THEN AND NOW.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 429, 4 August 1904, Page 8

THEN AND NOW.

3L crumbling fort o’erloofcs th* plahfc Where Iron hall and leaden rain, .*$ With thunder of artillery, <1 One* wrought war 7 * worh of mlseryS Tat over me while musing there Buch calm was brooding, and the air From breath of rosea was so sweet, \ 'j m thought of swords to plowshares heats ,* Khu won seen graslng wtthout fear Over the sloping green-award near, pj ‘ And resting when the noon had come 'Neath sales that faced the cannon’s boom Which crimsoned many a trampled clod; Now daisies fleck with snovitbat sod. While white doves coo unharmed wltk*t Redoubts reared tor the battle’s din. Brim parapets no longer frown. Upon a pent, beleaguered town; The greater city In Its might And pride guards the dire conflict’s site; Sweet homes with comely lawns arn ante Crowhlag historic heights serene In grace and beauty, safe apart From tumult of the busy mart. Kor 1* the fane forgotten here Unto the heart devout more dear Than grandest mansion wealth rears nigh. But shrining poor mortalitywhile on that day of all the best. , » Thrilled strangely once by the behest ■*>: To arms, the scene is of release, 014 foes now friends In tows of peawU £ *~t tMs siow-cmmbllng fort I sen t|s '* TPe of a fray waged bitterly, *- jk gaS Xet whoee remembered cup of worn “hj 'i£?| Is yielding te time’s tidal flow; Though Its dead heroes borne away Whether in blue, or In the gray, Sto Claim their due share of votive bloonf Often as doth the May time come. ■ff. E. Boles. In (Maw.) BegnbUeaa.