Selected Poetry.

Evening Star, Issue 6915, 30 May 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)

Selected Poetry.

A FIRE-PLATE HERO. The gradient is one in sixty wliere the Hue from the tunnel bends— It's a bad enough place in the day-time, when the light assistance lends, But the vary Devil at night time, especially winter nights, When a fog hang* low on the cutting, and juat as you've sighted lights, You put them out, or tnej put you out—it's a matter for chance or pace; No wonder drivers were one in calling it a very Hell of a place. Railways were rather new then, and paid too little per cent. For a very willing ear to be to drivers' troubles lent, So that twisting decline from the tunnel armany to glory sent The Press would take it up now, and we'd have an inspector round, To lunch with the manager., and come in a.. special to Bee the ground. He'd see it was remedied, though, and In double quick time as well; Had there been an inspector in those days, I'd scarce have a story to tell. * n « *■ * * * Driver Lane was tile first ou the list, drew excellent time per mile, Used little coal, wasted no steam, and thought it was worth his while To give his fireman a wrinkle or twa, the consequence was they were Known on their own and other line's as a not-to-be-squalled pair. Driver Lane and his fireman were comrades many a year, Such confidence each had in his friend, both were devoid of fear; They agreed in most tilings, more closely i* none than in hating the steep incline. But, knowing redress was a hopeless chance, they wer'n't the men to whine. As day after day they ran the place without a hope of amend, They thought of the pitcher that went t? the well, and its rather unpleasant end, " Sam," said Lane to his fireman, "I'm married three years to-day. " Well have a blowout this evening, and finish the night at the play; "Sue and I won't be happy without yen, I promised the missus you u come. Well Lave to be back te the minute, «t Sae'll imagine there's some Collision or anything dreadful occurs to hot terrified soul, So we must come back at top speed," said Lane, "and perhaps," says Sam, "not whole. It's a muiky night, the incline must be ru» at half speed, not more; It's better alive and late, thinks I, than early and home on a door." "Bosh," sayb Lane, "there's a moon to-night, I it'll be over the trees in an hour." Though the moon did not rise the wind took its place, bringing a heavy shower. Over bridges, under bridges, over fteadwa, between high walls. Full speed went the train, dark grew tihe night, while the winds in fitful squalls. Blew sheets of rain in the driver's face, till be scarcely knew the road, While the moon from behind dull bank* ef clouds never an instant showed. Moaning, tho wind through the tunnel comes gathering greater foree, As the train drives into the tunnel and ea in her furious course. See tho moving lights! a block ea the Use i steady! down with the brakes! Too late! sooner stem an ocean, and the driver's figure shaker. See the engine-light, we're just down upoa them ! suddenly Sam's head bowed. " As three years to-day," Bays the driver, speaking his thoughts aloud. "Jump," said the fireman, "quickly into the bushes, Lane; They will break your fall, let you off wita q> bruise or a sprain. Remember your wife, roan! your weddlig-day 5 jump while you may," And catching him, suddenly flung him amaeget the bushes along the way. Tbe look in his eyes was noble, as be faeetl the danger in front, His feet were firm on the fire-plats, ftnfliuohfag he bore the brunt. # * *; ,*• * * When Driver Lane aroused from his shock., and saw before him the crash, Like a flash came his thoughts, and springing down, found his hero amongst tbe smash. Just a flicker of life like a falling spark glimmered across that face, As Lano in his arms took the iron like a child out of that death-strown place. "I saved her, I saved her "—tie light went wtt, and "her " was a puzzle to Lane, Unlil the next day they found on his breast « battered brass locket and chain. With a twist of hair of a color he knew, and the story was plain to him then, A story kept silent beside him for years. They were rivals—yet friends—those men: -' SlUlebar.' A KNOCK FOR NEPIUNft (A Swedish chemist has discovered that eeV water contains alcohol)^ It wculd seem thon that the mainDoth much alcohol contain, Of this I wasn't hitherto aware. But this then would account For the very largo amount I experience (when aboard) of mal-<le-mey ? When I on the briny go, Sad effects I quickly show, It makes mo turn quite queer and deadly white* At every fearsome thrill I liavo fancied I was ill, When, after all, I probably was tight ! s When to leeward people loll; It is all through alcohol, Yes, when the vessel's rolling makes them funk, When they tremble and turn pale, And they quiver and they quail, They are evidently nothing more than drunk. Moreover, it is plain That tho " tars " who stand the main, And walk tho deck without the steward's aid, Hai'dened persons all must be Not to suffer from Hie sea, They aro nought but well-soaked tipplers; £n» afraid. So, if wo would escape Mal-de-mer in any shape, If sea-sickness we'd ne'er suffer from again, Twould really seem that we All teetotallers should be, Then from alcohol in all forms we'd abstain. -'Fun.' , THE WIND. I saw vou toss the kites on high And blow tho birds about the sky; And all around I heard you pass. Like ladies' skirts across the graas^ 0 wind, a-blowing all day long; 0 wind, that sings so loud a song I I saw the different things you did, But always you yourself you Wd. I felt you push, I heard you call, I could not see yourself at all—--0 wind, a-blowing all day long, O wind, that sings se loud a song!' " 0 you that are se strong and cokl; 0 blower, are you young or old ? Are you a beast of field and tree* Or just a stronger child than me? 0 wind, a-blowing all day long, 0 wind, that sings se loud a song; —I?. L. Stevenson. HORACE IN HOMESPUN. Car. 111., 21. Hoo cam' this bonnio greybeard here, Sae trimly to the time o' year, When folk maun lay't in, tho' it's deart But this, I'so wager, Cost but the buyin' o' the bcre, An* missed the gauger. It's smulled—faith, I canna (loot it! Thv smell o' peatreek hings aboot it! But still it's whusky—to dispute it Wad bo a sin— j Sao wi' tho leechenoe, or withoot it, We'so tek' it in! This verra nicht it's hogmanay— When Hab, an* Rab, and twa-three mae; Weel geizen'd guisers, up the brae May be expeokit; An' they maun cake an' calker hae Or they're neglookit. An' juist as likly's no, the folk That brewed, an' broeht this bonnio crock An' left it hingin' at my lock, May bo anion' them— Surely a muLchkin o' the stock 'S weel wair'd upon them. It's whusky noo, hut ere the morn Wha kenti what miti/ be i' tho horn? What acks an' antics may be born 0' this elixir? The humors o' John Barleycorn — They're a queer mixture ! Here Willie wi' a warliko e'e, There Hab upon his bendit knee, Dave amorous daft, an' Roger ree, An' Patio snorin, An' Gcordie wi' his jaws ajee A ballan' roarin'! Rab sits an' sulks—a dour ane Rab ! Wee Johnnie gets a gift i' gab, Lang Sandie grows a perfeck blab An' tooms his mind; Whilo Tarn, wi' aye tbe ither sab, Swears he's resign'd !

