PITCAIRN by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 18, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 32.

PITCAIRN.

By Editor

[The following poem was written by a lady, a relative of Elder E. H. Gates. The little girl whose presence on these shores was the inspiration of the pretty lines, is a granddaughter of Brother J. R. McCoy, but adopted by Elder Gates as his own. We know that our readers will be pleased to read the poem.]

Innocent and tender eyed Darling, all the world beside Hath not sweeter face than thine. Tropic tree and tropic vine Lent their winning grace to thee, And their beauty strange and free.

Where the breakers' fleecy foam Breaks about thine island home, And the cliffs above them rise 'Neath the sunny tropic skies, Thou hast grown in grace and truth And the beauty of thy youth, Far from evil, taught and blest By the lessons which are best.

Dainty-featured, darling girl, How thy dusky lashes curl Over dark blue, English eyes, Mirror of thy native skies, And thine olive-tinted cheek Seems deliciously to speak Of the sunny, Southern days, Clearly bright, without a haze.

Thine is not like coral isles, Ringed about the lovely miles Of the smooth and wide lagoon, Burning in the summer noon, Never length of shelly strand, Never breadth of shining sand, But the waves with heavy shocks Break against the beetling rocks, For thine island, grand and free, Is a mountain in the sea.

Half way up the mountain spreads Level space, and o'er the heads Of the dwellers there we see Tropic palm and banyan tree, Hill and vale diversified, Far above the rushing tide.

Never taint of salty sea In the sparkling purity Of the precious upland spring; Never fear of famishing In the days when all the South Faints beneath the touch of drought; Still the water springeth pure, Never-failing fountain, sure, Through the days when leaves of palm Droop in stirless, sultry calm.

We repeat and emphasize All this scene, while sunny skies Bend above protectingly, And the shining of the sea Sends no glare to this calm height, And the flowers blossom bright; Garden fair and fruitful field All their varied produce yield.

When the breezes seek the height, How refreshing the delight Of the pure, health-giving air, For the salty vapors sink Ere they reach the lofty brink Of the lifted island fair.

Pausing for a pleasant space, Then the mountain's lofty grace Lifts above the plateau wide; On the rugged mountain side Creeping green each path enshrands To the summit in the clouds, Far above the ceaseless flow Of the tide, that sweeps below, So far lifted as to hush All the din of thund'rous rush Rising from the frantic swirl Of the breakers when they hurl

All their strength in useless war; For the strong foundations are Built of rock, which shall not stir Till the sea shall pass away.

Oh, the lifted island height That may teach example bright, For the world is like a sea, And the lifted Cross the height That can reach above the care And the sorrow everywhere, Lift our hopes, and bless each life, Triumph over sin and strife!

Love the truth, my darling child; Grasp its treasures undefiled; And its saving strength shall be Best of all God giveth thee.