A Forecast.

Evening Star, Issue 7431, 28 January 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

A Forecast.

Filling His world by slow degrees with those to whom the Light bad conic, The Mighty Architect looked on this land that it might be a homo For a new race, swarmed off that wondrous hive already parent of a continent. “This Southern Land,” said He, “will be to them a place Where they may grow, without a Past behind them having no various record, No memory of sins and failures sad, moaning discouragement And blighting fair promise. There may they walk the path of purity, Oblivious all of history, save where it warns from rocks or shoals Fruitful of wrecks in years gone by; or, better still, where with glad tone It echoes the pajan of a good achieved,” Still in your youth-tide, How shall our life be shaped ? Is it indeed for naught that we are heirs Of all the ages? Is there no lesson for us ? None to inspire? None full of dreadful warning ? Yes! yes! there is : Even life and death. Are in our answer. Great knowledge, as great chance, demands a devoir Of the highest, noblest worth. And those who fail!—thsir names are written Only on the sand; or, yet worse, are burnt into the glaring brass Of that dread monument which tells the story of the nations fallen, ***** What is this lesson, then ? What is there we should fear ?—what emulate ? Why should we say: “Do we not know more truth than ever yet we lived ? Arc we not urged from day to day to live the good, the true, the Christlike ?” Indeed, we know this lesson well; but yet much waits to reach up to. Much more to tread beneath our feet. And, not the least, the Liquor Fiend His ghastly bead uproars; still is a beacon marking out our race, Our favored nation, which at once most dranken and most Christian is. Shall we bo freer, shall we be purer than those benighted, who Have passed away? Knowledge by suffering entereth, we know; but when, Oh, when shall that sad cup of varied suffering be full, And be the ransom for bright souls which else would sink in infamy ? Courage and Faith unitedly proclaim; “Be strong ! One vice the less Is glorious gain—is virtue added, added tenfold to your store,” W.H.A.

Dunedin, January 25.