A FRAGMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 12764, 17 March 1906, Page 12

A FRAGMENT.

'TKs past—that troubled and weary Oream—The shadows are fled to their fabled hell; . And the name pf God, like a sick man's ] scream. Is passing away—tis''well, 'tis well. And all is bright,:;and clear, and true ;•..-. v; >. - - Thrcescor3 and ten is the life of man; ' ' The time is short, there is work "to do; ; Gather the roses while yet you can. "Who says there are thorns upon the earth? Bring the liar, forth, and he shall die. We know there is nothing but happiness here, Nothing but pleasurer-and death is nigh. Our sous and ou? daughters grow up in, our sight; % . \ j They die, and are buried in dust again. I Why should we weep? It is Nature's right— j The earth will have her own again. ■....] We cannot afford to think of love; '.threescore aid ten-will soon be on— , j Who but a fool wou'.d think of love. ' .When the hour of enjoyment so soon is gone? Galber the fruits with both your bands; Stay not for monarch, and stay not' for slave. Can a brother's curse or a king's commands Follow us into the deep dumb grave? Wo are happy now, and jet it seem 3 A joy that almost calls for tearsPains and sorrows here below, Eternity void of hopes and fears. Wa will not weep, we will go to the grave With voice unbroken and eyelids dry; < Why should we weep, for to-day is past? And why be glad, for to-morrow we die? • But the race that is yet in the womb of time Mourn for the sorrows ye soon shall see; Weep with a bitter foreboding moan For the short and shameful life to be.

And wake and weep, wake and weep. Ye that lie in the dust of the earth; Wake and weep, then turn and sleep, A sleep unbroken by second birth. —From a correspondent's essay on the late Mr Holyoake in the ' Britißh Weekly.* * » * * *