A School Story

Southland Times, Issue 22293, 7 April 1934, Page 18

A School Story

—Prize.— “Gee! I hope we win to-morrow, boys? You know we have never won that cup yet.” The speaker was Dick Triefield. He and his chum were sitting in a study, discussing their hopes for the coming day. The Trentham Cup, presented by one of the old heads was given for competition between the two schools, Wartcliffe and Hewbury. Dick and his chums were pupils of the latter school. Not once since the history of the schools, had Hewbury won the cup. “I hope so,” broke in Jim, “We’ve a pretty good side. There’s Dickinson safe for the high jump, Rolston for the hurdles, while you ought to capture the 880 yards and mile. But, for the others I’m not so sure about. Anyway we’ll do our best, and give them a good go.” The important day had come, and with it a blue sky, and bright sunshine. Everywhere, there was a bustle of excitement as the starters and helpers made ready for the events. Outside the gates, buses were arriving, full of cheering boys from Wartcliffe. Altogether there were twelve events, in which thrilling competition was expected. The first was the hop, step, and jump, in which Hewbury fixed their hopes on Temple. At length after a hard tussle, he beat his opponent by six inches, with a jump of 32 feet. When five events had been decided Wartcliffe had 17 points, and Hewbury 13. Unluckily, Rolston fell in one of the hurdles, while, in the other, he just failed to win by inches. This gave Wartcliffe a lead of 8 points. Harvey, of Hewbury, in the 100 yards started off in grand style, to win by 3 yards from his nearest rival. At length, with only two more races to be run the scores were: Wartcliffe 35, Hewbury 33. The next was the 220, followed by the mile. The two Hewbury boys, were Forcraft and Perden. “Crack!” From the start Hidson of the rival school, sprang into the lead, closely followed by Perden. Until, within 50 yards of the tape Hidson kept his lead. Then, Perden and Forcraft came up to challenge him. At last, after a desperate spurt Perden rushed past Hidson to win, while Forcraft fell into third place. This made the points equal. Everywhere, intense excitement prevailed. Only one more event to go, and the scores level! The first string for Wartcliffe was Henty, whose job was to make the pace. Then Anderson, a fast, enduring runner came up to finish off, while Hewbury depended upon Dick. There were to be four laps, one round being four hundred and forty yards in circumference. As the pistol rang out, the air began to resound with yells. “Come on Wartcliffe!” “See you win Dick!” etc. From the start Henty led, followed by Burton, Henderson and lastly, Dick. At the end of the first lap this order remained unchanged. Then at the commencement of the third lap Dick crept up to third place, while Henty fell back, Anderson taking his place. When the fouth lap started Dick was lying in second place. Slowly he crept up on his rival. Now there was only a foot between them! At last fifty yards from the tape, they were racing neck and neck. Then three yards away, Dick made a splendid effort and thrust himself on the tape, to win by six inches. Burton filled third place. This made the scores, Hewbury 41, Wartcliffe 39. “Three cheers for Dick, fellows!” “Hip Hip Hurrah!” “Hip Hip Hurrah!” “Hip Hip Hurrah!” Hewbury had won the cup. —2/- and 4 marks to Cousin Desmond Stone (12), Morton Road, Invercargill. —Prize.— Through the long hall echoed the merry voices of the school-girls, who, their faces aglow with pleasure, told an extra-special friend about one of the happenings of the exciting term holidays. It was the first day of the term at St. Mary’s School for Girls, and Miss Bryant, the head, was wisely blind to the wild outbreaks of misbehaviour on that day. St. Mary’s was a modern school, furnished neatly within, and, having some beautiful grounds without. Suddenly, through the school, tolled out, St. Mary’s huge bell, at which each girl hastily gathered her belongings and fled to her dormitory. One girl, however, Dora Mason, did not go with the others, but waited until Miss Bryant came up to her with a welcome, “What do you want, dear. Dora confessed that she was a newcomer and did not know any of the girls. “That can easily be remedied,” said this delightful Head. Come here, Ella,” she called, to a girl, who reluctantly came back from the doorway. “I want you to take Dora up to her dormitory for me.” “All right,” said Ella sulkily, “come on.” Half-an-hour later, all the school-girls trooped downstairs, to the accompaniment of the dinner-gong. At the table each girl spoke in French and so strengthened her knowledge in that language. When Dora jumped into her bed that night, she knew that she was going to like St. Mary’s. Next morning, she surveyed her surroundings with an air of satisfaction. She then looked at her “friends.” There was little Gwenyth Brane in one comer, and the twins, Dulcie and Irene McEwan in another. Over by the door was Nancy Sullivan, the monitress, talking to Jean Sclater and her cousin Mary Dyett. These were the inhabitants of Blue Dorm. It was the only dormitory in the west wing, and, therefore, the girls revelled in many forbidden escapades. One night, a month after Dora’s arrival, the “Blue Dormers” decided to have a mid-night feast in the attic near their room. They had smuggled in provisions during the last few days and were all in readiness Nancy of course, knew nothing about these secret adventures. At ten o’clock, that night when Nancy appeared to be sleeping peacefully, six silent conspirators crept up the stairs to the attic. Through the window a full moon beamed brightly, while by her side in the sky twinkled the baby stars. Six excited (though very sleepy) children, walked through the open door, little guessing what would happen before dawn crept into the sky, once again. Having spread forth the delicious feast the girls prepared to enjoy themselves. With the light of a candle they saw that the watch which Irene held, was pointing to a quarter to twelve. “We had better go back,” remarked Dulcie, suppressing a yawn. “I suppose so,” agreed Gwenyth as she proceeded to collect the various Suddenly Mary gave a cry of terror. “Look!” she said “the candle ’ Five pair of eyes looked back, to see a fire rapidly spreading from the candle flame. “Make for the door,” screamed Jean, and the five obeyed find that the fire had arrived before them. Then Jean and Dora, finding piece of rope, hastily tied it to an old bed, and flung it out the window. Dora was an excellent climber and she succeeded in scrambling outside. Lowering herself to firm ground, she beckoned the others to follow. At only Jean remained, but the attic was full of smoke. Swarming up the rop , Dora climbed through the window and lifted Jeans head out into the open air Waving desperately down, Dora saw a fireman ascending a ladder which he had erected. Just as he arrived and released her of her burden, Dora fell down, in a dead faint. Dora awoke to find herself in the caretaker’s cottage, the object of a great amount of interest. At her side bent Miss Bryant who seemed o look unusually tender for a mistress. Feeling her head Dora found it was swathed in bandages, as were her hands. Then Jean Sclater appeared. “Oh Dora,” she said, “you saved my life,” and Dora smiled faint y back * fortnight laterj Dora f oun d herself, once more in the schoolroom, surrounded by a group of friends. She had been more than happy the last few days, with the girls near her too, as the school was being repaired Of course, she had had her share of the long lecture which followed their carelessness but she did not have any severe punishments. Then came the great day, when Miss Bryant was asked to present to Dora, a gold watch, which was Mrs Sclater’s gift for saving her daughter’s life How the girls cheered! A great friendship then grew up between Jean and Dora, and t ey did not regret the day of the “Blue Dormer s feast. 2/- and 4 marks to Cousin Ruth Dowden (10), 11 Scandrett Street, Invercargill.

