BETTER THAN GOLD.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 42, 22 March 1884, Page 7

BETTER THAN GOLD.

Better than grandeur, better than gold, Th.tn rank an 1 title a thousandfold, Is a healthy holy and a mind at ease, And simple plea.smos that always please A heatfc that can fee) for another's woe, With .sympathies large enough to enfold AH men as In others, is better than gold. Better than gold is a conscience clear, Though toiling for biead in a humble sphere ])ouhly blest with content and health, Untried by the lusts and cares of wealth, Lowly living and lowly thought Adorn and ennoble a poor man's cot, For mind and morals in nature's plan Are the genuine tests of a gentleman. Better than gold is the sweet repose Of the sons of toil when the labours close ; Better than gold is the poor man's sleep, And the hahn that drops on his slumbers deep Bring sleeping thoughts on the downy bed While luxury pillows i(s aching headj The toiler simple opiate deems A shorter voute to the land of dreams. ; Better than gold is a thinking mind That in the realms of books can find A treasure surpassing Australian ore, And live with the great and goo 1 of yore. The sage's lore ami the poet's lay, The glories of empires i^assed a Way : The world's great dream will thus enfold, And yield a pleasure better than gold. Bettei' than gold is a peaceful home, Where all the fireside characters come. The shrine of love, the heaven of life> Hallowed by mother, or sister or wife. However humble the home may bo, Or tried with sorrow by heaven's decree, The blessings that never were bought or sold And centre there aro better than gold*

An Irishman way employed cloin£ .some work on one oi tlio railway bridges on one of the northern lines. JIo hud occasion to climb up one of thy iron pillars that supported the brid^o to do homo woi'k } and, just us the engineer who was superintending the job happened to be walking underneath, down eam Q , Paddy lion on his shoulder, wlriuii scut him h^vawling;. As soon as the engineer regained his t'eet he ejaeulut'id : vt Ilello, Pit, whore did you ruiiM! from V\ " Krnin the North oi Oirlaud, sur, " replied Pati