Christmas Verse. ATAMA PAPARANGI.

Auckland Star, Volume 304, Issue 304, 23 December 1926, Page 5 (Supplement)

Christmas Verse.

ATAMA PAPARANGI.

A CHRISTMAS WISH. I have a stocking, wide, nnd deep, For Santa Claus to fill : But, oh ! I wish, when I'm asleep, And all the house is still. That Santa, as he passes by. Would stop beside my cot. And iv my heart, just whore I lie, Leave one new loving thought. —J. G. KENNEDY. CHRISTMAS CHEER. ["Get beautiful for Christmas: A clear complexion and happy feet will mean a happy holiday."—Headlines over a woman's page article in a London evening paper.] Get beautiful for Christmas, do! The time is short, so don't delay— File down that double chin and slew That nose a little more this way; Have ruts and wrinkles receineuted. And lastly, get your feet contented. Provide a spectacle that lifts Men's thought above mere Christmas trees, And don't indulge in Christmas gift 9 Which cost a lot and rarely please: You keep your cash and do your duty By representing Ease and Beauty. Then joy will emanate and spread. From your redecorated self Far more than if you spent instead A lot ot unavailing pelf On presents which wore quite unneeded And left your face (and feet) unheeded. For beauties of the hcait and mind Are shadows, not substantial things— A new complexion you will find More lasting entertainment brings, And no one could be rude or snappy When once informed your feet are happy. —"LUCIO." f PARCELMAS. O Parcelmas, dear Parcelmas, Thy praise I humbly sing, To clank of tin and clink of glass. And paper chafed by string. Aha ! The joy of testing tops, The sticking on of labels; Of steering kiddies through the shops, That row of modern Babels. Of squeezing in the motor bus, With mistletoe and holly, Looking " quite too ridiculous," And feeling " O, so jolly ! " While Teddy's biplane pinions flip Against " that gemman's " glasses, And Katie's skis attempt to trip Each passenger who passes. Then out and through the station yard, With Yule's impatient hustle, Our parcels gripped with scant regard For aching nerve and muscle. And when I try my hat to raise At sight of Lady Wapping, My parcels Hv a hundred ways, My lady smiling, " Shopping. " PEACE ON EARTH. Last night, I had a dream-like flight On Fancy's wings afar, I soared clear up above the earth rn.nO. anchored to a star. And looking down again I saw The strangest sights unfold — I saw the needy, poor, and ill, And a miser count his gold. Within a hovel on a hill, I saw a mother old. Her little children growing thin While the miser hugged his'gold. And then I saw a curtain drop, And from my lofty star, I saw below a world of peace And Bethlehem afar. I saw the Saviour of mankind Gather the children in. • And take them to His Father's side Atray rrom Death and Sin. I heard a heavenly angel throng Sing out in sweet refrain, And herald to a doubting world That Christ was born again. —BEATRICE E. GREEN.

I CENTENARIAN OF THE NORTH. | A ranjratira of hijrh lineage was Atama | Paparanpi, a chieftain of the Ngapuhi, | whose portrait, given on this page, was j taken shortly before his death nine years ago at the ace of one hundred years. Paparangi was a splendid type lof Maori aristocrat, over six feet b'lL'h. | with fine clean cut features and dignified I bearing, and even when approaching the I century he was remarkably erect and I soldierly in bearing. He lived at MitiI miti, a settlement on the West Coast between Hokianga and Whangape. The I old chief fought with the British at t Okaihau, and after the troubles in the ] North had ended settled down as a ' patriarch of his tribe. His last visit to Auckland was paid on the occasion ,of the visit of the present King and Queen, when frock-coated and top-hatted, he attended the many functions in which the natives participated, his finely tattooed face marking him out for . special distinction. The old fellow was the subject of one ; of Mr. ('. Coldie's pictures, "An Ai-i-lo- ; crat of the North," and the poetic quality . nf his speech is well rcllected ill the fol- . lowing tI'MU-lation he sent to tin; painter l upon receipt of a photographic copy of 1 the portrait.

