DRIFTED.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue XXXII, 9 March 1889, Page 1 (Supplement)

DRIFTED.

It seems as though life's goal was nigh, So close our lives together bleud, With some inseparable tie That Fate itself could never vend. Life showers its blessing every day As wo walk down the primrose way. Each day is fair, tho sky o'erhead Is like a sea. of chanceful blue, The prass is green, the ruses red, And both are fresh with morning dew. We walk together aide by side With hand in hand and fate deride. Yon placid stars, when dark the night, With merry twinklings watch our feet, And tho old moon with tender light Beams down upon us as wo meet; The gnarled oak's shado, the trysting gate, Are pictures in our Book of Fate. We thought to pass the coming days For aye together, man and wife But recked not that dividing ways Could break our love with parted life. The way thou goest is not mine ; The way I go cannot be thine. For duty calls; 'tis not alone The man wh » works, the woman's share Is just as great when life has grown A heavy task of toil and care. So o'er the seas I go my way Whilst thou remain'st to work and pray. Fate is unkind that so divides Two loving heart) to toil apart; My barque to fame and fortune rides Whilst still an unknown slave thou art. And so apart we surely drift And in the lute grows wide the rift. New sights, new interests I know, Now friends claim suffrance when they plead ; These days into tho shadows go— 'Tis not for aye that hearts can bleed. We drift apart, 'tis fate's decree, Our love a disiunt memory. Think not, sweet love, that I am worse Than they who bow before the wind. 'Tis thus all round the universe And I seem cruel when I'm kind. Farewell, wo may not meet again ; 'Tis well, for meeting would be pain. Long years have passed; dividing seas No longer spread their bmndless blue; The same old walls beneath tho trees, The same old grass and roses too ; But that is all; wo meet again And greet each other without pain. Ada Ward.