TO A SKYLARK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2244, 4 March 1897, Page 51

TO A SKYLARK.

Restless, daring spirit, , Climbing to tbe blue, With a song of rapture Biddinjr earth adieu, Hiaher stilt, and higher, Wiug t,hy tireless flight, Till the light of Heaveu ! Hides theo from our BisW. I As a Voice aforetime | Calmed the tossing main i So thy piercing prean ! Stills tho waviDg grain. ! Foot of the ether 1 . Nature's heart is stirred When thy aoug immortal \ Kinging clear is heard. Children gazing skyward From th« sunuy dale I Strive thy form to follow Through the goldon veil ; r# Old men — deaf to other — I In thy i»agic rhyme '. Hear tho glowing burdens i Of their youthful prime. I Ia thy wide exploring Of yon azure sea None cau shave the glory — Nono couie nigh to thee. I x L~.nely thou, yet happy. Risen from the &od, Like a soul repsntant Nearer ijuto God. Would that 1 beside th«« So might Hoar and sing, Making earth aud heaven v Wif.h wild music ring 1 But my soug is winglMS, Powerless to aspire — Lend, O passionate pilgrim. Thy wings— thy tongue of fire ! February JBD7. -11. J. B.

j = ! — Whoue Fault ?—"? — " How did thia v»ae gcr, j broken, Mary 1 " "It fell off the pedestal, i ma'am." " How did yon upset the pedestal ? " " 1 never touched it. The chair bumped into it, ma'am." " And didn't you push the chair 1 " "I did not, ma'am. It was the table done that. ' All I did was to push tho sofy up agin' the table, an' Heaven knows I j can't ace what's a-goin' to haDpen that far