Miscellaneous.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1914, 11 October 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

Miscellaneous.

TSie discontented Tree. ADU'TED TROM THE GERMAN OF RUCKERT. By E. M. Teaquair. Wii'nra the forest glad and free, Though suns were hot and wind 3 were keen, A little pine grew straight and fine, But clad, foe leaves, with needles green. This did not please the little tree, Which gayer, brighter, longed to be. " How prettily my mates are dressed In gay green foliage, one and all ! But not a child will look at me, Although I'm growing straight and tall. Oh, if the wish were not too bold, I would have leaves of shining gold !" 'Twas night, and all the forest slept, And with it slept our little tree ; At morn it woke with golden leaves, And was not that a sight to see ? " There's not in all the wood so fine A tree," it said, " with leaves like mine." But long before the day was done A money-lender came that way ; He had a sack upon his back, And when he saw the glittering prey He gathered all the leaves of gold, And left the branches bare and cold. The sapling hid its head in grief, And mourned its glittering leaves of gold. " My mates," it said, " are nicely clad, While I stand naked here and cold. I dare not wish again, alas I Or else I'd wish for leaves of glass." 'Twas night again, and all things slept ; And with them slept our little tree ; It woke with leaves of crystal clear — It was a brilliant sight to see. " No tree," it said, " like me can shine, Or has such pretty leaves as mine." But soon a mighty wind arose That turned and tossed the branches all ; As on it swept across the wood It made the crystal leaflets fall, And morning found them there, alas 1 Scattered and broken on the grass. The sapling gave a heavy moan, It looked so naked, poor, and mean, While all the other trees stood there Still glorious in their dress of green. "I'm sure," it said, " this wish were best, That I had green leaves like the rest." When all things slept at eventide, And woke again at morning gray Adorned with young and juicy leaves, The little tree was glad and gay. "They've loaves," it said, "and I've the same — I need not hang my head for shame." A goat came down the mountain-side In search of fields and pastures fair; Its young ones wanted grass and herbs, But all the hills about were bare. It spied our sapling's foliage green, And set to work and ate it clean. Our little tree again was bars, And sadly to itself it said, " No more I'll wish for leaves again, Or green or yellow, white or red. I'm sure I never should complain Had I my needle 3 back again." It sadly slept at eventide, And sad at morning woke the tree ; But when the sun shone out it looked, And nearly laughed aloud for glee. The reason of its joy was plain — Its needles all were there again.

A New Illuininant. Lieutenant Dick, of the Bussian Army, is said to have discovered a new illuminating substance which ig capable of imparting luminous properties to objects to which it is applied. It is in the form of a powder, and of three colors — green, yellow, and violet, the latter being the most powerful. Water in a glass vessel is by this means converted into an illuminating fluid. In a lecture recently delivered by the inventor at the Nicolai Engineering Academy, at St. Petersburg, he explained the application of the substance to military and industrial mining operations. The illuminating power lasts for eight nours, and the powder must then be renewed. The German Government is said to have been lately making experiments >with Lieutenant Dick's invention.

Heart-Bells. Through the wood and o'er tho fields, How ray heart ia singing, While the sun is on the lake And the bells are ringing 1 On I gaily take my way To a creaky landing, There a little boat is tied And a lad is standing. Forth he comes to welcome me, Joy is in his greeting ; Ah 1 the lad, I know, has longed For tibia happy meeting. In the boat I take my place, Tie my kerchief tightly— Oh 1 it is a bonnie boat Biding on so lightly. Through the rushes on we go, Pulling swift and neatly : Past the lilies on we go, Laddie talking sweetly. Can I help it if my heart Just for joy is singing — With the lad and on the lake While the bells are ringing ? Eea.