Highly Commended.

tents of which spilt all over her desk and to make matters worse that awful girl blamed Ermina for it. When the teacher saw it he was angry and said he was disappointed in Ermina, although. much to Amelia’s disgust, he did not punish her very severely. Shortly after this Amelia was out motoring with her father when through the father’s carelessness the car went over a bank. Mr Smith-Brown had been thrown clear of the wreckage and was scarcely hurt except for a few scratches and bruises, but Ermina had been fatally cut and bleeding. She had also been rendered unconscious. After two or three weeks unconscious in hospital, she came to her the first words she spoke were: “Oh! bring Ermina and the teacher to me, quickly, please.” They were brought immediately. After confessing to the teacher all about the ink, Amelia turned to Ermina and said, “Please will you forgive me?” “Of course,” said Ermina and the teacher too begged forgiveness for wronging her.

Ermina Scott was going to a new school. When the headmaster led her by the hand into her future schoolroom, she felt horribly out of place and afraid. Everybody’s gaze was upon her. She tried to conquer her fears but could not. Then the teacher, Mr Bentley, spoke in what seemed to that nervous child a voice of thunder, and asked her to sit in the only vacant seat in the room. She did and then the class resumed lessons. Ermina, to her own amazement, found the lessons very easy and was soon being highly praised for her talent at drawing and her beautiful writing. She still felt awkward but was less afraid. Drawing, writing and arithmetic being finished the class was let out for a ten minutes’ interval. Once out in the playground nearly every' girl in Std. 4 came and pounded the newcomer with questions such as: “What is your name?” “Where do you come from?” “Have you any brothers or sisters?” She answered as many of them as she was able. All her questioners seemed to be quite friendly, except a few “snobs” who said she was a “Mummy’s little darling.” But in spite of all these drawbacks life went on quite peacefully for a time until one day Amelia Smith-Brown knocked over a bottle of ink, the con-

"Now,” said Amelia, “I may die happy.” A few hours later with her hand clasped tight in Ermina’s, she passed away and there was none who moured more deeply for her than Ermina Scott. —3 marks to Cousin Eugenie McKenzie (12), Marine Parade, Bluff.