i IMAGINATION. It was at Clirisfmnstido we met (All. I remember well our meeting!), , And she. though she was mamma's "pet. Was also what you'd rail a sweeting. ' We danced together twice or thrice: I found my dancing did v.■ r horc her; I knew- she thought mc rather nice. And I was plainly her adorer. , In the soft radiance of her smile v There was a sort of .redden glory; We in a corner talked awhile. \ Then sought the dim conservatory. " I see no mistletoe." I said. Within my eyes rapt ndonition : "j She miirmiired. as she raised her head, " Fray, where is you imagination ?" FRANKINCENSE AND MYRRH. On that first far Christmas night. When the Star hung near and bright, To guide tlie wise mon to His feet, Gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. They laid before the Babe, and" Her, Mary .Mother, grave and sweet. Did she dream, ns low they bowed, Of the mocking of the crowd; \ Of the day of dread, and doom. Fate held for her Ruby fair. Whom strange hands' should raise anfl bear Sadly to the rock-hewn tomb? Safe and warm His manger bod. Frankincense about Him spread— unci" again—all! once again. Myrrh, anil aloes, spices swoot, Shall be laid about His feet: The risen Lord!—the Saviour slain. —ALICE A. KENNY". AS GOOD AS EVER. I"".cle Boanerges. When some Christmas hostess urges lie should tread a merry measure on th_ floor, Says he does not care for new stops, Like the fox-trots and the two-stops. And he's certain that the tango he'd abhorYet t'nele Boanerges. As oaoli dancing couple surges Round the ballroom linds inaction ratheslow ; So although his waistcoat's latitude Forbids a graceful attitude. He whirls his partner round like billy-oh I Uncle Boanerges Says that modern dancing dirges Can't compare with melodies that one* wore sung : And when told that chaperonage Is a relic of the Stone Age. Shakes his head and talks of days when he . was young. Tet presently emerges Wily Uncle Boanerges From the ballroom with a host of otheS pairs: And although his dancing's rusty, Still lie proves he's not so dusty When it comes to sitting out upon tha stairs ' HARTLEY CARRICK. j) CHRISTMAS EVE ' It's such a happy world to-night. A world of laughter and delight, The glow in little eyes excels The twinkling slurs, and all tho hells Of Christmas time, world-wide, are drowned By childhood's happier, sweeter sound, And even hearts long used to grieve Grow brave again on Christmas Kvc. Wherever little children flower ' Is perfect joy this happy hour. The time has come I and now they race With laughter to the chimney plate To hang their stockings up with glee. In all the pomp of pageantry . There is no ceremonial rite > Like this glad scene of Christmas night. Here is a lovely drama played By innocence and faith unswayed! This is the long-awaited day. When every doubt is put away ! This is God's ceremonial night When children world-wide over light With love and happiness and wirth Each nook aud corner of the earth. Age. long grown weary by distrust. Doubting at times that God is just,And often wondering if the care And pain which it is asked to bear Are all worth while, forgets its fears, And all the burdens of the years ; Ceases in bitterness to grieve. And comes to peace on Christmas Eve. —EDGAR A GUEST.

To Mr. Goldie, The Painter of Portraits, Auckland. Oh, Son! Greeting-!: — This letter is to thank you for my picture, which arrived a few days ago. Great is tho admiration of my tribe at, tho beauty of your work. Knouirh! I will now express my feeU iiiL's towards you. "A vi.ice from the skies makes music to tie- ear : It is Hint of ihe sliinin- breasted .-u.koo, tin- l-irliiii-cr nt . iirinjLr. The trees of the forest have bod- '.od thera^ selves in their summer r: i.m i.t. The sea is red with the 1>!...--mi- of t__ lioliiitukawa. The clematis in tho fores: L-ln'es have hurst into flower, orcatinL' vista. I '■■■mit.r. Tho myriad graceful i ree* ..; I lie woods augment I ho sei n. They nr- lii. ■ iintu ;, brid .1 !•.'.'• ";' h their rot inue. Awaiiiu- ihe l' lid - wlo. w ill l< .'id iV'tu ") I 1,,- |~rli-i-; ;, ... |, : , : . -. .li. li 1,1.. WS LU oiid." Such un- t!i- I'o-liny- ■•! ii y In- nt for \oi|. Many lire (ho w -ho- Ih-:i v! il'.ll ll ml '■_ 1 t! : ! u..iild w i-li ;. 011, bin wor.ia fail. 'I In- .1:111 nf the » rd- ol _•• .•.■tin;,', of low- and of _ i ;......-b;;> is c.[..,--. d in thi- |.ln.i--. ".May lii-al'li and pr.-p 1i ■ .'■' .ittcnd you arid all . h"in you |mi ." TAKAHI ATAMA i'APAI.AXQi ] ;- ' A