MEMORY'S IDYLL.

Otago Witness, Issue 919, 10 July 1869, Page 11

MEMORY'S IDYLL.

The low brown house, I see it now; Grandmother, with her knitting, A holj' calm upon her brow, In shaded porch was sitting. All down the path the poppies flamed, j Stiff box made green the border, And small blue violets, half ashamed, Grew low, in sweet disorder. I had been reading on the porch, Aloud, in Revelation; It seem'd like Sunday, and like church, With two for congregation. The birds calPd loud from ash and fir; I could not be unheeding; I pluck'd a sprig of lavander, To keep the place in reading. I wander'd down by balm and rue, And clumps of china- aster; I thought,— well, Jack, I thought of you, With heart- beats somewhat faster. Do you remember how the vine Grew close o'er all the arbour? It was a favourite haunt of mine; A dear, secluded harbour. So in I stroll'd. And there you were, In all a dreamer's glory: Ah, you remember ! Tell it, sir I Ay, dear, you end the story. So Jack, no longer boyish dreamer, Jack Took up the parable. I loved you, dear, And I had loved you many long months back, So it was joy your far-off: voice to hear. You re-ad the Bible, and your sweet grave tone Seem'd like my angel's, searching all my soul. I wanted you, my darling, for my own, Yet fear'd to be unworthy of that goal. And when I heard you coming tli rough the flowers, Seeking like Eliezer, for a sign, I said, if she comes to me, oh, ye powers, If her dear feet turn hither, she is mine. Then in you came, my darling, sweet and shy, The dearest, primmest, prettiest maid in life ; I felt like king of all the worlds when I First gain'd your promise low to be my wife. Do you remember how, a little ape Thereafter, tlirough the flowers we wander'd back, And dear old grandmother look'd up so sago, And smiled a blessing on her Besa and Jack.

It is estimated by a South Australian journal that the importation of flour that will bo required for .Now Zealand before next harvest will bo 11,518 tons.

The first issue of Mr Brough Smyth's work on the Gold-fields of Viotoria has been almost entirely disposed of— a fact which speaks well for tho intelligence and thirst for information which oharaoterise the large portion of our population engaged in mining industry. The now inspector of runs in Tasmania (Mr Crawford) is said to have mado disooverios which will increase tho land fund. Land has been in tho occupation of individuals for years who have pud no rents, and muoh that has hitherto been only rookoned as pastoral is dtted for agricultural purposes. When details are furnished, wo may have an nfuuion of new blood amongst us. A young woman in Chicago has invented a now branch of female usefulness. 8h« advortioea that she will "givo lessons in etiquette, and the way of conversing with ladies, to any young gentleman who doos not feel at oaso in tho socioty of tho opposite sox. Tuition to lovers extra." She makes a specialty of proposals in various forms.

A notablo sporting announcement is mado by a contemporary. Mr J E. Taylor (well* known in Dunedin), the champion skater of tho colonies, and exohampiou of tho Call, fornia middle weights, is willing to baokhim* self against any person in a velocipede race ; and failiog an antagonist, is willing to wager that ho wilt prooeod from Molt>ourno to ■S)da»y on on* of the now locomotives in 20 days,