sub load_array {
    my $file = shift; # the first parameter is our file

    my @array;

    open(IN, $file) or die "Can't open $file: $!\n";
    # for every line in the file...
    while(<IN>) {
        chomp; # remove the trailing carriage return
        # could also be chomp $_;
        push @array; # put it into our array
        # could also be push @array, $_;
    } # while
    close(IN);

    return @array;
} # load_array

# to run this routine...
my @array = &load_array("test.txt");