Rain

O whispering wind, why chase so fast.

Dancing o’er the plain?

Does she not come to visit us.

The tearful lady—Rain?

The trees are drooping, dying fast; Life has left the grain.

All nature cries “Will she ne’er come?”

The tearful lady—Rain!

If she but knew, if she could feel The agony and pain.

She would not let us parch so long— The tearful lady—Rain.

For every night, with staring eyes.

We watch the clear moon wane.

And pray that cloudy morn may bring The tearful lady—Rain!

Thus long we wait, our throats grow dry.

Our cries seem all in vain: “O God above, send down to us The tearful lady—Rain!”

Then moaning faintly through the clouds.

We hear her soft refrain Echoing o’er the distant hills.

The tearful lady—Rain !

Our eyes are moist with fevered joy.

For she has come again.

With singing hearts we dance with her— The tearful lady. Rain!

Sonya Johnston.

Coogee, Sydney.

Dr, A. J. May arrived at Samarai, Papua, with his wife in November to be Acting Government Medical Officer there during the absence of Dr. F. J. Williams, who has proceeded to Europe on a year’s furlough.

Captain Tukai McGoon, an old identity of Fiji, died recently at Vagadaci, Levuka, aged 70. For 40 years he had charge of the trading cutter Annie, running between Levuka and Wainunu.