LAKE WANAKA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2396, 1 February 1900, Page 64

LAKE WANAKA.

Blue lake, brown mountain side, and snowy

peak Were round us , and above, the cloudless sky, Through hours which fled too fast; when even-

ing fell The western wind breathed softly through the

trees, Setting the leaves awhispering in the diisk, And wafting fragrance down the garden paths. Then one who oft had felt Fate's hardest

blows, And sought but rest and calm, yet sought in

vain , Found peace and strength again, and hope re-

newed — Not from the glory of the summer day, Or sunlit peak, bhie lake, or whispering wind, But in the beauty of a woman's soul, Which all unconscious poured the healing

balm Of friendly converse — talk of happy days And distant scenes — and kindly look and

thought Upon the unseen wounds. You know Chil-

lon, Where Bonivard was captive? If one day A woman's hand had opened wide the door And led him forth and let the light of heaven Fall on his eyes, and cooling airs blow round His brow; if she had with kind word and

look But for an hour relit the lamp of Hope, Then gone her way; still in the years to come Of daikness drear, for him that wondrous

hour Wcrald never fade, and all his soul would

ring With happy sound, as of a silver bell Telling the Angelus at close of day From some Swiss mountain side; in his dark

cell For him the light would shine, the breeze still

blow, And he would ever see the woman's face And hear her voice, and so his pain would

cease. Cut a few hours for me, yet through the

years — The long, long years to come, though there shall

come jSTo more the face so fair, or low soft voice ; No more the mountains, lake, oi evening breeze, The whispering willow leaves or garden dim, Which drew their influence from a woman's

soul ; Yet shall the shrine of memory ever hold And keep for me those hours, and all they;

brought. For this that Ikon hast — thoagh unknowing—

done, Relit the lamp which long had fallen low, And touched to music chords where silenco

dwelt, And held the cup to one whose lips were

dry. God's benison for ever rest on thee, And keep thee safe, sc shall thy life still bo, To all who hqld thee clear, " one grand, sweet =oug.'"