TO MY FRIEND, D.D.

Otago Witness, Issue 1465, 13 December 1879, Page 20

TO MY FRIEND, D.D.

While at roy work each day, dear Davp— Task-bound from morn to eve I slaveMixed fancies Mil take wing: And some are bright with hope and joy, While more, with memories that annoy, Are dark a».d ehadowincr"; These in a term now cast I would. Of which thou might'at approve, If I could but compel my mood Into a rluming groove — ' That wandeis, meandera With eveiy p»shlii^ whim, > lhan entenrg and centering Its powers oa the theme. > ' , Now when the lark its cirola flay * Sings in the skies the livelong day, ■ > from morn to dewy cv.c, And lambs are bleating 'mong the braes That, qulckei ed with the summer's n>j3, Are spiiDeirg fiesb and green : When ivature has pranked her gay robes With flowers and squares of gr-eo, Until eat. h pulfe more buoyant throba • At each more phasing scene ; Then vaulting, exulting, Our grateful though a recall, . Whilst wnnderine and pondering, The Maker ol them all. While thouzhts like these our bearta should mist, . To see for gratitude and praise How amole we have room, ■Tet Btlll we know what timen there are, ' ' ' When preya t« doubt and anlfinh car«, „ . , Our minds are draped in gloom ;, , , , While life's ideal wo will pitch On Mammon's t-Uppery h'll, ' l We, ever labouring to" reach, It crease our *■ rrows stili ; ' *s we see others gain tha height* . 1 «ur portion we compare • , {■■:'> ii> • W'th po-^ibilitles th»t might, , „v ■ Ised of what we are; „ > , Thus straining »n4 gaitiing I ', ' „ ■ Ou 1 ' lots \»e i-ti 1 deplore, ' Tho' fre'ghted, uruated, " ' While others still h»ve more. < ' > ' ■ It's notln land, nor yet la kine, '' ' kor bank accounts; nor ready coin — " Tho' tlieao life's stony road - ' ■<-'• •'• May cover with a carpet raw : , • •■ „.t } Thro' that the prickly thorns of csre „ ■> fv< . ' , The shrinking flu>h will goad. . „ - I To me n'ai'ffht seem* more truly void* . ' Than, for its take alone.'' , ' iV; A life in hoarding «»1n employed;" ,- ' ' ' ' ? ' When Death resumes it* own, •',•-,• •■ Bow vain then,' insane then, . > - I •; That life with joy uncrowned,. . -■,;.'• . saving— and leaving -„, , ; , lf „. , j, ,' Jro many tbouaand pounds. ,",:'],', '\\ , „ j V, In tho pursuit ot earthly bUsi ' ;>, „ , v ? • ' I'd rbK no.moie ihm Agur/n wish : „ , .),"•. .To be nor rich nor poor, , ( " „' ' j 1 < l*ot more th»n could keep pride nlooV, ' " -' ■ Wor lessthan would the hungry wolf , ' :"\: "\ -'^-•>' i; i 'Of want scare from the door; 1 Iv l - j * vr. , »s j With sb'muoh toil »y time to 'speed ---' 1 ■ m«As would enhance its boon, ,-.•.>,{> b < - > And.means to t spare a frieqdljr dee4 . ,•, • >, >; *', '• ; As I saw opportune ;" , , T • | Th°n daily and gaily ' " * - , ■ I'd live with quickened power, -„i. ..t \ „. ! , Nor sighing, but joying j , „ 1 ,,., :. Inevtry pasajng hour. -, -, ,</' f \'}^ l ,' I often think 'twould ease my care, - . • >.> ,-■.., I Could I but fiid a gentle fair. „, „, ( _, „,,, „,, In whom I cou]d ( conflde — ( , .• , <" './"'- One comely,' k'nil, and chaste, to fill ''' ' »'»'"- ' With constant love'and potie'ut will ' ' ' r ■•-■•■ , My bosom's wchine void, ' 1 < '■ » ••-• •"' ' Whose tfvfcefu'i pride would make my bonnes' •» ' , A very joy on ea'th, /'-.in ,<o , • • Whera friends mi^ht come to gather cronse* , Around a glowing hearth ;. 1 ',»•>*/ f Uvn' f 4 Then t»rryiiijr» noF,wbrr.ylPg",, . - v ; ,i; '•"> ' . Korproapectf^ yet tq j come:, ( ,; . 0 , , lf , Life's, passage fleet I'd passive m«et'. "< . , t s in my esfapishfed hoinel „;■- - i - 1 , , 'V", ' I've, read th-'t seas.pf tropic qlfmes j . , ,' ,,. ' -j,, h"Butlor ih^fallcf btorms.b'etimes, -- -j. x .< '.- v , ' r " ' Would quickly' putrefy ;' ' " - And thus in lite H hips about: ' llf! .' { - , - ' „ For none the course &m j just map oUtir 1 . >ll( l ' '„ ', In which true peace doth He.; 'i ."',■! - J i' : Bnt that consists not:allm,reat t -. , u.-^ %.'-•., Since S'Oth might Bupei vane,. . ;. .' - „ „*• And life but gsts a keener zest • ■ , , . With calms and Rusts between. ; . ' . '' j In earrjitig aid learning' ' l ; .■ • OurtrufEtpleaaufelies : ' : 'A • " ' ' ' In duties. lifeV teautiea . • - ji > Wo are taught more to prize. ; » » „ , But oh ! try fiierd, if poor orrioh, „ .-• ', our tnoial parts IW3 scarce cau touch ji . Then let us rither brood," ' ( j In whatsoever station here,' , ' ' - * • How wh may fi'l a. useful sphere ' ' ' ' lo swell the general good, And ever in tho cruso of right t , To battle firm and brave, 0 So that our memories may not quite- t " Be buried in our graxe : Our tombi when it cornea they With weeds are overgrown, Our lives will survive btUl In worke that we have done. . 1 Ah, me ! how sad to me's the theme, ' ' When my life's wide meandering stream . * I backward follow round, A . That once to me with plenteous hopca Was like a rare view that a coi se ■ „ „ At onca relieved and bound, Where, letticg thoughts' go with tha tb3E^»v With dull aoatracted air ' " I sauntered on to the confines, And found beyond all bftre. . ; , 1 Thus fearless, thus cureless, ■ ■ . , . My c«urae erewhile I led ; , Thus dreary, thus eerie, ' ' • The view looks now ahead." Now I would fain, with earnest toils,. \ . ' • ' Seek yet to wre c tsom« worthy spoils ' ' Frcm years that may remain, And with my talent shining bright, . " Nor left to rust in mean respite, ! < - > •'. Strive some proud goal to gain ; . . , t (- . Nor own a mean, ignoble part, „ - > ■ Nor an acquaintance claim Whose fellowship might tend to thwart This purport's lofty aim. ' , ■ But Davy, believe me, < ' ; > While virtues will commend f-'i ■' > . ■ At heart, still your parti will , „ * „ .- . , Secure you as a friend. ,..,;. , * ,