HARD TIMES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 22 October 1880, Page 2

HARD TIMES.

(ORIGINAL.) Hard times, hard times aro pressing We never saw such times before; ' They oame very quickly tosaddon our hc&tt But not so quickly do thoy depart; ' Long have we waited, but waited in vain For good times to come back again ; 1 But surely this will not last alway— After the dark night comes the day. Dulness in country, dulness in town, Dulness to press our spirits down; Traffic decreasing in highway and street Dealer with seller not caring to meet; * Farmers sorely puzzling their Vain, Whether to keep or sell their grain; Tradesmen yawning their shops within, So very few customers catering in; Banks, very willing corewhile to befriend, Refusing a single penny to lend ; * Creditors running in liaste about To hunt poor, needy debtors out. Idle everywhere—sad to bo told— Idle men everywhere, hungry aad cold; This is a picture, dark but trvw,. Of what we have just been passing throughBut surely this will not last alway, ' After the dark night ccosaes. the day. Even now we see the first beams riso, In the fair prospect that greets our eyes; Rarely has sijcn a spring-time been, Hope atkoefcs its lustre o'er every scene. Vales,, ridges, and hills to their vex-y tops, I Are fresh and green with the growing crops; (And soon the rain and. tb& sunshine mellow, | Will turn the, green to autumn yellow. And joyous forth will the farmer go, And his sickle the waving grain lay low; Surely then dull times will pass away, And the long, dark night be changed to day. 0 5 day, with richest blessing crowned, ! 0 ! day, long waited for, hasten round, And let us all with gladness see Something of past prosperity. Dealer and farmer meeting so fai»„ And good old prices ruling again s Grain going off by cart and rail—■Going off smart to a ready sale. Business in town improving at last,, The poor man's wages rising fast; Everywhere plenty- for people to dot, And empty poofeets filling anew.," And ?o long and thin, for a apaw„ . back to their wonted forta and j grace. ! 0 ! happy change, we shall gladly say, 1 After the dark night has, come the day. And if hard times that have pressed us Will cool the fevw that raged before— The fever heat and excitement strong, That ltd. us to hurry so fast along— And teaeh us to live more quietly, i Less reckless and money-loving to ho.j j Less looking to others to carry us through I Less of the false life, more of the time— More mindful of Him whoso blessings wt share. If such be the fruit our trials bear, Then surely we shall thank our God alway That the dark night went before the day. Ex Ruek. October 15, 18S0.