A Pleasant Birthday.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4278, 16 September 1882, Page 2

A Pleasant Birthday.

B. E. Watkin.

Yesterday the scholars of the Kauaeranga Girls' School commemorated the birthday of their head-teacher, Miss Haselden, by presenting her with an elaborately carved bracket, and an elegantly orna-1 mented flowerpot containing a plant. The schoolroom was tastefully decorated with foliage and flowers. The sentiments of the children were expressed in the following:— BIRTHDAY ADDRESS. Time flies apace, and we bid farewell To winter, wild and drear; Once more we hail thy natal day ,In the spring-time of the year; And with congratulations throng To bid thee welcome here. The sunny spring with a mantle fair .Has clothed the waking earth; Wherever her., lightest footstep falls, Fresh charms spring into birth; And the leafy branches overhead- . Are vocal with songs of mirth. Hours that are gone will ne'er return, Though we may regret them sore; The future is hidden from our eyes With all that it has in store; The present moments alone are ours, And we may not ask for more. There are vacant places which none can fil^ Among our ranks to-day, ' ' And we look in vain for familiar forms That now are far away; . Some whom we love and sorrow for, That have gone from us for aye. And others, who used to gather here, To-day we cannot see, But memory brings them back again, Though parted we may be; Their thoughts are with us all to-day, They have not forgotten thee. ■ These tokens of our lore we bring, And say with wish sincere,' May thy path be free from care and pain Throughout the coming year, And may w]9, one and all, be spared Again totgather here. ■' - : ' ' i ■ ■ . ■ ■ Scholars and friends together met, Assemble here to-day, To celebrate this festival, And, all united, say, " We wish thee many and glad returns Of this thy natal day."