IN MEMORIAM.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XII, Issue 506, 1 March 1879, Page 3

IN MEMORIAM.

(From the " Bruce Herald.")

FOR THEY DIED DOING THEIR

DUTY!

In Memory of the dead at the late Colliery

Explosion, Kaitangata, February 21, 1879. It was a day of days, a summer day, When all the golden glory of the grain Lifted its brilliant beauty to the sky, And gently waving, as the wind passed o'er, Beneath the reaper's sickle fell to earth. But in the silent shadow of earth's womb Another sickle gathered in the grain— Another reaper, with unsparing hand. To fill the golden granary of heaven, Moved quickly. At the dread Lord's command, The Angel spread the sable of his wings ; And so they passed to light beyond the sun. But earth was there— the soul had sped its course ; But earth must hold its own disfigured clay — " I am the Resurrection and the Life," But " Dust thou art, and unto dust return." And so with reverent hands they lifted them Up, upwards, from that living grave of woe ; And all the air was rent with piteous cries, The awful wailing of the homes bereft ! The tears of widow and of fatherless Sang the sad requiem. Time onward aped. They came— Up, up— one more ! another ! "His name?" "Who is it?" "My son!" "Oh, God 1 my brother!" And thus throughout the living, dying day, The grim and awful hush, they bore them up, And laid them side by side — Father and son, Brother and brother, friend with friend united, Earth's friendship severed not in death ; i And life, with reverent hands and reverent

tread, Covered the faces of the sleeping dead. But one within the silent chamber stood — * A woman young and fair: "Oh, let me see him, My brother, let me see him— do, oh do ! " Kind hearts and hands were there — " Yes, here he is;" And turning back the covering of his face — " 'Tis he ! ph, sister, mother, look, 'tis he ! " And, weeping, kissed the unresponsive lips : "My brother ! oh, my brother ! " The river ran With rippled whisperings of calm and peace, And all the sky was radiant with the light ; The air all musical with songs of birds j While on earth's bosom lay the fallen grain, Garnered for Immortality. W.T. Milton, 24th February, 1879. *This incident really occurred in the writer's [ presence. w .