Trafalgar School - Echoes Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

Page 20 text:

Insisting that I rest awhile, I am. To dwell on it would only be a sham. I ' ll lie and think of pleasant things instead. Of people met, of friendly things we said. Of happy days I ' ve spent, and many more Besides: of things I heard and saw Last summer, wandering paths that led I knew not where . . . This afternoon is slipping by, unused. I will not go to sleep. I do not care If they are cross. I ' m much abused — For surely I should know if I ' m Not tired. How I abhor This laziness enforced against my will. I think I ' ll rise and tell them I can ' t sleep — In just a minute now. Not right away. Of lying down I ' ve surely had my fill, But not just yet, a minute more ... Not really tired: I ' ve merely closed my eyes To think with greater ease. Outside the skies Are blue, and grass is green, and all is wide awake ... It ' s really rather comfortable like this . . . I ' m really not asleep; just slightly more Adjusted to this resting than before . . . A very pleasant bed, it ' s really bliss To have such comfy things . . . Think, all those poor And lively wide awake who aren ' t in bed . . . Not really tired . . . Caryl Churchill, Form IVb, Cumming House. BLIND DATE THE PHONE rings and all unsuspecting you answer. It ' s your girl friend asking whether you would like to go on a blind date on New Year ' s Eve. You think, Good Heavens, on New Year ' s Eve? , but then you remember that you have nothing else to do, and it ' ll probably be better than sitting at home, anyway. So you bravely say Yes, that will be fine. Then come the misgivings and wishing you hadn ' ts . The boy is out of town, so you don ' t expect to hear from him until the evening of the thirtieth. Then you realize that you are going to a party on the thirtieth, so you leave explicit instructions for your parents. They are to have him phone you at your hostess ' home. But what will her mother think when this strange voice asks for you? Now your misgivings [18 1

Page 19 text:

A Student s Prayer GOD, who art the Father of us all, help us to follow in thy ways and do thy will. We thank theee for thy loving kindness, for the gifts of health and strength and for the opportunity of attending this school. Save us from having a feeble sense of duty and from thoughtlessness toward others, from self-conceit, from love of flattery, from dislike of criticism; give us knowledge of our powers and weaknesses. We pray thee for all schools and for those who teach in them, that they may be guided by thy will. Help us to benefit by their effort and understanding, and teach us to discriminate between right and wrong. We ask this, believing in the power of thy holy name. Amen. AFTERNOON REST Blinds down against the sun, closed door To stop the daytime noise from coming in. Shoes cast off and lying on the floor. Not in, not on the bed, just covered o ' er With tickling blanket. Outside the din Of traffic, and the roar Of streetcars straining slowly up the hill: Oh, how I hate to rest! An awful bore To lie down in the day if one ' s not ill But only hampered by late night before And knowledge that tonight will be the same. It ' s very quiet inside, it ' s very still. And outside life is busy, I deplore This being made to rest against my will. I will not sleep. That much at least I said Before they left me lying on my bed. Telling me that I will feel far more Inclined to evening joys when I have slept. I know I won ' t: When wakened, all my head Feels heavy, dazed. But since they kept [17]

Page 21 text:

are really growing. The party goes on gaily, but you wait in vain for a summons to the telephone. When you get home, your father says, Yes, he did call, and he will ' phone again tomorrow. Oh, no, how can you stand the suspense? The next day the ' phone rings. You race to answer it, but then you stand over it, and let it ring several times. (Mustn ' t appear too anxious, you know.) The voice on the other end of the line says he will pick you up at about eight thirty that evening. You spend the rest of the day getting your dress ready, worrying with your hair and generally creating confusion in the house. Time drags by and seven thirty comes. As you dress, you wonder for the millionth time, What will he be like? Suppose he ' s another Frankenstein? Suppose he ' s an absolute drip who never opens his mouth? Suppose he can ' t dance? Suppose he ' s only five feet tall? Suppose . . . But finally the door-bell rings. You go to answer it and meet him. Your fears and misgivings vanish. You get to the party, and in what seems like about ten minutes, it ' s three o ' clock in the morning. You ' ve had a wonderful time. But then a horrible thought — What does he think of you? Lydia Ebel, Form Science VI, Barclay House. THE ROYAL UNICORN The story of a unicorn As told by him one summer morn; — A handsome fellow, O was I; At first I thought that I might fly. I tried, but found I had no wings. So turned for fun to other things. I thought that I must be a fish. But water just was not my dish. I tried to be a mountain goat. But thin air caused my head to float. Alas! Alack! O woe! I thought — I wish to be what I am not. O — destined I from night ' til morn To be a lowly unicorn. And then one day a princess passed. She looked, she smiled, and said, ' At last I ' ve found a creature with one horn. My coat of arms he will adorn. ' So now instead of roaming free, I help in regal pageantry. And now instead, from night ' til morn, I am the Royal Unicorn! Janet Rutherford, Form IVb, Gumming Ho ise. [19]