GRANDMOTHER.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 39, 22 January 1886, Page 9

GRANDMOTHER.

▲ PEN PICTURE. By Patbick 9absyibu> Oasbidt. There she's fitting by the window, Where the shrubbery grows outside, Leaving angle-opening vista Of tbe landscape spreading wide ; And reducing down to softness The mild beams that inward stray, As best suits a calm old lady In the evening of her day. Snow-white cap, with ruffled border, Makes right setting for a face, Pale, with apes tinted palor, Sweet with age's placid grace : Clear her eye, and kind and tranquil As the thoughts her mind engage—- ▲ contented calm old lady In the autumn of her age. Neat tbe room and all within it, Matted floor and papered wall, Hung around with family pictures And mementoes that recall Memories mingled— sad and pleasant ; Strong the power that memory sways O'er the heart of an old lady In her reminiscent days. See how deftly move her fingers, And how quick tbe stocking grows : Yes she's busy knitting stockings For the baby's rosy toes I Great that pleasure of grandmother— Sweet as knowledge to a sageKnitting stockings for grand-babies, In the sundown of her age. But grand-babies do not caotnre All her thoughts although the most ; Still a mind undimmed and active Can tbe dear old lady boast. And a book lies on tbe tableSee her glasses mark the page— An intelligent old lady. In tbe mellowness of age. Down twas left in leisure study O'er some thought of depth and weight, Hid in words, as honeysuckles Hide the latch of garden gate. Bnt she'll think it out serenely, And, when found, its worth will gage, Like a critical old lady In the sober mind of age. Ah, but see a shadow fittteth O'er her features' mellow beam, As the shade of cloud in autumn Dims the face of placid stream ; For it is a law of nature, Working in its mystic ways, That old ladies should have sorrows In tbe twilight of their days. She is thinking of beloved ones, Flesh of hers who've gone before, And who wait a mother's coming On yon dim, mysterious shore ; And she wishes to be with them In thnt land of undecay— Tet she waits contented— calmly— For the ending of her day. Let us learn a lesson from her— Us with fiery blood of youthTame the pa*uons' fieice rebellion, Stick to justice and to truthGrowing old grow strong in virtue, Further still from sin and strife, That we calmly wait the coming Of the dawn of endless life. Wait the coming of tbe angel— The unbarring of the gate — Feel the rapture of The Presence — See the glory of His state : Meet old friends who've gone before us, Find all yearnings satisfied In the rich reward that's promised, And with powers amplified.

. L . A J V> * KUi cnw constipation, improve tbe appetite, promote digestion, restore healthy action, and regulate every function. They are pleasant to take, gentle in their operation, yet thorough, searching, amd powerful in subduing disease.