THORNS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 293, 25 August 1888, Page 2

THORNS.

Life's pathways are all full of thorns, Lugubrious cynics say ; Scarce flowers enough the wayside deck To make one small bouquet ! But analyse the subject well, And it will then be found That they themselves whom thorns most plague, Those thorns have strewn around. Our sins and follies oftenest are The briar in our path, And o'er them, limping as we go In pain, regret and wrath, We vow that life few flowers can yield As sorrow's recompense, When we the buds, ere yet they bloomed. Destroyed in advance. Oft too, when thorns do not e^iet, And we might pluck but flowers. We bind ourselves to the sweet blooms, With griefs that are not ours. Tormented thus by unreal thorns, We vainly chafe and fret, And all capacity for joys In fancied ills forget. Each path hath flowers as Welt as thorns, Its brightness as its woe, We gather often as we will, And reap but as we sow. Be it our aim to ever plant Such seedlings as will bloom ; To shun thorns where we need not tread, Not borrowinc neediest gloom.

Tlie Illustrated Australian News (New Zealand Edition), for August 15th is to hand. The illustrations are as usual first class ; and amongst them are the following : View of " The Contennial International Exhibition, Melbourne," and several scenes with respect to the Opening day. "The First Exhibition of 1854," etc. Also an illustrated supplement giving most intei eating information re past Victorian exhibitions. Tenders for the lawn extension works in Hot Springs Domain close on Wednesday next. See advt. Mr G. Garlick notifies by advertisement that a horse now running in his paddock at AVaioron^omai will be impounded if not claimed. Messis Burnett Bros., invite tondejs for additions lo a houso.