On the Beach.

Otago Witness, Issue 1752, 20 June 1885, Page 24

On the Beach.

I claoped in mine bet tender haud, .And aide by side, w.th lottcrini; paco, .And pausing botuetimtp, fai.-u to fa/.0, Wo wandered slowly ou the strand. We lc-fli behind a laughing crowd— Wo felt no need of company ; Ourselvea, our thoughts, tbe beach, the sea, Tho clear blue heavens that o'er us bowed, Made us a perfect solitude, Whete alt with peace and joy was fillort, Where jarirlDg fears and eareg were si HcQ, And speech were Interruption rude. So on wo wandered, hand in hand O'Krglad to be ta each so near, So henrt-content, &o fond and dear, Alone upon that pleasant strand. And when our footetepi we lefcraced, I he comrades we had left behind / Exclaimed : " Well, whaVo upou your mind, Old boy J What funcieu have yi v chased While wandering slowly and a'one , You arc not wont to stroll avwy : What do the wild wavea Eay to-day, By us unfanciod and unknown ?' I suolled. They could not see thr) hand I clasped ia mine, the upturned fac; ; Their duller eyes behold no trace 01 little fooqfcinti in thosjr.d. But that sweet hour along the sea Will never vanish from my heart, When, silent, from all else apart, I walked with ugsb< n company.