Page 2 Advertisements Column 1

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 187, 10 August 1870, Page 2

"BEAUTIFUL SNOW." AN " ECHO" OF AN " ECHO." Beautiful spirit, thy life below Was nought but a short sad tale of woe — A path begun with the morning light, That faded ere noon to the shades of night ; — To starless night, with a dark, dark sky, And the night wind's hollow and fitful sigh — Mournfully, wearily, full of care, Like the voice of a spirit in deep despair ' But out of the darkness and out of the gloom, Ere passed thy spirit beyond the tomb, Like a falling star, with a heavenly glow, There fell to the earth thy "Beautiful Snow"— It fell to the earth with a soft sad 6train, Like the voice of a spirit redeemed from pain — Stealing, floating, soft and slow, It fell like the soul of the " Beautiful Snow." For ever it lives in the beautiful snow, A strain of gladness, a strain of woe ; — It comes to the heart when the paths are white With snow-flakes, crystalline, soft and light. And at Christmas time, when the Christmas bells The song of the Saviour loudly tells, Chiming, carrolling, loud and free — The song of the Saviour who died for thee. The song of the Saviour who came to thee, And robed thy soul in His purity, With his heavenly raiment, pure and fair, Whiter than snow as it fills the air— Bright as the snow as it radiant gleams Fair in the clear moon's silvery beams — Brilliant, spotless, bright with love, Glowing with light from the lite above : The life and love which did thee enfold, That crowned thy brow with a crown of gold, Brighter by far than the sun's first glow, As he rises to shine o'er the beautiful snow, That bade to thy hand the harp be given, And tuned thy song to the song of heaven, — Higher, nobler, free from pain, Sweeter by far than thy earthly strain. Beautiful spirit thy troubles have ceased, Thy soul is now blest, from earth's cares released: But thy " Beautitul Snow" will linger for aye, And its musical pathos ne'er pass away, — It will fall to the earth when the snow falls down, Decking the forest with glistening crown — It will sigh with the zephyr that, kisses the waves, It will float o'er the river, the valley that laves, Mournfully, peacefully, soft and low, Like the voice of a spirit redeemed from woe. — Oamaru Times, Maggie.