I see them in their various places, Forgetfu’ o’ their Weakened fares ; They sit, ac hour the ithcr chases, Nor think o’ risin’, Nor hoo John Barleycorn disgraces Them an’ their guisin’. At last it comes, the warnin’ click The auld clock gies afore it strik’, They waratle up, an’ i’ the nick, Roar oot their greetin’ ! Then Patie’s wauken’d wi’ a kick An’ skolls the meetin’! Hugh HAunuirroN. "THREE LITTLE MAIDS.” The chief success in the new Gilbert-Sullivan opera “The Mikado” was the trio in the first act, capitally sung by Miss Leonora Braham, Miss Jessie Pond, and Miss Sybil Grey. The words were Interpreted with a richly-conceived combination of the skittish and the demure. The song runs:— Three little maids from school are we, Pert as a school girl well can be, Filled to the brim with girlish glee, Three little maids from school! Everything is a source of fun ! Nobody’s safe, for we care for none ! Life is a joke that’s just begun ! Three little maids from s hool! Three little maids who, all unwary, Come from a ladies’ seminary, Freed from its genius tutelary— Throe little maids from school! One little maid is a bride, Yum-Yum— Two little maids in attendance come— Three little maids is tho total sum — Three little maids from school! From throe little maids take one away, Two little miids remain; and they Won’t have to wait very long, they say— Three little maids from school! Three little maids who. all unwary, Come from a lad-'es’ seminary, Freed from its genius tutelary— Three little maids from school! GIVING IN MARRIAGE. Come, let us sit together for a space. In this still room, remote from friendly mirth, Afar from light and music, face to face, Each unto each tho dearest thing on earth. Leva, they have left us, our two bonny brides, Our tali, grave girl, our winsome laughing pet; Ah me! How wide the chasm that divides Onr life from their’s : how far their feet are set From the ealm path they trod with us so long, How we shall miss them, \ve who loved them so, On winter nights, when winds are blowing strong, On summer mornings, when the resea blow. But —happy but—we still clasp band in band, Bye still meets eye and t»ie hearts understand. Love, they have left us empty of the mirth That cheered our homestead while they sojourned here; Yea, they have left us lonely on the earth, Lone, but together, solitude most dear; Ah, God, go with them to the stranger nests, That love has built for them and theirs to come. ’ God keeps all warm and living in their breasts Love's holy flame, the altar-fire of home, i Dear, they have left us : we no longer hold The first, best place, however leal each heart, Yet have we treasures left, refined gold, Love’s sterling ore, without its baser part, The wide old house has lost its nestling birds, But wo are left. Ah, love, what need of words ? — 1 All the Year Round. ’