A String of Pearls

Maoriland Worker, Volume 13, Issue 31, 1 August 1923, Page 12

A String of Pearls

A jewel expert says, "Lack of light j and air have an. ill effect on pearls, and cause them to lose colour." "Yes," aa.ys tlie Expes-t, as with care He holds the string of pearls to view, "Yes, lack of light and lack of air, Will always make them lose their hue.'"How beaut'i'ul they are," I bay, And- tako the pearls—but are they pearls? For in my hands he seems to lay Faces of little boys and girls. A precious cnain of shining faces, And lustrous eyes without a ptfce, Still fresh from open sunny places,! And still alight with Paradise. Swje'et air I know they fed upon, And heavenly beams nurtured them, And' each between my fingers shone, That which it was, a flawless gem. But aa I looked their lustie faded, Their «|yes grew dim, their cheeks lost bloom, I saw the little faces faded, Like those of children reared 3n gloom, Of children, so beautiful, When born, so equal, fair and bright. Fast losing colour and grown dull, For lack of simple air and light. "You like toe pearls, Sir?'< "Yeis," say I, "What ar 10 they worth?" A fa'nt smile curls His lips—h ie knows I cannot buy A hundredth portion of his pearls. "Thes.9 things are priceless, sir!" "That's true. Jeweller, I'm glad you know they're rare, And will not let "them lose their hue For.lack of simple light and air." —"Tomfool," in the "Daily Herald"