The School Prefect

Southland Times, Issue 20172, 7 May 1927, Page 22 (Supplement)

The School Prefect

-—Second Prize.— Patty Martin stood before the school prefect. She was in disgrace, for being the cause of a pillow-fight the night before in the Fourth Form dormitory. Helen Carter, the prefect, had heard a noise in the dormitory, and had gone to find out the cause of it. What a sight met the amazed prefect’s eyes, for on opening the door, she saw Patty and her study-mate, Alice Anderson, engaged in a pillow-fight, while the enraptured fourth form applauded. Seemingly, Helen’s entry was not observed. “Silence,” rapped out Helen, irritably. Patty paused, a pillow aloft in her hand, while Alice dropped hers, and stared at Helen’s stern face. “Who began this?” she inquired, coldly. “I did.” Patty stepped forward, her pretty laughing eyes now serious. Helen thought for a moment and then said, ‘There shall be no hockey practice for this form on Saturday. Patricia, I will see you to-morrow, the rest will take two hundred lines for to-morrow evening.” The amazed form gasped as Helen left the room. “No hockey practice,” Patty wailed. Patty was hockey captain, and consequently felt the blow harder than the rest. Lights-out bell rang shortly after, and without further ado the girls prepared for bed. But now, Patty was waiting anxiously for the prefect to speak. At last she said, “You will learn two verses of ‘Valour’ before three o’clock to-day, besides the two hundred lines. You may go now.” Outside the door Patty’s brows contracted in a worried frown, which was seldom seen on her usually pleasant face. She had only an hour in which to learn that awful poetry and she knew she would forget it. She went up to the study that she and Alice Anderson shared however. Alice looked up from her lines as she entered, “What did she give you, Patty?” asked her chum. “Two verses of ‘Valour,’ and the lines.” Patty worked feverishly with “Valour” till three o’clock struck, and then went slowly upstairs to the prefect’s study. “Come in,” said Helen in answer to her timid knock. “Oh! it’s you, Patricia. Do you know your poetry?” “I —I think so,” Patty muttered. She recited the two verses faultlessly, and when she had finished Helen said, “I have decided, Patricia, to allow the fourth form hockey practice on Saturday, and your lines will do to-morrow.” “Oh! thanks, Helen,” Patty exclaimed, her eyes sparkling. Five minutes later, Patty burst boisterously into the fourth form common room, “Girls!” she cried, “Helen says we may have hockey practice on Saturday.” “Goody for Helen,” they chorused, “she’s a brick.” “Hear! Hear!” cried Patty. —2/6 and 3 marks to Cousin Annie Francis (13), Nightcaps. —Highly Commended.— The clock had just chimed half past ten. St. Bele’s College was in darkness save for the lights burning in dormitory three. These of course should have been out, too, but in tfiis particular part of the building

