A DREAM.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 337, 23 May 1885, Page 14

A DREAM.

I dreamt I saw a goodly ship go sailing o'er the

waves, Passing with a merry bound a thousand unmarked graves — * Graves of the brave, the weak, the strong, the woman and the child ; Of those who fell when battle raged, or sank 'midst tempests wild. Of those who on some burning wreck a fearful death had died, And left no trace to mark the place they found beneath the tide, Of those who starved, hoped, lingered on, until the sea's cold clutch Dragged them to the death \rhich they in life had feared so much. I dreamt the ship with human freight rode on before the wind. And not a thought of danger near struck on a single mind. For everyone is glad and gay, a happy joyous band, They say to-night, to-morrow's light shall show the promised land. I caught myself a thinking how much of pain and woe, Might they be saved if they the doings of tomorrow could but know, : And yet Almighty Providence the greatest' love has shown In hiding from the sight of men events tliat are to come. Ajchange, unwished for, comes upon my dream, I see The'selfsame ship tossed by the tumultpus sea, Lashed furious by the wind ; the lightning's vivid flash, Does cruel work, the lofty timbers crash And threaten by their fallen weight to drag beneath the waves. Those raging, vicious, all capricious, sporting foam-topped waves. Woe to that joyous crew who had so little fear, And died without a warning of the doom that was*s"o*neaf •""*"" * -——■—'--" That reached them ere they reached the land, And bore thenvwith its icy hand Down, far down, to lodge in ocean's caves, Without a trace to mark the place where they. sank beneath the waves,

I iremßlSa "Ssi Iffdkearwrresfl- all-did-seetny ■=- And shudderingly awoke, relieved to find 'twasbut a dream. ' : Just here the poet paused, and the longsilence that followed was finally broken by the train whistling for a station. It was theterminus, and as I ; was wishing my poetic companion farewell, i ; -was surprised, nay,, mortified, to observe a- couple of policemen take him in custody. 1 advanced to ascertain the cause. ".He is an escaped : lunatic from the Whau,"' said the man in blue. Alas ! for human nature. Why had I not remembered the well-worn adage which sayeth in. effect that punning, if notti.poetry,is close allied to madness. . . '

Ellerslie, May 19, 1885