IN MEMORIAM.

Westport Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1644, 11 March 1879, Page 3

IN MEMORIAM.

The following appropriate lines inspired by the recent colliery accident, are from the pen of New Zealand's poet laureate, Mr Thomas Bracken: — The touch of God is on the chords which runs Through all humanity, from heart to heart; The Haud Divine, that holds the stars and suns, Strikes on loves string, and inner voices start. Proclaiming we are each of each a part. The Priest of Nature may expound this truth. Afflictions are but solemn lessons read To mortals; Science still is in her youth— The living gain their knowledge through the dead ; AH human suffering points the road ahead. It may be so ; anon we'll learn that text, But now the widows and the orphans' eyes Are following, from this life to the next, Loved spirits torn away from dearest ties, And God to us is speaking^tkrougii their cries. Tie calls on us to succour those in need : We're bound together in a common bond ; Faith's purest action is a noble deed, Hope's truest anchor is a helping hand, Love is the key that opes the doors beyond. A few shori davs ago, and these who rest Held this poor lease of earth which now wo hold ; The pulse of life beat strongly in each breast— Ah ! 'tis the same old story often told, We know not when the spark may leave the mould. Oh! brothers, there are weary hearts to-day, And cheerless homes, where sorrow sits in gloom ; And lonely weeping ones, who can but pray " Thy will be done," whilst bowing to their doom, And longing for their meeting 'yend the tomb Net curs to change the mystic second birth, Not curs to bring tho loved ones back again, Hut ours to do our duty upon earth, By succouring the mourners who remain ; To them we're linked in sympathetic ch.'dn. To-day Humanity's resistless breath Sweeps through theciedal barriers, and brings lis all together to the Church of Death— The common fold of toilers and of kings; And charity Lroods o'er with outstretched wings. To,day the pure Christ-Spirit from above, "With warm vibration thrills through every soul ; To-day we owe a racred debt to Love. To-day our Father claims a special toll" At gates which lend to Hope's eternal gnol.