19 APRIL 1890, Page 15

POETRY.

A LOST PARA_DISE.

GREEN fields and young faces,

Sunshine and flowers- Ah, in far-off fairy places, Once they were ours !

Now, when cares and crow's-feet thicken, Brown locks are grey, Do the hedgerows somewhere quicken, Flushing with may ?

Are the buttercups as golden ? Do the harebells chime, In those meadows of the olden Blessed time ?

Look, how cold that sky above us ! Ah me ! to walk Where the daisies know and love us, And the sparrows talk !

Hush ! the wistful children heed us, Pausing in their play !

Darlings, take our hands and lead us— You know the way.

FREDERICK LANGBRIDGE.