RETIRED ON HALF-PAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2490, 4 December 1901, Page 63

RETIRED ON HALF- PAY.

■ The shaft that sheer misfortune sends Carries no cruel sting, But blow so struck both breaks and rends Crushes each vital spring. It sends a pang- through every heart That throbbed with British pride, That bore with Buller gallant part When Boer hosts defied. That failed, yet tried, till, conquest won, The tide of battle turned; Till 'iainting breath, too nearly inn, Once more with ardour burned. From Cornish coast to foreign shore; From far beyond the seas, Receive, above the breakers' roar, A nation's sympathies. Great soldier, know the Empire's heaifc Still honours free born speech, And bears with thine this bitter smait— Stern discipline for epch. And far beyond these clouds of fate. These hours of chill and gloom, She'll lay her wreath of laurel lat» Upon thy waiting tomb. More sadly wise in far-off days, Alas! above thy grave, Empire shall bring her paeans of praise, . While British banners wave. There falls to thee another cross, Veteran beloved, revered ; For England's sake, this shame and loss Take to thy breast endeared. Within thine heart, to country vowed, No bitterness may bide, For love, from depLhs by sorrow ploughed, Shall sweep in generous tide. Still great among the gallant great ; Still strong to bear as do, O son of Cornwall, meet thy fate, Great in forgiveness too. Foi thee— though bugles cease to blow, Xor trumpets call to fame — Hearts once unkindled still shall glow At sound of Buller'e name. — JOXCE JOCELYN. Auckland, N Z., October 31.