LADIES’ PAGE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 704, 28 August 1885, Page 4

LADIES’ PAGE.

' Having appointed a lady to conduct this parte, we have to request that all communications upon domestic matters, dress, cuisine, &c. &c., he addressed to Madame Elise, of the New Zealand Mail. the children."' Found in the desk of Charles Dickens after his . death.] When the lessons and tasks are ended And the school forthe day is dismissed. And the little ones Rather around me To bid me “goodnight’ and bp kissed ; Ob the little white arms that encircle My neck in a tender embrace ! Oh, the smiles that are halos of heaven, Shedding sunshine and love on my face . And when they arc gone I sit dreaming Of my childhood, too lovely to last ; Of love that my heart will remember When it wakes to the pulse of the past, Ere the world and its wickedness made me A partner of sorrow and sin, When the glory of God was about me, And the glory of gladness within. Oh, my heart grows weak as a woman’s, And the fountains of feeling will flow. When I think of the paths steep and stony Where the feet of the dear ones must go ; Of the mountains of sin hanging o’er them, Of the tempests of fate blowing wild ; Oh there’s nothing on earth half so holy As the innocent heart of a child. They are idols of hearts and of households, They are angels of God in disguise, His sunlight still sleeps m their tresses, His glory still beams in then* ©yes : Oh those truants from earth and from heaven, They have made me more manly and mild, And I know how Jesus could liken The kingdom of God to a child. Seek not a life for the dear ones All radiant, as others have done But that life may have jiist as much shadow To temper the glare of the sun ; I would pray God to guard them from evil, _ But mv prayer would bound back to myself , , Ah, a seraph may pray for a smner. But a sinner must pray for himself. The twig is so easily bended, I have banished the rule and the rod ; I have taught them the goodness °f k °°p J°, dge > They have taught me the goodness of God, Mv heart is a dungeon of darkness, M Where I shut them from breaking a rule , My frown is sufficient correction, My love is the law of the school. I shall leave the old house in the autumn, To traverse, its threshold no more Ah, how I shall sigh for the dear ones That meet me each morn at the door. I shall miss the good nights and the kisses. And the gush of their mnocent glee, „ The group on the green and the flowers That are brought every morning to me. I shall miss them at morn and at eve. Their soug in the school and the street, T shall miss the low hum of their voices And the tramp of their delicate feet. When the lessons and tasks are all ended, And death say the school is dismissed, Mav the little ones gather around me _ To bid me “ Good night and be kissed. —Charles Dickens.