The Argosy — page 165: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

T50 A Day at Malta. swarm of brown boys and men were diving for coins. They would not condescend to stir for a penny, but if anyone threw in sixpence they dived deep down after it, and came up with it between their glistening teeth. Sometimes a coin was thrown down the other side the vessel. Away they splashed, a dozen of them, dived right under the ship, and one was sure to come up on the other side with the sixpence in his mouth. In this way they made quite a small harvest, But five o’clock struck, and with the last stroke the A4atavia, punctual as ever, was in motion. We steamed out of the magnificent harbour between the forts, as much impressed as ever with their grandeur. Malta fell away. Once more we were ploughing the blue waters of the Mediterranean. Presently night fell, and the moon rose, and the stars came out, ‘proclaiming to the listening — earth, the wondrous story of their birth.” AN EVENING PRIMROSE. Catm Evening hushed the voices of the day, And sang her lullabies from sea to sea, Soothing the clamour of unrest away ; ‘Peace, peace!” she softly murmured unto me.. For ears attent she tender whispers gave In wafted odours and in fitful breeze ; For he that hath—of heaven more shall have, Who grasps a gift a further prize shall seize. Within her hand a fragrant bloom was borne, White and diaphanous and pure as snow, Our faith’s rude symbol at her heart was worn, The fairest she of all the flowers that blow! She spake in fragrance. Brief her hours and few, She must be gone ere yet the day may break, Her speech distilled amid the evening dew,— I tarried in the gloaming for her sake. One bud, by calyx clasped like hands in prayer, Waited the call her glories to disclose ; When eve again stepped down her sunset stair, The earth should hail another fragrant rose. And thus hath morn and eve and sultry noon A voice and symbol, every hour its sign. Oh, to be learners of heaven’s lavish boon, Discerners of the speech which is divine! CLARA THWAITES. Goin (9) LOOOKS pean)