fourOne7 culture

THE BENEDICTION

"I SHALL NOT PASS THIS WAY AGAIN"

And it came to pass.
Early in the morning toward the last day of the semester.
And there was much weeping and gnashing of teeth.
For the day of judgment was at hand.
And they were afraid, for they had left undone.
Those things which they ought to have done.
And there was no help for it.
And there were many abiding in their dorms.
Who had desperately kept watch over their books late on the final night.
But it availed them naught.
But some there were who rose peacefully,
For they had prepared themselves the way
And made straight paths to knowledge
And these were known
As wise burners of the midnight oil
And to others they were known as "curve raisers"
And the multitude arose
And ate a hearty breakfast.
And they came unto the appointed place
But their hearts were heavy.
And they had come to pass,
But some of them
Repented of their riotous living and bemoaned their fate,
For they had not a prayer.
And at the last hour there came amongst them
One known as the instructor; who they feared exceedingly.
He was of diabolical smile,
And he passed papers among them and went his way.
And many and varied.
Were the answers given,
For some of his teachings had fallen among fertile minds.
Others had fallen among fallows.
While others had fallen flat.
And there were some who wrote for one hour.
Others for two,
But some hung their heads in sorrow and many of these
Offered a little bull
In hopes of pacifying the instructor
And these were the ones who had not a prayer
And when they finished,
They gathered up their belongings
And they went their way quietly, each in his own direction,
And each vowing unto himself in this manner:
"I shall not pass this way again."

The Daily Illini, Editorial `I shall not pass this way again' The Daily Illini traditionally reprinted these words of wisdom, penned by an anonymous author, at the beginning of every finals week.