels with the beavers in which he was victorious as usual, he and his friends had a feast on Partridge Island. With the aid of a blazing pine tree for a torch, they speared a whale, cooked it, and ate it — blubber, bones and all. Glooscap then kicked the kettle THE. Five ISL MC 3. 1 5 I

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As Ichabod rode home that night And passed the haunted spot, A mighty rushing sound he heard And he grew cold and hot. When passing by the church, he turned To see whence came this sound. And as he turned, something was hurled, Which knocked him to the ground. Next morn a straying horse was seen, A pumpkin on the sod, A saddle near the church was found, But not poor Ichabod. Brenda Taylor, Form IVb. ) The Strongest Thing in the World O MOTHER, doesn ' t that massive piece of rock over there look Hke a large buffalo? said Helene, rising in her saddle. Let ' s go nearer to get a better look, and she spurred her horse up the side of the cliff. Yes, dear, it does, her mother answered, following her daughter, the path up the cliff being too narrow for more than one horse at once. ' Tis, grunted Tiscoquam their Indian guide. How do you know? Is there a legend about it? asked Helene. Umm, the Indian nodded. Do tell us, said Helene. Long ago when Indian was ruler here, and he waved his hand over the vast plain below them, Chief Sumatheek he grow old, he has no son; so he call young braves and say, ' The one who brings me strongest thing in the world, he shall be my heir. ' Young braves start off to find strongest thing in the world. One brave named Black Hawk start off with bow and arrow, Indians have no horses then, so he walk till he come to a hut. He ask for something to eat cause he heap hungry. Beautiful girl give him bread. He love her and ask her to go with him; she love him, so she go. They walk for long time, when he see heap big animal move. They come nearer and he see big, big buffalo. He say to girl, ' This is the strongest thing in the world, ' and they follow buffalo for many days. One day young girl fall, she no get up again. Black Hawk still follow buffalo but his heart ache. Soon he can no stand it. He say to buffalo, ' Goodbye, you strongest thing, I go back to her I love. ' He go back to girl, she no hurt at all. He kiss her and say, ' Let strongest thing go. I love you. ' Then girl say, ' I show you strongest thing in the world. See; ' and she point to buffalo. All of sudden. It stand still. It stand still ' cause little bird, sing him love songs, and he stop still and bird build her nest in his side, he turn to stone and live forever. Then Black Hawk understand and he take his beautiful girl to old chief and say, ' I have found strongest thing in the world. It is love. ' The old chief say, ' You and your children shall be chiefs. I know love and so I die. ' That ' s one of the nicest legends I ' ve ever heard, said Helene. Umm, grunted Tiscoquam. Lorraine Mowat, Form Ills.