NIGHT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2664, 5 April 1905, Page 72

NI GH T.

This is the Angel, Night, Flying, thro' cooling dew, Out from a heaven whose blue Deepens to purple dark; Star-sprent purple, royal and dark; Hail to the Angel, Night! This dark-robed Circe, Night, With jewels on robes and hair; No sorceress else so fair, No sorcaress else so wise, No touch so magic for tired eyes As the touch of this Circs, Night.

Dark are the souls of men, And often their deeds are dark ; Deeds so unholy and stark That darkness may serve them best ; But the dark of night brings a holy rest To souls in palacrf""of den. '"Who am I in the night?" An. atom of dust, 'tia true — : An atom, too small to view In a universe framed so vast : An atom to pain and grief forecast, Yet glad of the day and JS"ight. Glad, oh, glad of the Day, With its glory of sun and light; But deeply glad of the JVight : The Night that brings sweet rest, s?he Circe that, knowing men's needs the best, Gives pease at the end of Day. Gfreat healing Angel of Night, Peace breathes from thy brooding wings ; And each aching heart that clings To life in this working world May rejoice when the flag of Day is furled, And thy shield o'erspreads his light. Thou wise enchantress, Night, No gift of evil thine; Nor chang'st thon men to swine With thy wondrous charm of sleep. Thy worshippers may drink long and de?p Of thy draught of calm delight. No vampire magic thine; Thy generous heart hath room TTor a milliou sons of doom. To thy shrine may all men go, And drink surcease from pain and woe

In thy dream-steeped cup of wine. So may we kneel in praise To our gods, whoe'er they be — Tliy God, or tho God of me, To the Great Creator of things, That He knoweth men's inmost need sndi brings Good Night at the end of Days. Dunedin, March, 1305. T. T.