TO WEE VIOLET.

Otago Witness, Issue 1916, 10 August 1888, Page 29

TO WEE VIOLET.

Ruthlessly, and cold the autumn winds are sweeping Summer's soffc glory from the fluttering leaves, Kissing into gold their summer beauty, And carpeting the soffc grais 'neath the treeo. I stand and wafch them fluttering softly past me, Borne on each fitful breath of passing wind, Till, Oh ! methinks I her them softly sighing For the sweet summer life they've left behind. Sadly I stoop and raise a withered leaflet, When, lo ! half hidden 'neath the brown and dead, A cluater sweetly green and dew besprinkled Tips my cool fingers : 'tis a violet bed. Softly I brushed each gold and brown tipped leaflet From off t.he precious fairy-kissed wee Bpot, And raise, ah, me! a violet crushed and faded,

Damp with the taDgled weeds and dinging moss. Between my warm palms I hold it gently, The sweet crushed messenger of faith and love, While its wee throat seemed throbbing with the messageGod's messenger of true and perfect love. Then o'er my heart a strange quiet wave of feeling Crept, dimming gently the autumn air, And round ray neck I feel wee arms entwining, And sweet lips pressed against ray cheek and hair. " Dear Aty," says a voice— oh sweet and pleading— A baby voice imperfect In its tone ; While the wee head of tangled fluffy ringlets " Rests in confiding love against my own. Oh, Violet I our wee lost baby darling, Thou messenger of God's own perfect love, Come back te us e'er thy sweet baby prattle Has given place to thoughts and wiser words. Come with thy arch sweet face of baby beauty, With thy wee head of flossy golden hair, With thy wee heart that holds so much comprisoned, Of what is love, true love, devoid of care. Sweet Violet, dear little baby lass, Thou ne'er shall know the void thy absence left In the quiet.home and in the faithful hearts, Our Violet that truly loves thee best. Good n*ght, wee baby one, I murmur low On the old violet-scented air; God bless our baby in her distant home, God bless our baby's parents ia ray prayer. — Muta. Otautau, July 24. HERDIN* THE KYf. I The wild snaw-clouds were driftin' Athart the wintry sky, As thro' the gust.y gloamin' I weufc to herd the kye. I row'd my plaidie roun' me, An' shiver'd i' the blast ; When o'er the knowe cam' Jamie, An' clasp'd me close an' fast I I saw uae mair the snaw-clouds, The sky seem'd bonnie blue, Eefleckit frae my lad's c'en, That thrill'd me thro' an thro. The nippin' blast nae langer Could do me on> skaith, Fo • luve was in my ladife's clasp, Eueuch to warm us baith ? Frae aff my lips sac blae-like He kiss'd the cauld awa, V faith, that bleak grey bill side Seem'd sunny to us twnl Why then should winter fash me, Hail, rain, an' snaw theglther ? As lang's my laddie lo'es me, Twill aye be simmer weather! _, „ _ — Wychßlm. Moeraki, June.