THE DEWDROP'S 'PLAINT.

Otago Witness, Issue 1901, 10 July 1890, Page 33

THE DEWDROP'S 'PLAINT.

Sandal'd with starshine, like an Eastern queen, the Night Stepped from her jewelled throne ; Her roba of moonbeams spread ita train of mystic light Earthward, for day had flown, Tinting the wattle boughs olad in their odoroui sheaves Golden with flossy bloom. Waving o'er earth a charm hallowed as memory weaves Over a lost one's tomb. Just then a dewdrop. one of Nature's liquid gems, Nursed on a blossom's breast, Sighed, as the moonbeams tinged with light the wattle stems, " Would that I thus were drest ; " Could I, too, brighten earth and make dark places Hghf;, As star, or moon, or sun ; Had I been dowried richly as is dower'd the Night How muoh 1 might have done." Thus sighed the dewdrop, till o'erhead a passing aloud v » Mantled Night's moonbeam train, "How dark, how changed is all," amazed she cried aloud ; " Changed are Night's robes again." A youth and maiden at a trysting place near by, Under a she-oak tree Heard it, and he too cried, " I would, my love, that I Had worlds to give to thee." The dewdrop listened, " Ah, but yesternight," she sighed, ",I heard that false youth there Asking another maid 'Wilt thou, love, be my bride P' Ob, ia nought changeless here ? " " Nothing," Night's voice replied : " thou too like all must change, For with the sunbeam's birth Smiling thou'lt leave us and in garments new and strange Soar, upward soar, from earth. One only changes not, He is our Father, God, Henceforth and now the same. Orbs of the firmament, flowers springing from the sod Worship and love His name. Do then thy mission well, since brief at best's thy stay, Bow to our Author's power, He alike guides and guards throughout earth's night and day Dewdrop, beau, maid, and flower. — Mona Mabib. June 1890.