WHEN THE CURTAIN SOFTLY FALLS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5279, 8 June 1895, Page 2

WHEN THE CURTAIN SOFTLY FALLS.

We're actors all, no matter when

Our several parts we play, In the flush of Hfe's sweet morning Or the twilight of its day ; And some day will end the drama.

In the country or the town, And the hand of Time will gently,

Softly ring the curtain down.

Every day our eager fingers

Turn some new, unstudied page ; To-morrow we may stand upon

Some unfamiliar stage. We play our parts unceasingly,

Before a smile or frown ; But in the end Time surely rings Life's varied curtain down.

Wo kiss, we quarrel, make up again, It may be in the pi >y ; The faded rose lies pn the heart When of twe must be gay. • The wondrous song is broken ere The singer gets the crown, For in the midst of stanzas soft The curtain stealeth down.

The cliildat play from flower to flowei Pursues tho golden bee, And, tired of chaßin r, falls asleep Beneath the hoar/ tree. Thus, childlike, we, the drama o'er, Por lover, king and clown, Await in peace the ban i that rings " Life's golden cur.am down.

The eyes that we have brightened from The stage with speech or rhyme, "Will drop a tear for ns when comes The last act of our time ; And hand * whoso grasp we ne'er have felt, Afar, in distant town, May wreathe a wreath for us when Time Hath rung life's curtain down.

Calmly the actor true awaits The last words of the play ; • Hia fame secure,* bis duty done, He lo~gs the restful day. No jealousie invade his soul, Por Love hath formed his crown. And brighter gleams his star as drops Life's pictured curtain down.

— New York Clipper.