The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1881-06-18
PunAHoU.

A rustic of leaves ON the old mountain side.
A whisper of storm in the air,
And trees that have long been the forests great pride
A culver OF fear seem to share.
For up from the sea, sweeping over the plain,
And filling the valley below,
Is raging q tempest, of wild wind and rain,
That buries all nature in woe.
The forest looks down from its snug lofty peak
In plying love on the strife.
Each tree in the vale is a child, frail and weak,
Transplanted to strengthen its life.
And now they behold the young limbs torn away
The parasites trailing in dust,
The buds of fair promise, the flowers of a day,
Swept far DER the plain by each gust.
The mountain re-echoes the woe at its feet,
The thunder rolls heavy and long
The hghtnings wild play with its terrible heat,
The rush of young torrents so strong
The roar of the elements fairly let loose,
Envelope the landscape in gloom.
Fair Nature perceiving no token of truce,
In mist, hides her face from her doom.
The hours roll away, and the storm is nigh spent,
The winds wearied out are asleep
BY sobs now and then, the deep valley is rent,
The plying skies can but weep.
The morn breaks at last, and with life in her breath
Reviews the poor wrecks of the gale
With tenderest touch helps those struggling with Death,
To conquer the messenger pale.
Time aies,-the wild storm is a thing of the past
u uONtISd IL NAttptES CdEcoS
The bruised battered limbs, that were left at the last
So stripped of their natural dress,-
And radiant now in the glory of June,
The forest dreams not, that an time,
Will ring from the plains at her feet, a sweet tune
Which caught from the storm, its first chime.
Rough torn from its home by the tempest so shrin
A ken seed was whirled swift and high;
It fell at the base of a rough Rocky HUI,
Alone, unprotected, to die.
But sheltered from harm by the same rocky steep
And fed by a silvery spring,
Soon tiny leaves sprout, while the roots downward creep
New life and fresh beauty TO bring.
The twig grew a~pace,-while a sspling in height,
Twas sturdy and comedy to VIEW
The branches with many a nod of delight,
Shot upward each year towards the blue.
Not long ere its fame through the country around
Drew many its virtues to test Isoundl
Each bough that was pruned, showed a grain fine and
And polish that ranked with the best.
They searched far and wide. over land, beyond seas,
For men fitted t0e7, for the care
OF breaking the ground near this fairest of trees.
And planning future, to bear
Such fruits OF hard labor, such flowers Of deep thought
That nations unborn. should rejoice
In learning the lessons, their sires were first taught
When this Alma Mater found voice.
The first who was found this great charge to Der see
Ranked high midst his fellows in lore.
Though spelling his name with D, o. L, and Z,
NeIT doled out his treasures IN store,
But gave in full measure the fruits of his toll
To those who had gathered to share
Thus early, the benefits reaped from the soil
By his failifEI IabOrs and care.
And while to their minds, hearty food he dispensed,
With nourishment plain, clean and nice,
Their bodies were fed, and the fare recompensed
BY being oft, number one, Rice.
Nor must we forget in those days long since flown
The lady severe in her zeal.
Whose famous 'greSH cief" to tradition Is known
Which wonderful tales might reveal.
But time quite forbids. and we hasten to tell
of changes which later took place,
When those who had labOred for twelve years SO well
Resigned to successors with grace.
The next who was found this great charge to assume
The mem'ries of all have enshrined
With tributes Of love and respect, whose perfume
Serves ever those days TO remind.