Central High School - Almanac Yearbook (Toledo, OH)

Page 16 text:

Reveal'd stood a man 3 his head was crown'd With a White aureole of hair. His face Was Wrinkl'd with old age, a long White beard Descended to the girdle at his waist. Pax vobiscum ! Why comest thou, my son, Along this road, unused to stranger's feet This many a year? Tell me what seekest thou?' 'Tis food I ask, and lodging for the night, Oh reveren'd father 3 cans't thou give it me? Yea, verily, I can. Wilt thou come in, And share with me my frugal meal? I know That thou art Weary. Thrice a thousand thanks g Good father, lead the way, I'll follow thee. The monk set forth upon the board their meal A simple one-yet such their eager zest, Their hunger soon was satisfied. The monk Aroseg and then the stranger thus adclress'd: What doest thou, my son, so far away From chosen haunts of men? Why wand'rest thou Among these mountains gray? Myfather, I Would gladly tell thee all, but that I fear To rouse harsh mem'ries, painful to my soul. Dost thou think that thou canst conceal from Thy secret? 'Tis no secret to my heart. I, too, have felt love's pangs. Under his lash 3 II1 I, too, have suifer'd. Wouldst thou learn my tale? It was long years ago, in fair Seville, That Fate my steps directed down a street Perfum'd with blossoms of the orange trees That fring'd the Way. The birds were twittering, Their hearts with happiness were iill'd. Above That harmony celestial there came A tone as pure, and ringing sweet, as if An angel had come down to sing of love. In rapture I was steep'd. Again that voice, A maid was singing of a lover dear, Whose 1ov'd one to a distant clime had gone.

Page 15 text:

4111 1555! fl ,campy mc: Q: ' '- ---mv. ,tv-fl .-0: 3 , , I Mig- -,LW-5 Y- Z: . .. ..y...., .,..,, , ,, My ' --4-t :wr-'--.+''f ':-.':.-1-'.-1---'--'-: - --we l- -.. .. .. . '. ' . . . 4' . 52-.I 'fill' '15-J-' -4 'X 'L F 'EE---' ' ' ' 1-. - ' '- ' ,' 1'.2:'.:'-L: e:zi,g,' :,.gz: ' , 5556. 'Y lj.: -'QE I. :. , 3.,3.i:-Uri, - L .- 5: -.cv E , ,qt .:,y.' ' . Q ' 23,354.3 ' 535:62 ir ff x .-'I 1. 3 - '. , - Af, .- 1. f y, wa-1 .br 2- f . ,- 9 VIS T- .-'.-:-1.52.33-E '-rl'-3:::.'- -1.' 'TY ' -' ., F- 4 vm .JI -,-:,.- '.'-5'--.' .. .. .4 A 3- Q.. ' - . S -1-A '-.M-H .'-' '.', ' - 3 rf- 1, , ,-, :-,H . . - 1 , ..-'-.'z-- , .. .-,aw xl .F ,:-.31,.-'1.- it -f-1 ,V g','A :' 1 ' L3 .:S.'i'- I, ,,,.., .. . V ,,L..'.' ' 21? f':1,1'- N .,. , Q . N - Sa.-11' , X-.yn,,Yi..lll,,,,,..,z,,,,, ,I ,,,Jh,yT H I. H 1. X . ,, Q H U ,AM W MIL syn. . , M . l m BY ROBERT E. RICHARDSON AND ARCHIE W. FRENCH. lWinuer in the Annual Poetic Contest.1 LONG a narrow, steep and windingzway, That climbs the purple hills of Aragon, A vvearied traveler urged his jaded beast, And sought in vain for shelter. All around, The mountains shone with splendor, as the rays Of Phoebus' sinking lamp touched all with gold. Their summits, capp'd with never-melting snow, Return'd the light with ten-fold brilliancy. The clouds above then glowld, then pal'd, as day Gave o'er her empire to approaching night. The many perils of the dark'ning path In1pel1'd the gazing Wanderer to halt, And ponder what Were best for him to do. But as he lookld, a ntful gleam of light Reveal'd a monastery, desolate, Which sat alone upon a mountain slope, The monument of long-dead Wealth and power. There could he 'rind a shelter for the night, Perchanceg so on he strugglid 5 till at length He gained the sculptur'd portal. Loud he knocked, And long. The echoes rang through empty halls, Reverberating through the corridors. A sound of clanlcing chains-a rusty key Screeching within the lock-a bolt shot back 5 The door swung inward on complaining hinge.

Page 17 text:

Though crack'd my voice, I ll sing the song for thee, For she has taught it me, I know it well. 'Tis called by some the Spanish Lover's,P1aint: 'The sun shines not when thou'rt away, The world seems sad and weary: Ne'er more shall I be glad or gay, 'Till my 1ov'd one is near me. I fain would sit, and sing of thee, Forever and evermoreg .I swear by the stars above thee, H 'Tis thee I'1l always adore. I'l1 play upon my sweet guitar, And sing of thee, Love's dulcet star.' I turn'd. 'Twas but a passing glimpse I had, But at that sight my heart with rapture thrill'd. A maid .sat there, upon a balcony, With twanging lute passing the hours away. I stopp'd. Again that song rang out. My heart, Pierc'd through and through, by love, beat with fierce joy. I raised my eyes to her's, a moment gazed, We had confess'd our love-each knew the truth. I Day after day sped on in sweetest bliss, In rapture, indescribable in words, A Till on the hush of Sabbath's sacred morn, The clanging, moaning, sobbing, groaning bells Rang out their dire alarm, K The Plague! The Plague! ' She died. Yet I was leftia shatterid wreck To drag a useless life through endless years. 'Twas thus I came to this deserted home Of Mother Church. 'A hermit I became, Yet I 'curse not my lot 3 for, though she's dead, She's dearer even now to me' than e'er She was in life. The years roll on, but can Not dull the brightness of her faceg old Time Makes each line dearergi butJI wish the day Would come full soon, when I may follow her To that place where we never more shall part. God's benison, my son, and a good night I ' The aged hermit rose, and turn'd to go, H