A DAILY MESSAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 13 June 1929, Page 1

A DAILY MESSAGE

THE OLD AND CREY An old man through the city street, With laded eyes and footsteps slow, Shambled along with weary .feet, Watching the traffic come and go. Ceaselessly throbbed the city life With business, science, commerce, art; He looked upon its outward strife, But in its heart-heat had no part, lie looked along that great highway, Now centre of that city fair, And smiled, remeinb’ring well that day When other men first gathered there. With curious wonder lie beheld The massive domes against the blue, 'l'lie ear,si—by unseen force compelled Their speedy courses to pursue. He saw those trails his friends had 'blazed Become the haunts of busy men; Oii.dbem a city now was raised. A throng goes there—but what of them ?

He moved along the crowded streets, Conlounded by the whirl and glare, To where great titles of traffic meet— None seemed to know him anywhere. Vet this old man, with footsteps slow, Should he known to that passing throng, Tie built the roads, both high and low— The roads they travel "along He pianned the bridges, the water spanned; He made the cities, and tilled the land; / lie .con quo red the Forests furjand near— For that old man was a pioneer. So, in your passage through this life, .Make room, for the old and grey Wlio’ve faced the battle and the strife, In opening up your way. —M. PRESTON STANLEY