THE DEAREST CHARMS OF HOME.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 147, 22 June 1889, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE DEAREST CHARMS OF HOME.

How rich the charms which beautify and bless The cheerful home, which loving hearts adorn— . , "Where virtue sanctifies the fond caress, As dear as that which graced the bridal morn.

\nd sweeter than the 9irens' songs are now The notes of gladness and the thrilling lays, Which cheer the soul and smooth the furrowed And bring us back the dreams of other days.

Love's brightest beams illumine all things fair. And good and noble, round the household shrine; , ,____. And hope's rich dreams for ever centre there, For ever hall owed with the light divine.

And richer than the lays of land or sea, Of Nature's sweetest minstrels, are the songs Of winsome children skipping o'er the lea. Unmindful of life's cares and of its wrongs.

Too oft, alas, the orange blossoms fade, And blasted hopes betray the tempters power, And give the lie to each fair promise made, Kach vow recorded at the hridal hour.

The graceful beauty of the youthful form. The winning coyness that the heart loves hest, Of I. disappear for ever as the storm Of passions fierce sweep ocr the hridal nest.

Though sweet the songs which consecrete the And rich the music of the deep, blue sea, Though Nature's wondrous charms our hearts compel _ . To own the wisdom of the Deity,

We prize the richer charm so oft denied To those whose restless feet afar would roam; Tho God-sent music of the ingle-side, To rich and poor the dearest charms of home. E. S. Husband, Auckland.