Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

A

[blocks in formation]

Miss Louise F. Dale and Mr. H. S. Williams.

[blocks in formation]

Solo and Chorus-"Oh, What Full Delight"
Hui Mele Hawaii Noeau.

Medley-" Popular Melodies"

Royal Hawaiian String Band.

Duet and Chorus-" E Ola mau loa" (new).
Hui Mele Hawaii Noeau.

Solo-"Ave Maria"

Miss C. Glade, Violincello obligato by Mr. Schwabach.
Duet-"Life's Dream is O'er "

Mrs. Kauhane and Hon. Lilikalani.

[blocks in formation]

"Nay, tell me not of lordly halls!
My minstrels are the trees;

The moss and the rock are my tapestried walls,
Earth's sounds my symphonies.

"There's music sweeter to my soul

In the weed by the wild wind fanned,
In the heave of the surge, than ever stole
From mortal minstrel's hand.

"There's mighty music in the roar

Of the oaks on the mountain's side,

When the whirlwind bursts on their foreheads hoar, And the lightning flashes wide.

"There's music in the forest stream,
As it plays through the deep ravine,
Where never summer's breath or beam
Has pierced its woodland screen.

"There's music in the thundering sweep
Of the mountain waterfall,

As its torrents struggle, and foam, and leap
From the brow of its marble wall.

"There's music in the dawning morn,

Ere the lark his pinion dries

In the rush of the breeze through the dewy corn,
Through the garden's perfumed dyes.

"There's music in the depth of night,

When the world is still and dim,

And the stars flame out in their pomp of light,
Like thrones of the cherubim."

LELEA.

A

HOUSE was rented of Lelea, a native woman. She was then a splendid type of her race, tall, well-formed, strong, with a quantity of glossy black hair, eyes brilliant, and clear brown skin. She was a woman of more than ordinary intellect, far-seeing, shrewd, honest and straightforward in all her dealings. I was led to think, the more I saw of her, that she had the blood of all the Kamehamehas in her veins! Her manners and bearing would not have shamed a duchess.

When I knew her (she is now dead) she was very sad and anxious, and would often talk to me of her troubles. She would come into my place at nightfall, and seeing me alone on the veranda, would not be induced to have a chair, but crouching, Indian fashion, would stay for an hour or more, sometimes talkative, more often not a word; moody and dark, seeming at such times to me more like an Indian than a Hawaiian. A broken heart was fast killing my handsome Lelea. Her first husband was a white man-termed at the Islands "foreigners "-who left her at his death quite a fine property, but who was wise enough to tie it up in such a manner that it

a

could be for her use during her lifetime, but at her death must revert to his relatives at home. A second husband had, of course, come on the scenefull native, like herself, but much younger. When Brown found he could not get hold of any of her wealth, he became very dissipated and abusive to "my lady," and succeeded, I am sorry to say, in making her very wretched.

However, she proved a very faithful and kind landlady. She promised that the large paddock should be kept tidy and clean, and as there were many fine trees, and the leaves were continually falling more or less, it involved a good deal of work. One day of every week, at least, must be given to the sweeping of the grass; and when she had this done, the whole place was like a smooth velvet carpet of richest, softest green! A bonfire was then made, and the trash burned up. Not a dead leaf could be found on that place when she had done!

As I have said, the natives never like to go indoors on moonlight nights. I would awaken to some noise in the grounds, and looking through the shutters of my blind doors, would see my earnest and faithful Lelea sweeping and gathering up the leaves by the light of a late moon. Like too many white people, trouble had seemed to summon to her side the demon Restlessness, for she never could be still. She had lost forever the repose and indolence of her race! I pitied her. She manifested (why I failed to comprehend) great affection for her recreant, lazy lord!

Often I would find a bundle of oranges or a choice fish left on my veranda, to show her aloha for me.

There is an old legend that, when the Mosque of St. Sophia was finished, the founder caused his name to be inscribed in illuminated letters around the dome. On going there in the morning he saw that his name was erased, and in its place, the name of a woman. He ordered the city to be searched, and when she was brought into his presence he found that she was a poor widow. He asked her what she had ever done that her name should be placed there, and his, the founder, be lost to sight? She said, "she was sure she could not recollect aught she had ever done, except to give a little straw to the oxen who hauled the stone." "She hath done what she could."

MY POOR, TRUE, NOBLE-HEARTED LELEA!

« AnteriorContinuar »