University High School - Cub Yearbook (Oakland, CA)

Page 17 text:

In an ancient city of power and fame I-Iappy lived man with honest aim, A monk made the coffer, now so old, The city's wealth 'twas to hold. Joy was theirs, in that glad age, For love did rule like a wise old sage, They knew of gold but it mastered none, They had a god but only one. Centuries passed and years rolled by, Man was changed but he knew not why, The city fell and ruined lay, The chest was found in the ruins gray. In the modern city of greed and shame Man lives now with gold his aim, The rich own the coffer, I am toldg The poor man's wealth 'twas built to hold. Sorrow is theirs in this great age, For gold is king without a sage, It quickens the pace, increases speed, The more man gets, the more his greed. I-Iis work is to barter, steal, and plot, To seize from his brother, his brother's lotg And faster he works from hour to hour, For real seems his dream of wealth and power His body he'd sell and e'en his mind- Just to have his pocket lined, He loves the feel of heavy gold, He loves to see its even mold. Little he heeds nor seems to care If he be caught in my golden snare, Does man not know his coming fate? Does he not know my realm of hate? As for the chest, so old and worn- In the ruins 'twas found one early morn, But over this casket I threw a spell, I took the gold and used it well.

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1- Gold Come and look, Oh son of man! Draw back thy grasping, clutching hand, Open thine heart and feed thine eyes, See how this mystic treasure lies. Chest of wood so strong and rare, Silver-bound and carved so fair, Wfith broken lock, and bolts unfast, Designed by man in ages past. Come, push back this heavy lid, just as our ancient fathers didg And see what lies in the coffer oldg Look on the metal, yellow and Cold. XVhat see you in that ruddy glare, That makes you stand and blankly stare? Know you thexcurse that brought man lox Know you now his eternal foe? He, with a nod, did turn and ask, Goes there a tale with this weird Cask? The coins are old and possess no date, But bear rude marks of an ancient state. He spoke without intending harm, But seemed to break a magic charmg The lid flew shut with a violent bang, The lock fell off, and the bindings rang. The chest did move, then creak and moan. It gave a lurch, then ceased to groang A voice within, though strange and queer Spoke in tones full bold and clear. Satan I am and I find much joy In fooling man with my yellow toyg This is the toy, and the toy is gold This is the story and the story's old. V

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The gold in the chest appeared to stay, And man it fools to this very day, You saw the gold, but none was there, 'Twas but a trick, an illusion fair. My story is finished, and I must go, These things are true, I made them so, Few worship God, tho', in God there's light, All worship gold, for gold is Might. The lid did quiver, then suddenly rise, A light burst forth, which dazzled our eyes, Brilliant it grew, then slowly died, VVe examined the chest. lTwas empty inside. BENSON MILLA R, Dec. ,IQ 51