ADDENDA
TAHITI
The waves that touch thy pebbly beach
With soft, caressing hand;
The scented breezes winging past
Above thy favored land;
The brilliant flowers, the glowing fruits,
Close to thy bosom pressed,
All, all are singing one sweet song,
Whose soft refrain is, Rest!
The sunset brush that tints thy skies
With wondrous, varied rays;
The birds that fill thy woodland haunts
With music's roundelays;
The sparkling streams meandering through
Thy valleys ever blest.
All, all are breathing one sweet song.
Whose soft refrain is, Rest!
The twilight hour that floods the soul
With waves of perfect calm.
Then gives us to the Queen of Night,
Who pours her soothing balm;
The still lagoon with coral reefs
Where beauty makes its nest.
All, all are breathing one sweet song.
Whose soft refrain is, Rest!
O Isle of Beauty! poets may
Dip pens in wells of light,
Or soar aloft on Fancy's wings
In wild, aerial flight;
But they can never voice thy charms,
O Island of the Blest!
Whose very air is perfumed with
The fragrance rare of Rest!
O Isle of Beauty! artists may
Coax every varied hue,
To lay upon the canvas wide
A portrait true of you;
But till they borrow heaven's power
To paint thee. Island Blest,
The task is vain, O Land of Peace,
Whose every breeze sings Rest!
Where man knows all the blissful charm
Of care-free, deep content;
Where life seems one long holiday
In childish gladness spent;
Where earth and air and sea and sky
So close to God seem pressed;
Ah, loath am I to turn from thee.
Dear Land of Perfect Rest!
MARY E. GRIFFIN.
With soft, caressing hand;
Above thy favored land;
Close to thy bosom pressed,
Whose soft refrain is, Rest!
With wondrous, varied rays;
With music's roundelays;
Thy valleys ever blest.
Whose soft refrain is, Rest!