A FRAGMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 1489, 29 May 1880, Page 24

A FRAGMENT.

[Written by a young lady at Homefor'jhe Otago Witness) The groat moor-bird, with wings outspread, Floats iv the summer sky, And calls to her mate at the far sea-shore, To her side through the mists to fly. She waits for him through the sunlit days, Till they fade into winter irloini. Then droopa and (Hdb with her heart's great love : For, alas ! he will not como. She droopa and diea 'naath the barren treo, And her broken heart is otill ; While the winter king brings a cloud of snow To cover each vale and hill. And when she is hidden away from sight, Her false love at the shore Bepents himself of his cruel wrong, And thinks of the days of yoro. Of days when he wooed with softest notes, And vowed to be always tms : And he answers back through the breaking dawn, " My love, I will come to you." All day he flies, and when night sweeps down, He i cats on a barren tree, And he mourns through the gloom of the long dark hours, • • Oh ! where can my lost love bo ?" With the first gray beams of the morning light, He Bpreads out his wings to go : Nor knew that beneath the tree she slept, Nor evermore will know. For he flies and flies, over hill and dale, Till he falls at Death's cold grasp ; And one sad wail of deep despair Is wrung from hia latest gisp. Aliob Jvbt. Briton Ferry.