THE HUSH OF EVENTIDE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2572, 8 July 1903, Page 71

THE HUSH OF EVENTIDE.

J - 'Moonlight and the breath of flowers, the soothing •wash of waves far down opon the shore, and, over all, the brooding calm and stillness unknown of this evening hour to dwellers in cities. "What thoughts are born of this t>wiligtrt calm, what resolutions given birth to, in bitter travail of soul perchance ; what -buried hopes and aspirations are resurrected, to be sorrowed over anew and then put away from us. Human nature shrinks from suffering, physical and mental, and our hearts are Lot -within us, so rebellious, and we are, Godiielp us, so fiercely eager to mould our lives with our own frail, incompetent hands, little knowing or heeding (that our mighty efforts are, at best, "but "rough hewing." And "throughout the fret and worry of the day, weaving itself through "the trivial round, insinuating itself into all our thoughts, has been a running thread of pain, of longing, of futile yearning and striving for something denied — the love, the happiness, the freedom from \rorry thait seem of all God's good gifts to us the most desirable ; and we stretch out our empty hands, like little children in the dark, groping, yet fearing- what we may grasp. And so vre toil, 'mid sunshine bright or shadow, While days and moments ever onward glide; Till twilight falls across the sheaves we gather, And comes at length the hush of eventide. The hush of eventide! Is there any calm like it? Wfon we carry our hot, aching heads and hearts out into the cool, scented dnsk, and life uj our eyes and souls to tie heaven so far above us, it seems that God, in His love and pity, takes us into His tender arms, and our pain end sorrow and discontent fall from us like a . garment, while into our hearts steals peace of victory over 6elf and human passions. Perhaps, too, the tears come, with their blessed Sealing, •washing away the feverish discontent, tie restless dissatisfaction with life and self, mating us see with clearer Tision, and strengthening us anew to take op the battle of life— reminding us that feooner or later comes for each and all "the hush of eventide." OMEGA.