THE KINGDOM OF LOVE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2233, 30 October 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE KINGDOM OF LOVE.

In the dawn of the day, when the sea and the earth Reflected the sunrise above, I set forth with a heart full of courage and mirth, To seek for the Kingdom of Love. I asked of a poet I met on the way Which cross-road would lead me aright And he said: "Follow me, and ere long you will see Its glitteriner turrets of light." And soon in the distance a city shone fair ; " Look yonder," he said, " there it gleams !" But alas ! for the hopes that were doomed to despair, It was only the Kingdom of Dreams, Then the next m.iv I a^ked was a gay cavalier, And he said: "Follow me, follow me," And with laughter and song we went speeding along By the shores of life's beautiful sea, Till we came to a valley more tropical far Than the wonderful Vale of Cashmere, And I saw from a bower a face like a flower Smile out on the gay cavalier, And he said : "Wo have coins to humanity's goal — Here love and delight are intense," But alas J for the hope of my soul— It was only the Kingdom of Sense As I journeyed more slowly I met on the road A coach with retainers behind, And they said • " Follow us, for our lady's abodo Belongs in the realm yon will find." 'Twas a grand dame of fashion, a newlywed bride ; I followed, encouraged and bold, But my hopes died away, like the last gleams of day, For we came to the Kingdom of Gold. At a, door of a cottage I asked a fair maid, " I have heard of that realm," she replied, " But my feet never roam from the Kingfdom of Home, So I know not the way,'' and she sighed. I looked on the cottage— how restful it seemed ! And the maid was as fair as a drove, Great light glorified my soul as I cried : "Why, home is the Kingdom of Love!" Ella Wheeler Wilcox.