PARTED.
A hand-shake, A heart-ache, ■And a choking sigK : <-. - .'. A hand-shake, <•' And a heart-break ; ' Oh, love ! Good-bje. Give us one Country, as we are one People, Tell to the world that a nation is born, That the brothers in blood are as strangers no longer, But are joined, heart and hand, in the Land of the Dawn. Deak Boys and Girls, — Dunedin, for the next fifty years, may not see again such a gathering as it saw on Saturday. The departing soldiers were honoured with an honour that could hardly be exceeded. Even though some of them may never come back, they can atleasthardly ever forget the great surging crowds that assembled to cheer them and honour them — they can hardly forget Dunedin. But let us hope that they will all return. We cannot easily spare such men. There is many a sore heart left behind. Mothers have given their sons to the Empire, and mothers' hearts bleed, js it the mothers that are making the greater sacrifice ? I pity the mothers. When are we going to hear of the relief of Mafeking ? I am afraid the time is not so close at hand as was generally expected. Colonel Plumer is not going to do it, so Baden Powell will have to wait till the southern relief force, 176 miles distant, reaches him. I hope he will be able to hold out till relief arrives. He is said to hrve expressed a wish for a hot corner and surely he has got his wish. His nickname when at school was certainly not a very heroic one — Bathing Towel. He is, I believe, familiarly known in the Army as B.P. The Premier, Mr Seddon, has appeared prominently before the English world during last week. His first appearance was when his cable reached Home, expressing approval of the Imperial Government's action in refusing to accept any interference however friendly from other nations in the Transvaal war, and suggesting that the Colonies should carry it to a finish and set the Imperial army free in the event of any other power's trying to intervene. This was highly popular. Later in the week he appeared to throw some difficulties in the way of Australian Federation. This was, however, unpopular. " When India comes thundering at the gate of India they will see what my countrymen can do "; so said the great cricketer, the Indian Prince Banjisinjhi. A great Frenchman has also spoken this week and predicts that France and England must some day cross swords. .These things are worth your atten tion. - . Uncle Phil. Dear Uncle Phil, — I am going to write you a short letter again. It was raining here to-day, thus wetting all the stooks and stopping some from stacking. I have got sad news : poor Lily was drowned for stealing. 1 did not know she was drowned until a day or two after. I was wondering where she was and father told me. Flo ate chickens. We have only got one cat now, and two kittens. The cat's name is Topsy and the kittens are not named yet. We are feeding three calves now. One is black and white, which we call Pansy. The other two are red and white,and their names are Major Bobin and Strawberry. Our harvest holidays are over now for to-day is the last day of them. I went up to Auntie's when they started reaping and came home again after it was was all reaped and stooked with the exception of about two hours' reaping. I -was there a fortnight. We had a month's holidays. I' will have to close now, with love to all from your loving niece, Flo. P.S. Dear Uncle I heard since writing the letter that the school does not open for another week on account of the children having whooping cough. Flo. [I am glad to get your letter but it is a pity you have had such bad luck with your pets. I hope you will not get whooping cough for it lasts a long time. A week's holiday's will not do very much to meet a trouble which lasts in some en ses, for months. Write soonagain — U.P.]
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Bibliographic details
Mataura Ensign, Issue 717, 29 March 1900, Page 4
Word Count
698PARTED. Mataura Ensign, Issue 717, 29 March 1900, Page 4
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