Highly Commended. One day the head mistress of the school was giving a prize for the best drawing of a cup and saucer and plate. All the girls went home feeling very excited about it. There was one poor little girl who was very lonely. She had no father to work for her. She had only a mother to work for her. She didn’t have pretty dresses like the other girls. She just had plain cotton dresses. This little girl’s name was Margaret and she was good at drawing. There was a girl at the school who was very unfriendly with this other poor little girl. She was very jealous if someone had something that she didn’t have. Her name was Joan. Every day the girls used to ask each other if they had finished their’s. Joan used to say that she would be sure to win the prize. The day came when the drawing was to be taken up to the teacher. The teacher took all the drawings and examined them. They were all very good but the teacher chose Margaret’s for the best one. She gave her a nice blue and yellow’ cup, saucer and plate. All the other girls except Joan were glad that Margaret had won it. —3 marks to Cousin Pattie Smith (11), Glencoe R.D. Commended. There were once two little girls who went to school. They were good mates and their names were Betty and May. When they went to school together they never fought. One day, how’ever, Betty found May’s pencil. The next day May was looking everywhere for her pencil because it was silver. Betty did not tell May that she had the pencil. May was asking everybody, but they all said they did not have it. When May asked Betty, she blushed, and May knew it was she. May told the teacher because it was the only one she had. The teacher was angry and made Betty give up the pencil. Betty was spiteful when the teacher scolded her. The two girls never liked each other again. —1 marks to Cousin Joyce Hodwen (8), Mataura Island. Commended. Rex, the bully of the school, had two sums wrong. That was how’ the row started. He declared that Jackson had changed the answers and made no secret of it—even accusing him in front of the master. “Jackson and Brown,” said the master, “will remain behind when school is over.” So when all the other boys are gone we find the teacher and the two boys still in the school room. “Jackson, did you change Brown’s answers after he had finished?” “No, sir,” said the timid boy. “He did, sir!” said the bully, “they're his figures.” The master made Jackson write similar answers, but the figures proved not written by him. Such was the master’s verdict of the matter. Jackson was released, and the bully, much to the delight of the rest, received a good caning for telling lies. —2 marks to Cousin Neil Currie (12), Waiwera South. Commended. It was the beginning of the year and school was just over. Tom and Dick had not got on very well this day, as they had been late in the morning, and had blamed each other for the offence. “Now I’ve got you!” Tom replied, as soon as he met Dick along the road. “You’re a coward,” said Dick. “I’m not,” argued Tom. Then the combat began. First Tom had the best of it, but later on Dick picked up courage, and with a mighty blow he landed Tom on the nose, causing it to bleed. Tom’s supporters snarled and spoke nasty words, .while Dick’s supporters cheered him, carrying him high on their shoulders. Thus ended a perfect day to the victor. —2 marks to Ruth Finlay (12), Stewart street, East Invercargill. Commended. One bright sunny day in spring we decided to go up the hill for a picnic. We all arrived at school at half-past nine and packed our provisions and started off. When we arrived at the creek we had our lunch. We got some water and boiled it in a kettle and put what remained in a shadyspot. We started off from the creek and reached the top of the hill and looked around us and could see the houses which we live in. We spent about two hours up the hill. While we were up there we had jokes and riddles. When we arrived back at the creek we had afternoon tea and had some games. About half-past three we returned + »> school after an enjoyable day and we set off for home. —1 mark to Cousin Hazel Monk, Lumsden. Commended. A pretty little girl pulled a low stool up to a blazing fire by a harsh and glum-looking old man. “Tell me a story Papa!” she said. The old man began in a slow, tired voice: “Once upon a time there were no schools, no writing, no spelling and no arithmetic. Everyone did just as they pleased, but now they have to sit in school all day.” The little girl said: “But that is not a story.” “Ah that is only some of it” said the old man. “Once two boys were at school ” “I suppose they were!” Broke in the little girl. “The teacher was very strict, he told them to do arithmetic oh ” He yawned. “You had better go to bed,” he said. The little girl obeyed and sobbed herself to sleep. 1 mark to Cousin Joan Winsloe, 10 years, Merrivale R.D., Otautau. Commended. Little Betty Gibbs sat by herself in a cold seat. “I wish these horrid old sums had never been invented,” she said. “When spelling time comes it will be better.” Alas when spelling time did come she could not hold her pen for fear of dropping it. “If spelling was writing there would be no fear of making mistakes,” she said. “What’s all this fuss about?” said Miss Stern coming up and looking at Betty’s scribble. “I hate spelling, absolutely hate it, it’s worse than horrid old sums,” said Betty. “Well then you’ve got to do it or get the strap,” said Miss Stern. “Come and get your tea,” said mother, shaking Betty. Betty woke up and to her surprise it was her birthday and she had been dreaming. Betty jumped to her feet and ran and sat beside her little cousin Maria. Afterwards Betty told her mother her strange dream. —1 mark to Cousin Iris Winsloe (9), Merrivale R.D., Otautau. Commended. One day when I was going to school the snow was coming down very heavily. Along the hedge were big heaps of snow which were very deep. When I reached school the teacher and all the children were out making snow men. We made an old man and an old woman who were holding hands. We had very few lessons that day because there were very few pupils. When home time came we were very sorry, but as we could have just as much fun at home we did not mind quite so much. 1 mark to Cousin. Shirley Monk, Lumsden. j