The soil was almost worshiped.  Only the wealthiest could afford to have it in their homes for the growth of flowers.  Fortunately, the soil is very productive and, by reason of its scarcity, it has received such careful attention that all worthless weeds have been actually choked out several thousand years ago.

Thus, the soil being so desirable and staple an article, it was eagerly sought after by all who lived on this shining world.  Yea, some sacrificed their all that they might obtain a goodly portion of the soil.  This desire was so great that it became the ruling passion of many people to accumulate soil all the days of their life, and many died of grief because they could not succeed in satisfying their ambitions.

Now when the speculators saw that the soil was so indispensable and much desired by the people, and that out of it were the issues of life, the wealthier and more crafty of them said among themselves: 

“Come, let us buy all the soil, we and our brethren in all the soil centers, and let us call ourselves a Trust, signifying that we will trust one another to the secrets of our enterprise.”

And behold this saying seemed good in the eyes of these wise men, and they labored diligently until, in the passing of a few years, they had secured unto themselves full possession of all the soil of the Diamond World.

And it was so in the course of time that these corporations held a great meeting and they said: 

“Barns we will build to store products of the soil, and behold we will sell from these storehouses to our workmen for the labor that they may render unto us.”

This scheme was pleasing to all the capitalists and they rejoiced in the bright prospect of the future.  So they built great barns and thus laid away the products of the soil.  Then they appointed agents to sell whatsoever the people wished.

And it came to pass, as the seasons came and went, that these capitalists gave the laborers less for their toil, and charged them more for food at the supply stations.  Thus the conditions became so severe that a man could work from the rising of the Sun to the setting thereof, and they earn scarcely enough to keep his family alive.

After this manner the land owners grew more and more wealthy, built unto themselves handsome little villages, and lived in happiness and refinement.  They also erected for themselves select schools and reserved beautiful plots for their luxury and amusement.

Then did the members of this Trust, in order to protect themselves from all possible trouble, pass a civil law forbidding any laborer to own an inch of soil.  Thus it was very easy to convict a man of theft if soil could be found upon his person or premises.

Now, behold, there were many little spots of vegetation scattered here and there over this whole world.  But the agents of the Trust sent out numerous expeditions to gather up all the loose earth that could be found and carry it to the soil centers.  This work was so completely done that every nook and corner yielded its accumulated dust to enlarge the gardens at the soil centers and thereby increase the riches of the Trust.