University School of Milwaukee - Trident Yearbook (Milwaukee, WI)

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A Study. The night was bitter cold. Slowly the moon rose, shedding its cold, bright light on the little clearing in the pines. The white snow reflecting the moonlight gave a ghostly appearance to the lonely, desolate spot. The wind from the hills to the north whistled thru the pine trees. The snapping of twigs made more appar- ent the intensity of the cold. From time to time the shrill cry of some animal pierced the blanket of oppressive still- ness. Suddenly, from the shadow of the trees, a figure emerged. It moved slowly, as if heavily burdened, looking neither to the right nor to the left. The moon- light revealed the figure to be a man, a trapper with his furs on his back. Under his huge bundle the man ' s steps faltered. Reaching the center of the clearing he stopped, removed his burden, and looked about. The mournful hoot, of an owl nearby, sounded, followed by the sighing of the wind. The man shouldered his pack and moved on again. On into the shadows ; his heavy boots creaked and resounded on the frozen snow. Arriving at the top of a long hill he stopped again. Down before him, at the bottom of the hill, stretched a large lake, nestled in between the hills. The clear, wind-swept ice reflected like a mir- ror the neighboring hills, and woodland patches on their sides. He stood still for a moment looking at the lake of glass below him, then started slowlv down the hill. The man came to a cedar lowland where logs and branches lay partly hid- den in the snow. Suddenlj ' he stumbled, lost his balance, and fell heavily with one leg beneath him. For some time he lay motionless, apparently without life, then stirred and tried to move. He tried to move the leg that had doubled under him and did not give up the pain- ful attempts until both legs were stretched out in front of him. A friend- ly tree nearby afforded a rest for his back. The man looked ahead, a cold, hard gleam in his eye. Silently he sat gazing ahead. Then gradually the gleam in his eye softened and became almost kindly; his whole body seemed to relax. He relieved himself of his heavy knap- sack, and, as if preparing himself for something, settled into a more comfort- able position. He took a pipe from his pocket, filled and lighted it. A faint smile played about his mouth and into his eyes came a far away look. He seemed to be dreaming of other lands. Slowly the shadows lengthened. Silently, one by one, the snowflakes be- gan to fall. The cold grew more bitter. In the distance an owl hooted, then all was silent. ■ — A. Gonser.