THE DAY OF THE WEDDING.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2200, 14 August 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE DAY OF THE WEDDING.

A pleasant day 'neath Southern skies Is drawing near its drowsy close, And Nature sinks in calm repose In the departing day's demise. A winter day, tho' mild and calm, Followed by evening's pleasant rest, — The weary dying day's bequest, Labour's reward and sorrow's balm. But all my thoughts are far away Far have they flown acro.ss the seas— For thought can traverse space with ease— My thoughts are with the dawning day. Yon sinking sun in golden glow Is rising now on friends I love ; With him my fancy f.iin would rove, With him my thoughts and feelings go. Thou glorious orb, my message take To those fond hearts that beat with mine, Thy kindly beams full soon shall shine On those whose hands I yearn to shake. I knovr no messenger m«»re meet Than thy bright baams so warm and light, To those true hearts that shall unite, E'er thy day's journey is complete. For as thy light and heat unite To form one mighty living power, Shedding an all pervading shower Of teeming life on vale and height, So hath the Architect divine Made man and woman each to find In union blest of heart and mind Fulfilment of His grand design. Then let thy blessed radiant beams Of holy married heat and light Shed on them, as their troth they plight, Of heavenly joy the first foregleams. Meet symbol thou of- Him who reigns In realms of heavenly innocence, Yet here— our sorrow's recompense — In lowly hearts to dwell He deigns. And as thy genial beams with life Bless all this teeming world below, Thy silent influence doth but show How God doth bless true man and wife. His wisdom like thy light shall shed A radiance thro' the darkness round ; Her love shall in both hearts abound, And warmth throughout her sphere shall spread. Then shall thy rays my bent thoughts bear, To tell of which my pen would tire ; More faithful thou than pen or wire— My blessing shsd upon them there. Thy blessed beams shall kiss the bride, The scattered flowers illuminate, Banishing falsity and hate. As they their love to each confide; And as they gaze thy beams upon, In gladsome mirth and merriment. Here usward shall their thoughts be sent, On whom thy previous beams have shone. Farewell fair Sun, when we have said Farewell unto thy face for aye, The Sun of Suns shall be our day, And death and darkness shall have fled. H. K. H. Cambridge West. 30th July, 1886.