December 1953 School Magazine

December. 1953

Brisbane Girls' GrCJJlU1lar School Magazine

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Magazine

December, 1953

After impatiently waiting for the Customs officers to check our luggage, and the other necessary arrangements to be settled, we boarded a train and were soon travelling through the country which, although it was early spring, was bare and lifeless. The atmosphere was foggy and very cold, but even these factors could not dampen our high spirits. At last we alighted at Waterloo Station. Immediately there was to be heard a loud commotion, as people of all sizes, shapes and nationalities talked, laughed and ran hither and thither in a confused, but very friendly, manner. IVe made our way through those jostling people, towards a small party of people eagerly scanning the crowd. It was one of Father's brothers, his wife and daughter about my age. They hurried us outside into daylight and a waiting car . Then we were speeding along one of the great streets of Lon- don. Our relations pointed out the landmarks: Here was the famous St. Paul's Cathedral; now we were passing through Piccadilly; there was Westminster Abbey ; and here the Houses of Parliament with Big Ben (just as it had looked in books at home) ; then we whirled over London Bridge and entered another street. · It was here that we could see a little of the damage done during the war. In many places only a broken exterior of a building could be seen without doors or windows and with the r oof fallen in. There was row upon row of these buildings and in some instances a building had been split in two by a bomb. After about two hours ' travelling, we arrived at a pleasant village in Essex. Here we were ushered into a tiny but very neat and clean cottage. It was here, with my Grandmother, that we were to stay. Lots of uncles , aunts, cousins and other relations were here to welcome us , and Mother and I ha d" a jolly time trying to nan'l.e the various people by Father's descriptions and, before many minutes, it seemed that we had known them all our lives. The evening seemed to fly and, after the gay group had departed, we bade each other good-night and retired to our r ooms. As I looked out the window, before I crept into a cosy bed fo r a well-earned sleep, my cup of happiness overfilled. For t her e, fluttering clown like pieces of white paper in a gentle wind, were snow flakes, promising more enjoyment for the f ollowing day. -BEVERLEY BERRY, IV.B. 4i

true to character, turned his back and ·coolly contemplated the scenery, quite as contemptuous as any who had gone before . The princess, vvounded, flabbergasted and furious, retired, as the saying goes, spitting spiders. She had certainly been mor - tally insulted. That night, for weary hours, she feverishly ·tossed and turned in a bed that might as well have been nettles as swans ' down and contronted the problem she must solve before noon the following day : Did she love the prince enough to hand him the little white mouse and then watch as he joyfully fled? Or cot1ld that black insult which stung her proud spirit like a scor- pion itself be wiped out only by the prince's death? By morning she was resolved. At noon she confronted tlie prince again and turned as a kneeling slave presented the boxes. Although very pale, as heroines always are at such times, she had never looked more beautiful and without hesitation she chose one and handed it to him. Then, not able to watch the result of he.r calm actions, turned and left the assembly, surely, by this time, a reformed character. The robbers, now t ense and eager, were as divided in opinion as the princess herself had been in the night. With traditionally steady hands, the prince unfastened the simple catch and lifted the lid .... The robbers leaped to their feet shouting joyously and closed in . around him while the daring robber princess sank helplessly · to ·· the· ground on a soft cushion placed for the purpose by a thoughtful servant. Now, was that a shout of joy at mercy shown to a courageous and admired hero or was it sadistic delight in human suffering ? And was the princess in such a transport of grief because she had killed or freed the prince ? The odds are just about even and the choice is 1 yours. -B. B ., IV. A DAY TO BE REMEMBERED There is a day in my mind which stands out far more than any other experienced. It is the First of lVIarch, Nineteen Hun- dred and Forty-nine, the day we arrived at our destination- England. The ship anchored safely at Southampton, and the many passengers disembarked. As we alighted on the ground, we were overpowered by a thrill of the greatest pleasure and excitement that was imaginable. Our dreams and hopes, that we had experienced for so many years, had came true-we were (as Father expressed it)-Home. 40