Page 42 - 1959

GOD'S COUNTRY
Long ago, before the foot of civilized · man touched our virgin lands, these
new historic places were a true gift from God.
Just one look at those bountiful lands of the days gone by would convince
even the lowest form of human life that He must be a planner who works on a wide scale basis.
Over and beyond those far away green hills lies God's Country, the most beautiful land this side of Heaven, acres of bounding, rolling plains filled with wild life and beauty of which man is slowly depriving himself for his own greedy purposes.
The Indians, the first Americans, surely had the right plans and ingredients for happiness. They killed and took only what they needed. Those first Americans had acre upon acre1 mile upon mile, of rolling fertile, green plains, with babbling brooks and great rivers from which they drew the fattest and tastiest of fish. These brooks now require laws and game wardens to protect them. The trout and other game fish no longer stock those once overflowing blue depths.
And the trees and great forests of which Canada was once so proud - what has happened to these gallant great tall trees of yesteryear? They have been destroyed! The Indian could wake up in the morning, step outside, and for miles around, could see nothing but swaying giants bowing to him. He would see deer with other game once plentiful in these hugh animal shelters. The redrnan could see the rich green of the innumerable leaves clustered about hugh branches.
He could moreover see to the west the rich, green carpet that lay before him. When the wind gently whispered to itself, the carpet of grass would bend and bow to the morning sun, which was just getting up to relieve the grass of its heavy spread of dew. This great ball of fire rose from its bed in the east, shook from itself the sleep that was still heavy on its brow and awoke to a new day filled with great expectations of itself.
The gentle wind would silently sweep across the wild grain and corn to leave in its path row upon row of bowing stalks of nutritious grain and corn. The tall stalks of yellow, ripened corn would bow in the wake of the wind to their Maker. The hugh, white clouds, billowing and floating across the sky would make you wish for those plentiful days again.
As you lie upon this cool grass, gazing at the hugh, gentle clouds, you silently wish you could do something about restoring the vanishing heritages of our growing country. While a breeze of fresh spring air weaves gently through your hair, you slowly drop off from this world into a quiet sleep and you vow to yourself never to forget God's Country.
JACK BENT 9F
WINTER IN A FOREST
The forest lay stretched out before me. The soft snow had made a pure,
white blanket across the land. The trees stood like tall, black skeletons, casting long shadows across the snow. Through the forest ran a small river covered with ice. The limbs of the trees, heavy with snow, had begun to droop. Some fallen twigs were lying on the snow, marring it irreparable until another snowfall should come from the sky. I hated to walk across the snow, leaving my footprints in it, marking it as had the twigs. I found myself taking steps and walking faster so as not to ruin the forest's floor. As I left it, I took one last look back because I knew that I would never see it this way again.
EVELYN FAWCETT 9A
A TERRIBLE MOMENT
One day, Marcia, who was a private secretary, had to carry some files
to the safe in a darkened old room. On going into the room, she saw footprints on the dusty floor. She went on a little farther until she reached a boarded-up window. She looked down where the tracks seemed to cease. There below a curtain, protruded a pair of men's shoes. Marcia, overcoming her fright, whisked back the curtain1 and to her surprise, she found an old graduation gown and an old pair of shoes covered with cobwebs. Never in her life would Marcia forget that terrible moment. CLAIRE DJXON 9B