a desperate battle was going on, the occupants being engaged in a pillow-fight. Great care was being taken to keep things as quiet as possible, for if they were discovered they would all find themselves before the head next morning. “What a stroke of luck, Gray is out to-night,” said one of the boys. (Dick Gray was the prefect for dormitory three and a “real stunner, too,” the boys voted him.) The fun was at its height as these words were spoken, when a cool voice struck in—- “ Not such a stroke of luck boys. You evidently didn’t expect me back so early.” The boys all looked very sheepish and the battle came to a sudden stop. “Say, Gray, you won’t give us away.” “Sorry, boys, but I have let you off too often, and I must report you this time.” Next morning dormitory three had a painful interview with the headmaster in his study from which they emerged all vowing vengeance on Dick Gray. All sorts of plans were discussed to get even with him. That night as Dick hopped into bed he gave a yell, for he landed on a small dead eel. Of course he knew who the culprits were, but being a good sport he let them off with a caution. This generosity on Dick’s part made more impression than all the punishments ever would, and dormitory three in a body vowed to do their best in future for the best prefect in the school. —2 marks to Cousin Bert Lilico (12), “Lammermoor,” Drummond. —Highly Commended.— Mary Megan was a small timid little thing, quite unsuited to be the head girl of the school, but she had come top in the examination and so she achieved the responsible position without having the respect of her fellow scholars. The Sixth Form in general were disgusted with the arrangement and did not do much to help the poor harassed girl. Juniors ragged her unmercifully, and seniors did not seek her opinion on any matter, the result being that work began to slacken and the school was losing its tone. The Headmistress interviewed Mary on the smart manner and gravely pointed out that she would have to resign if matters did not run more smoothly. “I shall do my best,” she answered, and resolved in her mind to be worthy of the name of head before long. She succeeded miserably at first, for two girls on being reproved for shouting looked vaguely hurt and passed on. Mary drew her brows together in a frown, and seizing the arm of one of the offenders, asked, “Did you hear what I said?” “Yes,” they answered. “Bring me your poetry book, then.” The girls were rather astonished, but did as they were told, and were given “The Skylark” to learn by heart. Mary felt she had accomplished something, and she made her way home from school in a lighter frame of mind. The next day was sports day, but weeping skies pour'ed down their sorrow on the earth, and it was school day just the same. Mary went round to each Form room to see they were all there. The Third for some unknown reason were barring the door, and when their head girl shouted furiously to let her in at once, some left the door and sat in their places, but Jean Voil, a most high-spirited girl, gaily said, “Go away, Mary dear, we are having a meeting.” “Let me in at once, Jean,” Mary repeated, “or I shall report you to your Form mistress.” The hold on the door suddenly released and the girls in surprise beheld Mary with flashing eyes and red cheeks confronting them. “What is the meaning of this?” she panted, but the Third Form were dumb with astonishment. Was this the oft despised and often pitied Mary, who gave them half an hour’s detention apiece ? She counted them amid silence, and quietly asked again why the door had been barred. “Mary, it’s our business,” said Jean. Mary’s eyes scorned her, but she said feebly, “It was only a rag.” “The meeting?” “I only said that.” “Will some girl who is decent enough not to tell lies answer me please?” Jean looked rather stunned but subsided into silence. “We were going to wag school,” a feeble voice from the back answered. “Tell tale,” said two or three, but the rest knew it was up to them to tell the truth. “Oh! I see. Just as well I discovered. Who started this brilliant idea?” Mary could make one writhe they found to their cost, yet she gave a quiet smile now and then which relieved the situation somewhat. Jean was looking sullen and angry and wished heartily that she had never thought of such a thing. She backed towards the fire and a hungry flame darted up and licked the hem of her dress. It lingered in smoke, then suddenly burst into flame. She shrieked and rushed towards the door. “Hold on,” shouted Mary above the din which had arisen. She caught Jean and tried to seize the burning piece, but the frightened girl rushed out into the windy corridor. Mary rushed after her and this time managed to extinguish the flames. It was all over in an instant, with Jean white and trembling, with a big hole in her gym. tunic but none the worse, and Mary, except for a rapidly rising blister, quite all right. The inquiry of wagigng was not gone into any more fully, but later the Headmistress called Mary to her study. “I am very pleased with you, my dear,” she said, “and I hope you will continue to hold a firm hand. That little girl Jean came to me and told me all about her escapade, and I do not think you will have any more trouble with her. She seems exceedingly repentant.” Mary walked from the room feeling as if she were walking on air, and she said gaily “I am the School Prefect now, and I hope I can keep my hold on the girls.” —2 marks to Cousin Cathrine Thomson (14) 37 Reuben Avenue, Brooklyn, Wellington. —Highly Commended.— “There—I knew it is just like that mean thing Julia Smith to go and report us when we were going to the hockey match. Now I suppose Miss Finch will give us detention. I’ll pay her out.” It was Barbara Len who spoke. The school prefect had told them to stay in all afternoon, because they had been caught having a pillow fight the night before. “Oh well,” said Gladys (Barbara’s friend), “I suppose it can’t be helped, but we will have our revenge.” “You bet we will,’* chorused the rest of the group. “Come on then we might as well have a good time, while we have the chance. Let’s go downand have a feed at the tuck shop,” said Gladys. So off the girls went, arm in arm till they reached the tuck shop. “What’ll you have girls, candy or cakes?” “Candy,” came the reply. “Two shillings worth of sugar candy, please,” said Gladys. “Two shillings worth,” said the shopkeeper. ‘Yes,” said Gladys, “that won’t go far among six girls.” So having made their purchase they set off for school. “We had better hurry or we’ll be late for gym.,” said Marjory Edmonds. “Oh bother” said Barbara, “I don’t care if we are late, it would only give the mean old prefect another chance to be a tell-tale. I suppose she’s feeling very pleased with herself.” “Oh Barbara be quiet,” said Gladys, “one would think you were going to be sent to gaol.” By this time the girls had reached school and were just in time for gym. The morning soon passed away and after dinner they went into their classroom to await their punishment. They did not have to wait long for Miss Finch the principal came about five minutes after them. “Girls,” she said, “I hear you have been acting in a disgraceful manner. Now, I know it is your half-holiday this afternoon and 1 do not want to keep you in, but I must punish you. You will stay in this afternoon and write one hundred lines on Napoleon. Now set to work at once girls.” With these words Miss Finch left the room.

