Willard Middle School - Target Yearbook (Berkeley, CA)

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26 THE TARGET The hills were covered with pop- pies, so brightly colored that they almost dazzled the eyes, and Ellen stopped to pick a big armful to take Aunt Lucy, who was an invalid. Soon she came to a little path, winding away into cool, shady woods. Suddenly she heard a most curious noise, half-way between a grunt and a growl. Looking around, Ellen saw a big creature coming toward her from out the bushes. Ellen, who had been wishing for an adventure, and whose lively imagina- tion had been inventing daring feats, gasped out, A bear! and with great bravery flung her armful of poppies straight at the bear. She fairly flew over the path to get to the house. But she tripped and fell and before she could get up, the creature was upon her. Ellen felt a fur coat toucii her cheek and looked up. A big, shagg} ' dog, with poppies hanging on his rough fur and drooping around his head, was gazing at her, with as- tonishment clearly written on his good-natured face. And to think, she said afterward, that I wasted all those poppies on j. plain dog! DOROTHY BENNETT. APRIL SHOWERS Pitter, patter falls the rain On the dripping window pane; The crocus and the daffodil Lift up their heads to drink their fill. The sun, from out his hiding-place, Peeks through and shows his golden face; Then a rainbow gleaming bright Makes the heavens a glorious sight. ALICE PEDERSEN. THE SECRET SPRING John Scott suffered from a curious disease. Often he fell into a deep sleep lasting many days, from which he could not be wakened. Fearing that people would think he was dead, he had a coffin made which might be opened from the inside by a spring. Scott ' s business took him to many many countries. He usually took his coffin with him on his travels, but once on an ocean voyage he left his precious box at home. The second day out he was overcome by sleep. When he awoke everything was dark and still. He feared he had been buried alive. He reached to touch the spring, but it was not there. He suddenly remembered that he had left his own coffn at home. He became terrified and reached his hand upward and touched — wood. He reached to his left and touched — wood. He felt below him and touched — wood. The sweat gathered on his forehead and cold chills ran up and down his back. Would he ever be able to get out! He then reached to his right, but he could feel — nothing. He began to gain hope. Then he crawded slowly in this direction. He had not gone far when he felt him- self suddenly fall. He landed with a bump and grop- ing around in the darkness he touched what seemed to be a v all. Eagerly he felt along the wall; he touched a button. He pressed this and the room was suddenly flooded with light. The ship ' s bells struck four. He laughed nervously as he found he was still on board the ship and had only fallen out of his berth just below the light switch. FRED PETERS.

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THE TARGET 25 The Art Course m the Ninth Grade The world ' s activities are grouped in terms of art: the industrial arts, the liberal arts, the mechanical arts, the domestic arts, the manual arts, the fine arts. Art is the skill, taste and judgment with which we adapt things in the natural world to our personal needs. The value of a strong course in free hand drawing is recognized in all schools of high grade. It is a pre- requisite for many of the advanced courses in High School and Univer- sity, and students of the Ninth Grade cannot afford to disregard it in the serious consideration of their future course. The plan in the Ninth Grade is- a very practical and broad one, which aims to give the students a glimpse into many fields, and to develop in each an individual power of expres- sion. Criticisms and discussions which bring out individual tastes and judgment are a vital part of the work and are considered co-equal with the technical problems. The work is related very closely to the other subjects which the students are studying, and to their school and civic activities as well. Ideas are drawn from English, History, Me- chanics, Architecture, Music, Ath- letics. Original designs in posters are encouraged, and the illustrations and cover designs of the school maga- zine, The Target, are the work of students in the drawing classes. Skill in the use of pencil, pen, brush, crayon, charcoal and water color is gained and with it the more vital thing, — the fine control of hand and arm which is necessary in every line of work. A thorough study of color is made by laboratory method, by which stu- dents analyze and create colors, with given pigments. They are given op- portunities of judging colors in pic- tures, in textiles, and choosing from them pleasing combinations. Their color sense is strengthened and bet- ter taste and ideas developed along this line. This course then, stimulates imag- ination and keener observation; de- velops skill in hand and arm control, enables one to have greater power of individual expression and teaches the broader meaning of art. A LIVELY IMAGINATION Ellen, who loved to read mystery stories, and tales of adventure, was in the largest and oldest apple-tree in the orchard, lost in the pages of her exciting book. But in a few minutes her mother ' s voice interrupted her, Ellen, dear, will you go to Aunt Lucy ' s now? So Ellen climbed down, reluctantly, and started on the half-mile walk to Aunt Lucy ' s house, which nestled in the hills just above the little valley. As the day was warm, she walked slowly, still thinking about the book she had left behind in the apple-tree. She fell to wondering what she would do if an exciting and mysteri- ous adventure sought her out. Of course, I don ' t think anything unusual would happen, she mused, but if it did, I ' d like to be ready for it.

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THE TARGET 27 The Prince In the forest of Birkshire in Scot- land, there lived a lad and his grand- father in a small cottage. One day Robert chanced to be sit- ting on the front step, when horses ' hoof-beats sounded a little way off. Whar ' ar ' ye, Oliver? came a low voice through the trees. Here, sir, was the reply. Then two horsemen came riding through tl e trees, and stopped in front of the cottage. Know ye whar ' we ar ' , Oliver? Nay, sir. These parts ar ' strange to me. The riders were dressed in hunting garb. Robert thought how big and strong they looked. Can ve tell us th ' way, laddie, to Birk? That I can, replied Robert. First ye take th ' path ye see to your left, sir, an ' ga ' until ye come to a small stream. Cross th ' stream an ' take th ' highway. When ye come to th ' cross- roads take th ' one to your right an ' that will lead ye to Birk. Thank ye, laddie, replied the horseman and threw Robert a shilling. Then the two horsemen turned their horses around and started down the path. Will ye not tarry a moment, sirs? called Robert after them. Will ye not tell me whar ' the festival of Birk- shire will be held this year? Ah, yay, returned the first horse- man, in the town o ' Birk. Thank ye, sir. The horsemen were soon out of sight. Two days later Robert and his grandfather came out of the cottage to start for Birk. Robert had begged so hard to go to the festival that his grandfather had at last consented. They started for Birk on foot, over a dusty stony road. O, grandfather, wha ' a fine time we shall have at the festival, cried Robert as they went along the road. Yay, Robert. ' Twill be very gay a ' th ' festival. And so they came to Birk and the streets were decorated and the houses. The people were all dressed in their best and walking about. Robert and his grandfather walked in the crowd and enjoyed the excitement. Then trumpets sounded and the trumpeters came marching down the street. After them came a chariot decorated for the festival. In it was a man who Avas tall and dark. Hurrah! Hurrah! for the Prince! shouted the people. Robert gazed in astonishment. The man was the horseman who had asked him the way. Before his grond- father could stop him, Robert ran up to the chariot a nd knelt before the Prince. Rise, my laddie, said the Prince. Robert obeyed. Your highness, I am the lad you asked the way of in the forest. Do you not remember me? O, yay, lad. Would ye not like to have a merry time on this festal day? Come jump up behind, lad. Thank ye, your highness. When the sun went down Robert did not want to leave the Prince and the gay festival, but he was very sleepy, and at last: I thank your highness for the gay time ye have