Trafalgar School - Echoes Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

Page 21 text:

trained, if our minds liave not been fitted to discipline and work. The opportunity is there, it remains for us to take good advantage of it. My contribution to Canada ' s war eflfort is as small as a drop of water in a boundless sea, but if we all thought of our contributions as being small, and consequently not needed, what would happen? Our land would lie crushed under an ' iron heel ' , beneath the glare of a ' rising sun ' . That must not happen. Our fathers and brothers, and women too, are fighting for us. They are enduring hardships which we can only imagine. They are fighting with all their might so that Freedom may not die; fighting for the democracy not only of our own country, but of the world. Canada is our inheritance, youth of Canada. We must not fail her. We will save, fight, salvage, work, sacrifice, and give everything we ' ve got to her war effort. The torch of victory, and of the liberty of the world, will not go out because we faltered. Nora Newman, Form Vb., Ross House. PRAYER OF CANADIAN CHILDREN When evening steals o ' er land and sea, A nation ' s children kneel to pray In homes that stretch from coast to coast. From sovithern lakes to Hudson ' s Bay. And high above, in realms of light. The angels watch with tender care And bless each nodding curly head. For God will hear a children ' s prayer. Dear Lord, we thank thee that this day Has not been marred by sounds of strife. For thou hast given us peace, and more, A chance to live a happy life. Now as we close our eyes in sleep We pray, O God, stretch forth thine hand. Protect thy children everywhere From danger in their war-torn land. And help us. Lord, in thy good time, To gain a long-sought victory. Give us brave hearts and purpose firm To keep our country strong and free. Harriet Anderson, Form Va., Barclay House. [19]

Page 20 text:

HOW I CAN HELP CANADA ' S WAR EFFORT IVE YEARS ago the youth of Canada did not know what the real meaning of war JL was. Oh yes, they knew that wars did happen, in Spain and China, yes, but never in the western hemisphere, that was impossible — then. But not now. Our coasts are getting used to blackouts at night, and although the sound of enemy planes over Montreal would certainly surprise us, it would be, by no means, an impossibility. A pleasure trip abroad in the summer, down south in the winter, we didn ' t think anything of it then, now it ' s unheard of. A fancy was taken to some dress in a store- window. I bought it if it wasn ' t too expensive. Soon our clothes are to be rationed to so many dresses a year. Until that time does come, I can help by not wasting my money in unnecessary articles, and spending the money saved on War Savings Certificates and Victory Bonds. Our parents are working harder perhaps than most of us realize. I can help them and save them extra steps and trouble by doing messages for them, and by doing things of my own accord, before I have to be told to do them. The Red Cross, and many other war-time organizations need my help. I can knit, sew and work for them, and give them my money imtil it hurts. I can carefully salvage articles of metal, paper, rubber and many other things which our Government urgently needs. And then there is the most serious job of the youth of Canada today, that of education. Being young, we often don ' t realize liow very serious it is; for we are the men and women of the (Canada of tomorrow, a new ( anada which will have to be built uf» out of the cliaos and niin of a rno(h ' rn world war. We cannot do it if we are not well- ( Prize Essay) [18 I

Page 22 text:

WIND ! Wind — whistling round the eaves, Tossing all the leaves In the wood. Wind — whining through ihe oraeks. Roaring round the hacks Of the barns. Wind — driving through the rain, Blowing up the lane Round the shacks. Wind — ra ;ing up tlic hay, (Phasing clouds away From the world. Wind — clearing off our minds. Wiping off the signs Of tlie war. Wind wlii|)piiig up llic sea. Lashing ' gainst tlu- quay (Near the beach. Elizabeth Maxwell, Form Vb., Barclay House, HOW BUYING VICTORY BONDS HELPS ME AND UY Victory Bonds for Victory. How often we hear that phrase, but how often do we U take its advice? Even if we do think about it, we are apt to leave the buying to someone else, concluding that those who have the money are the ones that should buy victory bonds. But that is not so, for if only we would realize it, buying bonds is an easy way to save money: for in buying bonds, the buyer is saving his money, and in so doing helps the democracies to save their freedom. Buying victory bonds helps the nation, and in that way helps vis, for we are the nation ' s people. Perhaps if we realized what we are doing for our country by buying bonds, we would buy more of them. Firstly, we buy the bond, thus saving our money, and at the same time lending it to the Government. What does the Government use it for? It uses it to keep our vast munition plants going, to build more ships, more planes, more guns to send to our fighting forces in the not-so-distant fields of battle. For the field of battle is creeping closer as the days go on, the battlefield is growing larger; it is by no means an impossibility that it might stretch to the shores of North America. If only Canadians would realize this, they would see how great is our country ' s need: for if this country was struck by the hand of war, we would need planes, tanks, ships and guns to defend our own sliores as well as ihe shores of other lands. Our production of munitions grows larger. If that is to be, the Government must have the money to do so, and that money musi !)( ' ours, for ( ' anada is our country. MY FAMILY (Prize Essay) ' riiiiik of our hravc men who ferry bombers across llie Atlantic, who command