THE DAY THAT IS TO BE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue 17, 3 September 1897, Page 5

THE DAY THAT IS TO BE.

From the sordidness and sorrow of the pi-esent day we see, Turn wo to the fairer vision of the day that is to be, When the burden shall be lightened of the ills we have to bear, And our homes will be the brighter tor the plenty smiling there. For that time brave hearts are toiling as the seasons roll .ilonfr, Master singers through the ages have foretold it in their song"; Peem their tale no idle story — it is nearer us to-day, We can see its dawning glory in the distance far away. It is coming at their bidding who have laboured for our sake, It is coming on the pinions of the efforts that we make. Poverty and crime and hunger, wasted lives and bitter tears, Broken hearts and stunted manhood, are its pathway through the years. All in vain the might of Mammon— dark enslaver of the raceTo arrest its growing progress or its splendour to efface ; Every sigh to anguish given, every tear that from its source Trickles at a tyrant's bidding brings it nearer on its course. From the haunts of want and famine, foul, offensive to the bight, Wretched thousands gaze upon it where it gleams upon the height ; And with hearts forever hopeful patiently they watch and wait Till its shining hand approaching will ameliorate their fate. Then no longer where the cabin and the hovel stand anigh Shall the decorated mansion lift its turrets to the sky ; Nor will poverty in tatters shrink abashed beneath the stare Of the lord of many titles or the greedy millionaire. Then will happiness below here draw its fulness from above, Then will hearts be knit together in a brotherhood of love, Then will meet on equal terms the inthraller and the thrall, And the fruits of honest labour be the equal right of all. It will come, oh, brother workers, never doubt 'twill come, though we Who now think and dream about it may be then not here to see. Pride of place and lust of treasure from the earth will disappear In the world's new born glory when that coming day is here. Soutll Punedjn, p, E. NoLAif,