SATURDAY NIGHT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 246, 13 September 1884, Page 2

SATURDAY NIGHT.

THE FIRESIDE. God's Answer. He was a clown m the circus, And all night long as he played, He thought of his child who was dying— His darling, his own little maid. She had* looked m his face that morning And said : "To-night you must go To the circus, father, as usual ; I shuu't be afraid, you know. "I have felt the little ones, father, My care now mother is dead, And so you must go for their sakea, And work for our daily bread.'' He had kissed her, his brave childdaughter, And made a mute little sign ; He would go, though he knew she wa« dying— His sweet little Columbine, o o o o o • Oh, rtever before had he jested x With half such a rollicking grace-; \ While he played m the crowded circus He yearned for his darling's face. :•-••' He wondered if God could be listening, For not one word could he say ; And yet, if wishing was praying, Theu all night lung did he pray. At last the long torture was over And deafening with loud applause, He rushed away from tho circus. And stopped with a solemn pause. Within the door oE the chamber ""' When-, laid on her little bed, With folded hands laid his dearest, So still that he thought her dead. -• .His heart stood still for a moment— She looked so heavenly fair— Her face as the face of an angel, The rnoon'a soft light ort her hair. But it was not death who held her, It was the Angel of SleepThere was life m the peaceful breathing New life m the slumber deep. God answered the worldless anguish ? Of that poor passionate heart, Ho had stood Himself at the bedside, And said uuto death, "Depart." .. .-; The little maiden recovered, And iv all that m.i:»y- voiced town There was never & soul so thankful A 8 the soul of that circus clown.