AN IDEAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1987, 24 March 1892, Page 42

AN IDEAL.

I love you, dear ; but it is not the fashion For woman's lips to learn the way to woo, Nor woman's part to utter half the passion That I have felt for you. Ido not know your name ; your voice has never reached me ;

Yet ever do I dream the precious hours away, Believing we shall meet, and you shall teach me Tho perfect way to pray. I do not know the hour that C4od will send you Into my life to make it all complete ; I do not know the fashion he will lend you, Though all these years I worship at your feet. My woman's heart is great, my love is tender ; Because I am a I must love, And unto you, my idol, do I render

Faith, as in heaven above. All the long years you have been close beside

me, Though I mistook strange faces for your own ; And yet I felt, though evil did betide me, That never have 1 been alone. I stretched my hand, and somehow in the sadness I felt the nearness of your tenderness, And always did my heart exclaim in gladness That you alone could bless. 0 phantom love, O idol of my dreaming, Reveal your face, and let me call you dear ; Nor be for ever something to my seeming, Here always, yet not here. O, my Ideal, be a living mortal, That I may love, and loving may explore The fields of bliss beyond the shining portal Of my soulclosed door. 1 tune my heart unto the notes you teach me, And fit my ways that they may please your will, And yet the echo of your footsteps reach, me Always ahead, beyond me still. O'er toilsome heights oft have I climbed to grasp you, But only do I see where you have been ; Into the valleys I have groped to grasp you, Yet ne'er thyself have seen. Sometimes a face has been so true and tender, That I have said, " It must at length be he," And half my faith and half my hope did render, Although, my soul the counterpart did see. But when the idol foil I scarce did wonder I ever feared that it one day would fall ; But when, the shinging portions dropped asunder I did not lose my all. Peep in my heart your image was protected From time and change, from loss, or from decay, And my soul's best all others have rejected, And never yielded sway. King with the crown and golden sceptre, Though others may have used your throne, Your strength and power have always conquered, And kept it for your own.

0 idol of my heart, now I have loved yoii I How sorrowed when the mists shut out your face! How triumphed when my soul hath proved you To be of matchless grace. 1 know that one day in the sunlight, somewhere, We two shall know that we at last have met, And learn together all that God can teach us, And never more forget. I do not know your name, I ne'er have met you— Spirit or man, I know not if you be ; But this I know, I never can forgot you, You are so dear to me. I feel you near— 'tis all my life to love you, You are my strength, my courage, and my rest, And 1 shall have Eternity to provo you My dearest and my best. If you had ever been a step behind me,— If for a moment I could take the lead,— You would have lost the subtle power to bind me, — I should not feel your need ; But you have led the way, always ascending, And where I stoop 'l know it is not you I hat takes my hand, — you need no mending, For you are whole, as true. Still lead me on and I will follow. My phantom king, my one ideal love ; All other friendships may be false and hollow, But youra is from above. But do not walk all time before me ; Turn your dear face that I may meet your eyes, And see reflected all my soul's deep longing And truth beyond disguise. —Alice.