CONTENTMENT.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 80, 7 November 1874, Page 13

CONTENTMENT.

'Twas in the lonely midnight hour, "When by slumber's magic power I was held a captive willing, Visions bright my soul -were filling, And other worlds with dotxdless Bkieß Opo'd to my admiring eyes — Worlds where winter's storms came never — Worlds where summerllingered ever — Where the sun was ever beaming In the pleasant hours of day — Where at eve the light came streaming From the moonbeam's naellow ray — Where the bees and blossoming flowers Quitted not the sunny bowers — Where the dripping fountains played (Neatn tlie palm-tree's grateful shade) With the soft, low evening breeze, Stealing fragrance from tlie trees, And with music's sweetest strains Floating o'er tlie fertile plains ; And where the sheep bells ringing And the lowing of the herds Were blended with the singing Of a thousand happy birds. And I stood and gazed enchanted On that world by fairies haunted, 'Till the sun with warning light Rose from out; the realms of night, _ And woke me from my dream of blisa To a common world like this, Then a weight of discontent To my heart its troubles lent, 'Till a voice -within me spake " Be contented where thou art, Never seek God's will to break, But with faith sustain thy heart ; For the soul that murmuring goeth Seldom aught of pleasure knoweth In a world where care and sorrow Spring to liglit with every morrow. But let contentment welcome find In your heart and in your mind. Make not life, so void of pleasure, Your sole care, or your sole treasxire. Pray to God that he may clothe you In the garments angels wear, And He'll ever love, not loathe you While your heart is pure and fair. And when life is ebbing fast From its earthly ties at last, Then your spirit, pure and freed, Quickly heavenward will speed To the world above so bright, To the radiant throne of light, Where the angels, ever praising, Songs of love to G-od are raising." As that sweet voice from above Sought my spirit to console With its words of hope and love, A light broke o'er my troubled soxxl. And softly to my wakened mind, As the summer's gentle wind, Came the lesson God to man Taught when first his woes began— That this world, so full of sin, Was not made to revel in, But to strive and win the goal For which His wisdom made each soul. Bathurst, October, 1874.

Minnie.