THE SNOW STORM.

Otago Witness, Issue 2527, 20 August 1902, Page 59

THE SNOW STORM.

The storm came down and caught us on tho track Among the meged mountains — far away From human Habitation. Blindmg sleet About us, and the yellow slush below We struggled bravely forwaid. Darksome glens, Cloud-canopied, gave back the torrent booms. And inky clouds were rolled from lull to hill Like fallen angels hurrying to hurl Their fury over formidable foes*. And here the streamlet slid from ledge to ledge, And theTc it plunged precipitous; ajid. Hera The moaning birches bent their gloom above The muddy way, and thera manuka shook The bitter showers from wildly-tossing boughs. Tho flax along the hillsides bellowed where The galo was howling, billowing — how like The dark-green seas about a sufiert land! Our hands were numbed and swollen-. Sullenly "We marked tho rushing of the mighty roan, And Heard the river \oices deepen far In sullen gorges; heard the rolling sea A-thunder on the boulder-bar, and saw Dun stretches where the wild, white horses

tosised Their smoking manes against a sullen sky. The cloud was rent, and showed the topmast ridge, Spotless with recent snow Redoubled fell Htorm-fury, and the cloud from hill to hilt, Snow-laden, swept. We crossed the swollen

stream-, And came upon some long-deaexted whare, .Deep in tho ferny wilderness. We found Shelter ard comfort in that cabin. Sheer Below us troko the sempiternal eea, And sheer abovo the po'ar spirits hurled Their furies, echoing from cliff to cliff; But, seated by tho cheerful blaze, wo sang The hymn of praise and! tlmnkfuluesT to Him Whose mercies are for evrrmc-re. Ah ' noi:o Save ihow who battle with the bitter storms Can know tBo blessedness of Love and Home, Or lift full hearts of thankfulness to Him Who -gneth bliss when storms havo overblown, And strength to battle for the fu'ler day. When night and nakedness wjll be 210 more. —Charles Oscau Palheb. Brentv ood Farm, August 8,