PIONEERS

Evening Post, Issue 149, 20 December 1935, Page 17

PIONEERS

(Peter Georgeson.) Oh, pioneers! Oh, pioneers! Who blazed the track in early years. Who crossed the lonely ocean wide In little ships upon its tide; Who left the loved old British shore : Never maybe to see it more: Fond scenes of youth, and friendship's ties, . ' For new lands 'neath .southern skies. 'Your, hopes were. high, your hearts . aglow. Brave pioneers of long ago! Qh, pioneers! Oh,'pioneers! You looked ahead to coming years. Where in a lovely land and free You could work out your destiny. Untrammelled by turmoil and strife. And live a happy peaceful life'! And so you left old Britain's strand For fair New Zealand's distant land. Trusting God's blessings to' bestow— Bold pioneers of long ago! Oh, pioneers! Oh, pioneers! Through the heroic early years, You toiled and strove when all was ■ . new-r ■ ■-, ■• .. ? All stalwarts, men and women true. You hewed the way that we might ■ tread, • We honour you and bless each head; A goodly heritage you won, ' Your deeds are ,told from sire to son. Brave deeds that animate them soStaunch pioneers of long ago! Oh, pioneers! Oh, pioneerst We think of the old bygone years, The customs frank, the happy ways Of, early colonial days: Sailing ships bound for London town, To the chanty, "Roll, the wool bales down": , These scenes, and many one> beside, Gone —drifted on Time's changing tide. Strangers reap harvests you did sow. Old pioneers of long ago!

mouth of their snow man. The glow from hearth fires overflowed into the road. The bakery was full of. light and bustle. ■ . ' •' "We revived the of life in our small guest ',by Hlje 'chimney corner, where the blazing logs gleamed' riiddily against -the embossed fire-back, and the" brassVknobs ;of the fire-dogs, sending dancing flames around the kettle suspended from the pottiook, setting it to sing a merry tune. The gradual warmth, penetrated the thrush's spotted feathers, the heart beat strengthened. '-:'-ti%i. :; ''As^epu^ bread and milk into his beak he .^opened - his? eyes,; arid by the time.the; Parish Lantern. ttKe - moon) silveredl,:the; white world he was snugly nestling among flannel in a roomy cage. Feeding our guest little and often we were rewarded by a marked improvement. Most wild birds flutter