Analy High School - Azalea Yearbook (Sebastopol, CA)

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Then she told me. There was ,a little ebony box given to an emperor ages ago by a Japanese god. It was the greatest treasure of the royal family and each succeeding emperor jealously guarded it. He alone knew what it contained, but there were many surmises as to its secret. Some people said that there were precious jewels and gold in it, and others told tales of a little ivory god with flashing blue jewels for eyes and tiny feet of gold, who sat cross-legged on the velvet lining of the box. One very old wise man said it held the secret of eter¬ nal youth, ,and a very old lady said the secret of a child’s laughter was hidden in it. Many believed that there was noth¬ ing in the box at all and said the tales of jewels and treasure were just foolish rumors, but the emperor alone knew and smiled wisely to himself. She had been entrusted with the care of the box by the emperor’s daughter. It had only been for a short time, and in that time she had lost it and the emperor was very angry. If it was not found in one hour he would cut off her head. She had hunted everywhere for the box and no where was it to be found. She did not know where she had lost it; only that she had had it and then it was gone. As she told her story an overwhelming desire swept over me to know what w,as in the mysterious box. My hand sought my pocket and I never knowing how it got there! We went to the emperor’s palace. He was a little old wizened brown man with sharp eyes that continually shifted from place to place, watching every movement made. I fell to my knees before him and made respectful obei¬ sance. Rising I s,aid, “0, Emperor, if I could return the gift of the gods to you, what would you give me?” His skinny hands clutched at his embroidered robe, but he said scornfully, “Who is this mad creature who talks of my treasure?” “Look, 0 Emperor!” and I drew forth the little box. He reached forward his hands and cried, “It is mine, give it to me.” I drew back. “Not until I am rewarded for finding it.” “What do you ask for a reward?” Tell me the secret of the box and show me the hidden spring that I may open it and see the treasure with my own eyes. ’ ’ 18

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The Ebony Box By ZELDA PITKIN (Third Award) O N a wet, muddy street in New York I found it. It was just a little ebony box; but such a box! Dainty,intri¬ cate designs were carved upon the dark surface. On the box sprawled a hideous little dragon with sparking rubies for eyes. Every minute scale of the dragon was carved by a master hand so cunning in workmanship that the beholder must pause and marvel at the wonder of it. I turned it over and over, gazing at its exquisite beauty ,and taking out my hand¬ kerchief I carefully wiped the mud and rain from it. As I did so a faint delicate odor was wafted to me. I raised my head, inhaling the perfume. “Spring must be coming,” I said, “I smell flowers.” I carried the little box home to my dingy apartments and set it on the table. Dropping to a chair in front of it I fell to wondering where it came from. I tried to open it, but the lid would not budge. My curiosity grew and grew. What was in that box? Again that faint sweet aroma came drifting to me. What yas it? Did it come from the box? I bent closer. It became stronger and sweeter. I closed my eyes with the joy of it. How strong it was! I opened niv eyes and my sight fell upon great clustered masses of cherry blossoms blooming above and around me, and the breeze showered them down to the green grass beneath my feet. I stood underneath a great flowering tree of them. The bees buzzed happily among the flowers and somewhere ,a songster poured forth his liquid notes of song. High up among the snowy flowers a bluebird flashed his brilliant plume. Where was this land where springtime was so joyous? Through the trees came the answer, a little brown Japanese m.aiden with sad almond eyes and troubled face. A playful breeze showered the white petals on her shining black hair and blue clad shoulders, but she gave no heed. Why should she be crying so, when spring was everywhere and the birds were singing stories about the houses they would build among the branches? I spoke to her and asked her the cause of her apparent grief. 17

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“You shall never see inside its cover; sieze him!” I quickly fled to the great open door of the palace, through which I could see the blue waters of a lake smiling in the sun¬ shine. “If you hut touch me,” 1 said, “I shall hurl it into the lake and you shall never see it again.” His old face grew suddenly very tired, and he said in a weary voice, “I am an old man; give me my treasure and go away.” My heart smote me, but I s,aid finally, “Tell me how I may open it.” He dropped his head on his wrinkled hands and said in a low voice, “Press the left eye of the little dragon.” Now I would know. Now my eye could feast upon the wonderful treasure. My han ds trembled in their eagerness as I touched the gleaming ruby. The lid slowly raised- “If you want yer supper you’d better hurry, it’s a-coldin fast.” The h,arsh voice rang in my ears and before my eyes the emperor and all his court grew very dim. Through the wide dorway I caught one last glimpse of white cherry blos¬ soms, and blue water. The sweet scent of the blooming trees faint and far away. Across the lonely sight spread the dingy walls of my room, shutting out that fair land and closing in the disagreeable odor of frying food. There in my hand lay the little box with the red-eyed dragon on its fast closed lid, glaring up at me in malicious triumph. The sulky voice of my landlady had broken the delicate thread of thought which bad held me in another fairer land, where spring laughed and sang and where a tired old man mourned for his treasure. Now I would never know what mystery the box held nor how it came from the l,and of cherry blossoms and springtime to a wet, muddy New York street.