ESSAYS IN VERSE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 09, 11 January 1908, Page 13

ESSAYS IN VERSE.

[Contributions to this column should arrive on or before Wednesday.] "BANNATLATH." ("My blessing- be with you.") O blue, blue hills, with tho blue sky over; 0 water falling: in oreamy foam; O brown-thatched cottago, with smokewreaths curling, In that dear old place that my heart calls homo ; 0 glint of sim in the heather shining ; 0 woodbino glint in tho hedges green ; 0 trees that whisper all night together; Where the wild rose blooms in the old boreen — Now bannatlath to you — God bo with you — Sure, that's my prayer for you night and day ; Sweet fairy glen, where the rugged mountains Keep solemn watch o'er your smiling way. Maud A. Black. Pall Mall Magazine. THE PIGEON OF ST. MARK'S. On the Piazza stones from east and west A thousand threatening footfalls crost and boat, With hoavy tramplings round the little feet, Yet nought cared he — his one sole aim, cqnfest, To win her bluo wings to his cornicenest; Wooing, compelling, through tho long day's heat, Bowing before his love, or following fleet, With deep unveering undivided zest. So would I do — might youth return again — _ _ ' And know in time all that is known by men Too late, of lovo and life; no foolish fears Of trampling destiny, no wandering flamo Of small desires, should waste life's flying years. And love should follow one unfaltering aim. — Habberton, Lulham. St. James's BudgeJ;. GYPSY SONG. Under me the grass, Over me tho sky, I can sleep and dream until Tho day goes by ; Till .the shadows pass, Till the _ stars depart, Let a roving gypsy fill His hungry heart ! Voices in the \*ines, Visions in the vales, It is mine to kpow them all Along green trails; When tho morning shines Like a rose above, Lot me hear the gypsy oall Of birds I love ! Murmur of the stream, Whispe r cf the tree, I can undtii stand the song They sing to mo ; Mine, tho blis&fu' dream, Build >d o* delight, Let the gy psy's day bo long, And brief hia night ! — Frank Dempster Sherman. Munsey's Magazine. 1 ■ THE PIONEERS. Far back through the misty aeons of the years that rolled away, The men of the old brigade began the fight, And tho echoes of their axes rang from dawn till close of day — Hoarts of gold kept boating time to arms of might. But those hearts have ceased their beating, and the axo is dumb with rust. And we reap tho golden harvest they have sown. And perchance by wealth-lust driven, tread impious o'or their dust, Long unmarked — Unsung save when the night winds moan. What are wo but helpless pygmies, wherf we contemplate tho "brave And bighearted pioneers who led tho van, When they stormed the forts of Nature, and with 'saws and axes olave Westward paths, that oped God's heritage to man. How they fought the first grim battles in * tho march from east to west! Many fell long ere tho wished-for goal was won; Oft repulsed but never vanquished, wearing "vinci" for their orest, Ever facing, as they fought, the setting sun. When the fire-fiend swept the clearing, and tho bush was all ablaze, Still they fought like ancient Spartans to defend Hard-won homes, through blinding Bweatdrops, through the singeing heat and haze, Till their homes were left in cindera in tho end. When tho big_ floods loft thorn roofless, and the big droughts took their all, They'd begin the same grim struggle o'er anew. Bravest soldiers of our legion, till Death sounded their recall, And they left tho trophies won to mo and you. Now we sing unstinted praises of less , herpes far than they, „ And in lettered obelisks we laud their | faiAe, Whilo the sturdy old-time bushmon, who 1 went first and cleared the way, Are. forgotten in lono graves without a name. > . . V S E But sleep on in graves unhonoured by the baubles prido may raise ; Though the tall gums by the gravestones you have won, In their hearts cut deep is carven lasting monuments of praise, By tho men who know the work that yo'i have done. — "Paul Cupid." Sydney Stock and Station Journal The proposal of the Victorian State Government to endeavour to attract Eastern business by means of a Stateestablished steamship line, has now taken a concrete form. The local Minister for Agriculture, in explaining an item of £1500 in the estimates for a subsidy for a shipping service to Singapore said that the contract with Messrs. Currie and Sons for this service was ready to bo signed. All the conditions had been agreed to, and the second steamer would leave during December. There was to be a regular service, at intervals not exceeding five weeks, and the voyage was to be accomplished in 21 days by Torres Straits, or 28 days by Cape Leeuwin. The freights were not to exceed the i freights charged by the German-Aus-l tralian line from Adelaide or by the lines running from Sydney. There would be 30,000 ft of coal space, and when possible the service would be made a monthly one. Victorian shippers would have the first call on the space, i and he hoped the producers would foster tho trade and encourage the service, which would be of great benefit to Victoria. The Government was also negotiating with the New South Wales Government, for a direct service to Shanghai.