Trafalgar School - Echoes Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

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window was always full of toys, and so it had continued until this morning, when the beautiful window was broken. Oh, well, she thought, it certainly had a long life, that window. Maybe it was a long enough life for any window. It had seen much in its time, and now it was finished. Hey Jeanie, wake up and do some work! Are you asleep or what? Jock gave her a nudge. Oh, no, I ' m just thinking. I declare! You ' ve done most of the work! she exclaimed. Yes, I have. Now get up. We ' re going out to celebrate. You forget the window, or else — ! he threatened. In a few minutes they had gone, both happy and excited. The shop, unlighted, looked rather forlorn with a large gap in the window. Do windows ever feel sad? Nobody can tell bow that window felt, for windows, like many things, never tell their secrets! Nancy Inglis, Form IVa, Gumming House. THE SEA ' S SECRETS O little pearly shell beside the sea What wondrous secrets you could tell to me. Under calm billows what lies below? What happens beneath when the stormy winds blow? Are there pirates ' hoards of jewels and gold Beside the ruined galley of old? Does old Father Neptune ride below? Does he ride with the current steady and slow? Are sawfish his coachmen, his footmen whales? Are there mermaids and mermen with scaly tails? Do you have parties and a wonderful time With shells for plates and seaweedy slime? Do the nymphs and sprites come and visit you then With water babies and coral men? And then at night do you play on the buoy And laugh and jump and splash for joy? Then with the waves do you gently flow Down to your shimmering home below? But the little shell won ' t answer me. These are secrets only for folk of the sea. Vivian Pennington, Form IIIb, Fairley House. [27]

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THE TOY SHOP WINDOW GROUP of cold, shivering people had gatliered outside a small toy shop on a raw, 1 Vwet morning. At a glance, one could not tell what the centre of interest was, hut on looking closer, it appeared that something had broken the window of the shop. A delivery boy sauntered up, mildly interested. What was it, mister? he inquired of a bystander. Oh, a car, laddie. It slipped and smashed the window. Nobody hurt, fortunately, he answered good-naturedly. The people began to move off, having satisfied their curiosity. Two people remain- ed, a young man and woman, apparently husband and wife. Well, Jean, said he, that is the end of that window; I am afraid we shall have to buy another, for our shop ' s wort h nothing without a window. Fortunately, we ' ve enough money. What ' s wrong? Don ' t you want to spend money on another window? Oh yes! We must have a new window, Jock. But I hate to see that window gone. It has been here for so long; I ' m sure the shop won ' t ever be the same, she said sadly. Silly! All windows are the same! You ' re right about it having been in a long time ! It has lasted remarkably well, I must say, he answered. The two entered the shop to clean up the debris. In a little while the young woman sat up and thoughtfully regarded the shop with its broken window. Jock was right; the window had lasted a remarkably long time. Jean remembered the first time she had seen the window. She had just finished school and was looking for a job. She had got it here at the toy shop. She had liked old Mr. Murray, Jock ' s father; she had liked Jock and his sister Lorna. But Jock and Lorna weren ' t helping in the shop much; he was at college and she was married. Within a year ' s time she had found a better position at a large store, and being ambitious, she took it. Mr. Murray had said he could get another girl to work. A few months brought about great changes. Old Mr. Murray died. Jock left college to keep up the shop, but in a little while he sold it, and signed up in the navy. Lorna couldn ' t keep the shop; she had her children to look after; but nobody had told Jean about any of this, and she continued working in a large store, for a good salary. Then came worse times for her. The shop in which she was working did not need her, so she was out of work, but had enough money. She revisited the old toy shop, expecting to find it as usual, but the window was dusty and grimy, and to her surprise, there was a large FOR SALE sign displayed. She entered, using her old key, and set about putting the place to rights. Soon afterward, she bought the shop and by hard work and careful saving, managed to make it pay. Then Jock returned, and naturally visited the old shop to see how it was going, and to see if it was for sale, for he thought he might buy it again and set up the trade his father had started — making and selling toys. He was surprised and happy to find the window clean and shining, some toys on display, and, wonder of wonders — Jean behind llio counter. She told him that she had hired a man to make the toys, and the business was going very well. Another year passed, and more changes took place. Jock wasn ' t in the Navy any- more; he had n sigiUMl and he and Joan were married. The business was fine; the shop [26]

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LES ROUTES DE MON PAYS Les routes de mon pays Sont blanches et jolies. Par grand ' routes ou par sentiers J ' aime a me promener, Cueillant les primeroses Aux robes de soleil, Les coquelicots couleur vermeil. D ' un mur decrepi Se penche une rose, Mais soudain a I ' horizon Le vent d ' est sevit Ou resonne le canon, La rose s ' effeuille, Le mur s ' effondre. Aux grondements de la mer Le silence est seul a repondre. Voila que de I ' ocean, Une brise clemente s ' eleve Et donne a la nature Un repos bienfaisant. Le mur est rebati. La rose refleurit, Les routes de mon pays Sont fraiclies et jolies. Edith Steel, Form VI, Gumming House. [2«|