July 1960 School Magazine

Iuly, 1960

Brisbono Girls' Grqmmcrr School Mcrgczine

Iuly, l96O

Brisbqner Girls' Grcrmmqr School Mcgazine

MOONLIGEIT WALKS From Wordsworth's line : ". . . let the moon shine on thee in thy solitary walk," we can infer that his sister loved to walk at night. It does not require much imagination to see her moving between the shadowy rows of tall trees, stopping now and then to watch intently some sly creature playing unaware in the moon- light, or listen enchanted to some night bird's call. We can picture her running eagerly through the long grass to the edqe of a gleaming lake where she stands drinking in the calm serenity of the reflected moon and the dim outlines of the nearby mountains. This picture has always awakened in me a romantic longing, and it was with great delight and anticipation that I viewed the prospect of a paper chase one Saturday night. Substitute, however, for the beautiful Lake District, a dusty, pot-holed track, and for the moonlight night, one in which what there was of the new moon was obscured by cloud; and you have the setting for our walk. The only thing solitary about the outing, which the seven of us undertook, was the atmosphere of the road, which was entirely without illumination and bordered on both sides by tea- tree swamp. Unlike Dorothy Wordsworth, we hastened on as each rustle of the bush announced the approach of something we did not wait to identify. Each noise, far from delighting my companions, made them tell in hollow voices how a woman had been shot on this road only last week. Suddenly, we all stopped in our tracks, frozen by the weirdest sound the night could produce. There, right beside uS, staring with frightened eyes, was a donkey. With mixed feelings of relief and mirth, we crossed the main road and proceeded through the grass up the hill. Even if that tree, silhouetted against the dark sky at the top of the hill did look like a man's head, it was very unfeeling of my sister to mention it when there was so much beauty in the cultivated fields which lay on either side. We were now in the open countryside and I felt sure that the moon would soon come out and reveal something as beautiful as the Cumberland lake. We reached the top of the hill, and there below us lay-a cemetery. By this time, all expectation of an enchanting moonlight walk was shattered, and I trudged on resignedly. Perhaps it was foolish to expect that the reaction of a nineteenth century young woman surrounded by beautiful English countryside could be awakened in the breasts of young people of this practical twentieth century, as they walked through rather drab parts of Australian bushland. D. RUTTER, VI.B. 19

Because of the low cost of living, the meal would appe;ar to us very extravagant for their small means, some of the foods being chicken, turkey, savouries, Turkish delight, stuffed dates, and tasty oriental cakes, while "sherbets" or sweet fruit juices are drunk. One of the "musts" ate sugar-coated nuts-the sign of happiness. Throughout the reception, the women and men do not rningle at all, and following the introduction to each other, the bride joins the women and the groom the men. The entertainment consists of women singers and sometimes dancers who dance firstly for the men and then for the women. (Of course, only the female dancers dance for the women !) The festivities last until the early hours of the morning, when the excitement reaches a peak with everyone cheering enthusi- astically and calling gocd wishes to the bride and groom as they depart. -M. GRIFFITHS, VB" SILtrNCE Deep, profound, wellspring of thought and prayer, Divine escape from worldly toil and care. No harp nor iute thy music could come nigh, From thee were all things formed and fashioned, by

The Potter's hand-from silence, mud and clay; From silence broke Earth's new awakened day. Art thou for Man to gauge his thought of heaven, Or art thou but another Gift-God-given. What binding tie has linked thee to dark death Or left thee, witness to Life's final breath ? Death hath no sting, and grave no victory And silence, thou wast ne'er Man's enemy. Then thou must be-Creation as thy boast, Nearest to God, and therefore treasured most.

LYN HAMILTON, V.B.

-V. CARR, IV C.