St Johns College - Yearbook (Annapolis, MD)

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4 if .Wetrospeetive 77iew. 'I I l I I' HE dark'ning twilight deepens, and the eve grows cold and chill, As I sit before the fire, and with careful fingers fill My pipe with Golden Sceptre, while amid the circling clouds Of fragrant smoke, my fancy the shadowy Past enshrouds With a cloak of gladsome mem'ries - I take a sip of wine As I greet once more in fancy those old schoolmates of mine. The log-tire cracks and hisses, while within the ruddy blaze I see the well-known figures 3 and in the far-off, misty haze Of a Past full well remembered, I can hear the songs we sung. 'Neath the gnarled, old poplar gather'd, e'er the chapel bells were rung - The familiar faces haunt me, and I cannot but repine As I fill another beaker to those old schoolmates of mine. Where are they who, as my comrades, tlirong'd the campus 'and 'the hall P Some now struggle in Life's battle, fair young Pleasure some enthrall 3 At the shrine of Beauty others pleading suppliants come and bow. 'Mong the latter are the Juniors, striving for their sheepskins now. Ah l together I will pledge ye 3 flow for all the rosy wine- Fill to brimming Mem'ry's goblet for those old schoolmates of mme. T54 ,

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vas 3 once again the artist dreamed and let his hopes rise high. Henwas painting his life 3 the light and darkness and the despair 3 he was working for her whom he loved and against her whom he hated. Oh I how the fever burned 3 his eyes Hamed and his hands trembled as stroke after stroke brought the picture to perfection. The painted lights seemed to cast shadows in the gloom, not the tallow candle's rays. Two days, three days, without food or rest, and 'twas finished 3 the last touch was dry, and the picture seemed a marvelous creation ! It was put on exhibition, gazed at, wondered at, ad- mired 3 he was praised, flattered, courted and made much of. He descended from the hated attic and a few short, triumphant days lived in bliss. But the fever was strong and the artist weak. He was sinking. All this praise and glory was naught to him now. The elegant apartment in which he was lying stifled him. His sorrowful eyes rested in turn on the flowers and dainties around the couch. What were they to him P Ah l yes, the world for a day had changed toward him 3 it was pleased to be amused 3 men need amuse- ment 3 but tomorrow, perchance, this same man might be starving. He laughed bitterly, and, as though his mirth were odious to him, he changed his mood and sighed. A spray of tiny lilies answered the sigh, and he looked on them. How pure they wereg how divinely pure, in comparison with the other flowers. The giver of those lilies was before the artist's eyes, and again he sighed. It was dusk, and the shadow deepened. There was light now to brighten the gloom. But, liark l there was a footstep on the stair and suddenly from the thresh- old a light shone forth, a radiant brightness. It was she l The artist stretched forth a feeble, trembling hand 3 this was too much joy. Death stood waiting for him. But the woman whis- pered unto Death, who tarried at her bidding. And she kissed the man upon his brow once, and then again, and he closed his weary eyes and smiled. 'Fi A9-i....4'.L 'P'- lkef N 42 if if 'Rf Q- Q -XNIQ AF 'mod .sw 82,4197-,X f 10 'QW gin 0.T2'1Gli-is 543 i'3 'Jx ' ' 'iff FM. - N - '. fl fe? M 1 7 1. 2,31 fm ' . yl-'T A Q ta. 'm-9'-. ff '4 A: -ff? X ' I Q'-N . U V' ,v . Q ,j 61,331 ,.-13:-,.X Y' Q :f . ..,, , ' ,-- fi, I xi f - , 153

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But, alas! the cleep'ning darkness spreads its dusky mantle ,l'O1.ll1d, Bringing back the eheerless Presentg :incl I heave a sigh profound- As the charr'd and smoking embers on the hearthstone break and lie. So my spirits, like the embers, broken wholly, clroop and die. But, enough--away all sadness Q toward the Past my thoughts incline - And I quaff a farewell bumper to those olcl schoolmates ol mine. ?Nf -x l '. 1213 , Q' ' ' Q' Q' 9. f , . X' -, , V , R 1 A . e 2 lit . Qf':4 , L. sz t ,NW N K,Lb sign' '55