Select poetry.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 358, 15 March 1866, Page 1

Select poetry.

DEATH’S DOINGS.

§EATH on his steed of shadow Went forth into the night, lor he bad many a mission-deed To do ere morning’s light; Many a soul to loosen From Life’s uneasy thrall, And many a hopeful heart to lay Beneath the shroud and pail. Each star was blinking brightly. As if no ill were near, — As it all earthly things were calm As its own silent sphere; The drifted clouds were floating High iu the middle air. And to the placid monlight turned Their shitting fringes fair. Death on his awful mission Kept his appointed way, He bare with him the fiat-word Which does not brook delay; He stepped aside, and often, To snatch some final sigh, But left behind the breaking heart,— The sad surviving cry. He reached the sickly city, Dread with incessant din. The maelstrom of the multitudes, The crater-month of sin; Btrange tragedies were acting Within that swarming town, And Pestilence had becsoned him To puli the curtain down.' Ha knocked at palace-portals, Ho trod the marble floors. And many a hasty summons breathed At humbler dwelling doors; He walked the weary workhouse, He pierced the crowded jail. And at his presence countless Faces grew for ever pale. He sought the crooked alleys. The burrow-boles of men. The haunt of vicious revelry. The dim and sordid den; He plunged into the cellar, Ho olpmb the garret stair. And fearful were the ravage* His baud committed thure. To souls of doubt and darkness* A Demon’s form he boro, But unto uut<- ej es tuat looked beyond. An Angel’s likeness wore; He came to punish and appal. Ho came to cho ,r and save,— Bo different did the world receive The Monarch of the Grave I Death stole into a mansion Of princeiy shape and size. And filled wna splendid mockeries To dazzle worluiy eyes; On a couch of gorgeous seeming Lay stretched a man of sia. Who shrieked with agony to feel The shadow coming in. This man had scorned the lowly, Had sneered at holiest things. Had pierceu the heart of Innocence With sorrow’* keenest stings; In warfare with all goodness, Had grown untimely Old. Till all uis passions merged in one. The burning greed of gold. Ah 1 what availed his treasure, in this his hour of woe S' It melted from his eager hand bike early flakes of snow; Death on his cloudy courser Bore hjm the sad night through. To answer for the evil things Which ha had dared to do. Into a meaner dwelling * The dread Deliverer passed. Where one had waited for him long, And welcomed him at last — One who beheld no sterun as In Death’s triumphant mieu. Bo truthful aud so beautiful His earthly life had been 1 Imbued with gentlest virtues, Endowed wytii mental powers, lie left a fair and fruitful name - Tj grace this world of ours; But in his work of wisdom -, He overtasked his irame. ’ And smilpd with hope and thankfulness When his Deliverance came. Death took them on his courser. Two souls, bow different they 1 But neither saw, aud neither heard The other on the way; » And as through mist and darkness Death urged his steed apace, To one he show ed a scowling front. To one a shining face. To one low words he uttered. As stern as they were sad, But to tha other songs of joy. Which made the spirit glad: Thus through a realm of shadow* The Inevitable passed— The eternal Guiph of Mystery, Which all must leap at last I J. C. Pet nce.