Willard Middle School - Target Yearbook (Berkeley, CA)

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THE TARGET THE EXILE. 21 Once a very large brown bear lived in the northern part of the Yellow- stone National Park. Any man who shot at him or any other animal was subect to a heavy fine and long im- prisonment, so he was perfectly safe. There were fish in the streams and lakes, and the wooded hills and the grassy flats were full of antelope, deer, and elk; and he might even catch one of the rare moose or moun- tain sheep. So he was well fed, and fat, and perfectly happy. One time he came upon a new cabin that he had never seen before, upon the Swan Lake Flats. He found that no one was in; and moreover, there was a delicious smell issuing from the back window. He knew what it was, so he went around to the front door and entered. There it was, over in the back corner, — honey! Having no delicacy about confiscat- ing other people ' s goods which struck his fancy, he began at once to eat this honey. Bang! It was the front door. It had dropped from the ceiling. Queer kind of a door, thought he. But he ' knew he could break any ordinary cabin door, so he went on eating. Soon he felt drowsy; he could not finish the honey, which, if he only knew it, was the sole cause of the deep sleep he was soon in. He slept for about seventy-two hours. When he awoke he was very sleepy, but soon something very vio- lently brought him to his full senses It was a steady rumbling and a jolt every little while. He got up. All around were thick iron bars, looking through which he saw the landscape moving very fast, and, although be did not know it, he was on a freight train bound for Washington, D. C. Now, if you go to Washington, be sure to go to the Zoo. You will find the largest brown bear, and prob- ably the largest bear of any kind, you ever saw. He has been there seventeen years, and you may see him any day, slowly walking back and forth, no doubt thinking of the happy times he used to have, and wishing they were his now. MALIN CRAIG, Jr. AN UNLUCKY CAMPING TRIP. This last spring vacation, two boys, two dogs and myself went camping on Mt. St. Helena. We left San Francisco on the steamer Napa Val- ley, in a drizzling rain, which con- tinued through almost the entire trip. At Calistoga we visited a man my father knew, who gave us a good meal, and our directions. We start- ed out in the rain, and, after about two hours of taking refuge under trees, a bridge and a water tank, we reached the foot of the mountain. We had expected to reach the Toll House (Mt. St. Helena Inn), half way up the mountain by night but had to give up hope of so doing. We then tried to build a lean-to, but later decided that one of us would go up the road to the next farmhouse, which, as we had seen, was but a short distance on, up the road. The one who was sent, re- turned soon, to say Hurry up and pick up the duds and come. The man had said that we couljd use the cow-stable. Imagine our joy when it proved to be a cottage, with two rooms and a fireplace, and dry wood in a nearby shelter.

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20 THE TARGET A MATTER OF BUSINESS. Rob Dawson paid no attention to the old man ' s remonstrations, but went on with his work of putting in the lighting system of the new Opera House. He was doing it the quickest and easest way possible, although he knew he was doing wrong. Andrew MacCullock, his helper, was with him when he put in the lighting system at the church. Mac- Cullock was telling him he was en- dangering the lives of many people by wiring the Opera House that way. Dawson became irritated and said almost savagely, Do as I tell you or get out and I will get some one in your place. I am sorry, laddie, the old man said gently, but I can ' t choke my conscience for any man not even for you. Without another word he walked out. Rob had a quick temper, but when the flash of fire was gone, he repented deeply. He picked up his tools and said, He ' ll be back here after his job again to-night. But when after several days he did not return, he became lonesome working alone, so he hired two young men on the condition that they would do as he told them. Two days before the opening ex- ercises in the Opera House, Dawson finished his job and received a large check for his services. The next day, however, the church he had formerly worked on, burned to the ground. No one knew the rea- son but Rob Dawson and Andrew MacCullock. It was now too late to rectify his mistake. It would ruin his business career if he confessed to the company. Should he risk the lives of hundreds of people, staking them against his business? Mechanically he left the house and turned toward the fated Opera House. He entered a side door, groped his way in the dark. He struck a match and saw crouching near the stairs, Andrew MacCullock. What does this mean? the young man ex- claimed. Nothing, replied the old man in a murmur, I could not bear to see your business reputation ruined; I have been working here every night snce you turned me off. I knew you were young and hot-headed, so I thought I could save you this time may be. No one will find it out, in the meantime you might open your eyes. I have, I have! groaned Bob. I have been repenting all day. I have just completed the work, informed the old man. Everything is square and above board now. Bob grasped the old man ' s hands and said, I have had many friends, but not one like you. Through a long and successful busi- ness career Rob Dawson never for- got the day when he was snatched away from dishonor and ruin by An- drew MacCullock his friend and part- ner. MURPHY COBB. There was a young man called Haven, Who tried once to do some shav ' n ' ; But the razor was dull And he ruined his skull, And that was the last of Van Haven.

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22 THE TARGET Next morning found the sun barely visible through clouds. We set off during a lull in the rain and in about an hour and a half we reached the Inn, after taking shelter under some trees, and an old auto top, on one side of the road. We stayed at the Inn. all that day, which was Sunday, Monday and part of Tuesday morning, when we con- cluded to return to Calistoga, by auto stage, that morning. After visit- ing my father ' s friend again, and get- ting another good meal, Ave caught the train. On the return trip the dogs , seeing the baggage door open, and within reach, jumped out. One slipped his chain, and the other was pulled in unconscious, but recovered soon. The other dog wandered back to Calis- toga where my father ' s friend found him. WILLIAM STEARNS. THE CHARGE OF THE SIGHT- SEEING BRIGADE. Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward, Plowed the old ferry-boat To San Francisco. As the sight-seers landed, Eyes wide expanded, All were of one mind: The Fair was no blunder! Onward, the sight-seeing Brigade L Were they at all dismay ' d As they beheld that view When they gazed breathless? Palaces to right of them, Palaces to left of them, Palaces in front of them And the bright Joy Zone. JOHN BENNETT. INSPIRATION! Oh dear, said Johnny after din- ner, I ' ve got to write a story with a point to it. What shall I write about? Sister is a year ahead of me at school and she wrote all the stories that I have ever heard about and so now there are none left for me. We can ' t write anything that has ever been in print before. Well, why don ' t you write about adventure, replied his sister. Oh, I have never had any adven- tures that turned out with a point to them, replied Johnny, and I ' ve nev- er heard any either. If you go to bed now you will probably remember some story to- morrow, said his mother. And so it turned out. Johnny went to bed but it seemed only a second before it was morning. The air was hazy and Johnny could not see very well. There was no breakfast, every- body was gone. Johnny put on his coat and went into the woods. After a while he met a bear. Good morning, said the bear, I am so glad to se you. I have fasted all winter and a nice little boy would taste very good. Johnnny was so surprised that he could not speak. He looked hard at the bear to see if he were not dream- ing, but no, it was a real bear! Johnny ran to the nearest tree and started to climb it. He never knew that it was so hard to climb. He just barely kept out of reach of the bear. When he got to the top he gave a big leap out, because he thought that he would rather be killed by a fall than a bear. He did not seem to fall rapidly but kind of floated. This time he was sure that he was dreaming, and so he pinched himself to wake up. Just as he did this, the ground seem- ed to fly up and hit him and he felt