‘‘One hundred lines on Napoleon,” gasped ;he girls together. ’‘Well, here goes, I’ve started,” said Enid, It took them all afternoon to write theit ines, and when they were all finished they ;ook them to the office. ‘ That is right, ’’ said Miss Finch, “now go and get tidy and never let me hear of you saving pllow fights agan.” The girls scampered off, glad to be free. When they were passing the notice board they saw that there was going to be a swimming competition for the girls of Melrose School on the next half-holiday. "That sounds good girls, how about going and practising after school to-morrow.” "Yes! Yes!” said the girls, “We had better get permission first though.” "Oh we’ll ask to-morrow morning.” At tea time that night there was great excitement and talking amongst the girls. The six mates, Gladys, Barbara, Enid, Marjory, Marion and Gwen, did not have to wait till morning to get permission to go and swim, because after tea Miss Finch stood up and said: "Well girls, I am giving you half an hour off to-morrow afternoon and you may go and practise swimming. Now run along to bed.” Once they were settled in their cosy beds and the lights were out, Barbara broke the silence by whispering to Gladys: "I’ll simply have to beat Julia in the race. I heard her saying to one of the girls that I couldn’t swim as well as I thought I could. I’ll show her that I can swim.” "I’m tired,” said Gladys, “so please be quiet. But you’ll beat Julia right enough.” Then turning her back on Barbara she was soon fast asleep. Next morning when the gong went for the girls to get up, they found that the weather clerk had been kind for it was an ideal day for swimming. Work was done very carelessly that morning. and when Barbara was asked the date of the Battle of Waterloo she had said Wednesday afternoon, because she had been thinking of the coming competition. The last half-hour came at last and the girls with their towels and bathing suits raced down to the river. Quickly they changed and were soon in the water. ’Til show you I can swim,” said Barbara under breath and looking at Julia, and oefore you could say Jack Robinson, she had dived under the water and was swimming towards the forbidden bar. No matter how the others shouted, Barbara would not come back. “Oh girls, she will be drowned, quick aomeone save her,” cried Miss Finch. Before she had finished Julia Smith was swimming out to where Barbara was. The girls saw Barbara go under and rise to the top again. She was by this time half unconscious. “Will Julia reach her in time?” sobbed Miss Finch, when all of a sudden there was a shout from one of the girls and Miss Finch loked up to see Julia swimming back with the half-unconscious, struggling girl. When they reached shore Julia fainted right away and Miss Finch gave orders to carry the girls straight back to school. When Barbara regained consciousness she found herself in her bed with the matron bending over her. “You were nearly drowned,” said the matron. -< but Julia Smith just saved you in time.” “Let me see her,” pleaded Barbara. “No,” said the matron, “you can not get out of bed to-day, and besides Julia is not fit to see anyone, she is in a very bad state but to-morrow you may go and see her.” So Barbara waited patiently, and when next day arrived she went to Julia and said: “I owe my fife to you Julia, what can I do in return. I have been horrid to you about reporting us and you were really right, because we had been warned before. Y’ou were a brick Julia.”

“Oh well,” broke in Julia, “all I want you to do is to keep quiet about my rescuing you.” From that day you never saw two better friends than Juba Smith and Barbara Len, and everyone knew that Julia deserved the honour of being “School Prefect.”

—Cousin Peggy Griffiths (10), 23 Passmore Crescent, Maori Hill, Dunedin.

—Commended.— Vivienne Barnsley, the school prefect, looked with an anxious face at the girl who brought her the summons to go to the principal. As soon aS she arrived at the study she saw by the principal’s face that*she was worried. "Two girls went out to the village over two hours ago, and they have not yet returned. Olga Mason and Mavis Whyte are the girls and they said they would be back half an hour ago. Why they have not returned is puzzling me, and I hardly dare to hope that they are not lost on the downs,” said Miss Drummond. “I know what I will do,’’ said Vivienne, “if you will let me go to look for them.” “Certainly I will, as I know that you would be safe on the downs.” “I shall run and put on my hat and coat,” said Vivienne, and suiting the action to the word she was soon hurrying across the dreary downs, hoping that she would soon find the girt. Vivienne had an electric torch with her, and she was very glad of it in the dark. Calling at the top of her voice, she was rewarded by a faint “coo-ee” in the distance. Hurrying in the direction of the sound, she kept on calling, so as to keep to the right path. The two girt came running towards her and hurriedly tried to give her an explanation. It appeared that they could go no further on the downs when darkness fell, and they had lain down to sleep. “That is all right, but please keep your explanation for Miss Drummond as she is very anxious for your safety,” said Vivienne. Miss Drummond and all the girls were waiting at the gates of the school anxiously awaiting the return of the girls. Great was the cheering which rose on the still night air, as they espied the prefect and the two girls coming. After the congratulation of Miss Drummond and the two wanderers were warmly wrapped up in bed, the girls gave full vent to their voices, as the cry was given: “Three cheers for the school prefect!” And amid the lusty shouts Vivienne was carried shoulder-high up to the school. —1 mark to Cousin Jean Anderson (14) “Wattle Park,” Kennington.