Willard Middle School - Target Yearbook (Berkeley, CA)

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Prince David RINCE DAVID lay back in the bed, his face white and drawn. He was in a spacious, comfortable bed in a large airy room of his father ' s beautiful castle. The door opened and his physician entered. Well, my little prince, said the physician, how are you feeling this morning? Not a bit well, answered the prince. Can ' t you make me better? The best cure for you, answered the doctor, is happiness. Why, when you ' re well, you ' re the happiest little boy I know. Can ' t you be happy and bear your troubles while you ' re ill? But how can I be happy, asked David, when I can ' t get up and play? There ' s nothing to do when you ' re in bed. Nothing to do? said the doctor. He looked around the room. It was filled with all kinds of things to amuse a little sick boy. There were books, games, puzzles, everything. The doctor laughed. Nothing to do! Well, good-bye, David. I hope you feel better the next time I call. In an adjoining room the physician met the king. How is he? asked the king. Not very well, answered the physician. He ' s too unhappy. I ' ve tried everything, said the king despairingly. It might have been different if he ' d had his mother ' s care, although I know Nancy takes fine care of him. But. . . it is different. The king sighed. I ' ll try as hard as I can, but if something doesn ' t happen before long I don ' t know what I shall do. Would you like me to read to you? asked Nancy, entering David ' s room. When David had been smaller she had been called Nurse Nancy, but now that he was eleven, she was called just Nancy. She took care of David as tenderly as any mother could. David loved her very dearly only he did not realize how impolite and cross he had been to her during his illness. Well, my boy, she asked, is there anything I can do for you? No, answered David. Do you want to read a book? Let ' s see that one, over there, he answered. Take it away, it ' s the most uninteresting book I ever looked at. No, I don ' t want to. play any games or to work puzzles. I wish you ' d leave me alone.

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he knew White Raven could overpower him, although he himself was of heavier build. The best place to cross was half way down the incline. When he was ready to cross, he saw White Raven at the top. White Raven began to descend and Bear Claws rushed into the water. He got half way across to a little island in the middle. A few more leaps and he would reach safety, but he never got to the other bank, for he was swept to his death in the rushing torrent. Die, dog, die! shouted White Raven, when he saw his rival swept away to his death. He walked back to the Great Rock, reflecting on what had hap- pened. He reached the rock and Eyes-of-the-Fawn was still waiting for him. He took her tenderly in his arms and whispered: The Great Spirit in the Bounding Deer Falls has taken him. To- morrow I will put the price at your mother ' s door. There, many years after, on the Great Rock I found Bear Claws ' arrow. STEWART KIMBALL. o Willie ' s Perplexity Willie Jones was a well mannered little boy. However, there came a time when his manners had to give way to his fondness for eats. One day his mother had some guests in for an old-fashioned dinner served in an old-fashioned way. The evening went very well for all present until the dessert was passed around. Willie could not sit at the first table as there was not enough room. He did not like the idea of waiting as he was afraid that there would not be any pie left for him. But on the assurance of his mother that there would surely be one piece left for manners, he consented to sit at the second table. Unseen by the guests, he watched the progress of the dinner anxiously through a crack in the kitchen door. At last the pie was served. His anxiety grew. Before his bewildered little mind, the last piece was taken. And almost instantly he exclaimed, There it goes, manners and all, just as I expected ! — THIRZA TRENERY.

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Nancy had no sooner left the room than David heard a tapping on the window pane. He looked up. The window opened and there stood a little man dressed from head to toe in a suit of bright blue. He held in his hand a large key that glistened in the sunlight. Who are you? asked David. Ah! said the little man, I am the Blue Elf of Happiness. Well, what do you want? David asked. I want to make you happy, answered the Blue Elf. You can ' t do it, said David. ' You ' d be surprised at some of the things I can do, answered the elf. Now the first thing to do is to take this key and unlock your treasure cove of happiness. How can you do that? asked David. I ' ll show you, answered the elf. He took the large key, held it up to David, and then turned it. Now your happiness is unlocked, he said. How silly, said David, laughing. But you see the key had unlocked his happiness already or else he wouldn ' t have laughed. Now the secret of happiness, said the elf, is this: When any- one asks you if you want to play a game as Nancy did this morning, say, ' Yes, thank you, that would be fine ' . But what if I don ' t want to, asked David, and how did you know I didn ' t want to do anything this morning? Oh! but now that your happiness is unlocked, you will want to, answered the elf. And as to me, why, David, I know everything you do. Well now, David, would you like to read a book? Yes, please, that would be fine, he answered. The elf brought him the book that Nancy had brought in the morning. That book does look interesting after all, said David, very interesting. And this game must be full of fun ! Will you play it with me ? No, David, I must go. Ask someone else to play it with you, but don ' t make a bother of yourself. You can be happy alone with your books and puzzles. Good-bye, David. When the king entered Prince David ' s room, he found his son wore a beaming face. He caught him in his arms saying, Ah, my little son looks better. I am, father, cried David, for I have found that the secret of happiness is to be kind and pleasant. — ELIZABETH PENNELL.