THE HAND OF TIME

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1617, 25 February 1903, Page 26

THE HAND OF TIME

Changed is my girlhood’s face, you say, Altered the look I wore When first I came and took my place By Fato’s unopened door Upon the threshold of my life, .With all its joys in store. I do not venture to resent Inexorablo Fate, Nor seek to alter or prevent, Through any peevish hate, T'lio changes that the. hand of time Has laid on me o>f late. What matter that some silver threads Are seen amongst my hair ? Or if upon my face is shown A line or two of care„ They prove how thought and work and pain Have left their footprints there. For all such signs but indicate The lessons life has taught; As shadows bring out character, So faces marked by thought Ho rightly hear the traces of Tho battles they have, fought. Vanished is girlhood’s careless grace, Ephemeral it passed ; Then knowledge and compassion came, With sorrows thick and fast, To hallow and ennoble what Was never meant to last. And so tho silver threads I see Without a trace of shame, And if my faco and brow have changed, Lifo only is to blame, For when Fate called on me to fight, X answered to my name. —Ethel M. do Fcnblanque.