NO ROAD IS BAD IF IT LEAD HOME.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLI, Issue 224, 21 September 1907, Page 3

NO ROAD IS BAD IF IT LEAD HOME.

There's a flood in the valley where winds the home-way track, The torrent bars the high road, turn you back, turn you back! —Nought I fear the floodtide; from hair and raiment drips ■•" The cruel drowning water that lay upon my lips; I have passed through the deep waters that are rimmed with swirling foam, No road is ill to follow, no road that leads, leads home.

■On the plains is a fire; burnt sheaves and blazing stack, 'The smoke-rack hides the roadway, turn you back, turn you back! —Nought I fear the burning, on breast and brow and hand, I am scarred with the marking of a crimson, flaming brand: I have passed where the red ploughshare has scorched the furrowed loam, No road is ill to follow, no road that leads, leads home.

There is night beyond the mountains, a darkness blank and black, The mist lies on the rock-road; oh, turn you back, turn you back! Nought I fear the darkness, what heed I sun or light? To eyes the day has blinded what menace holds the night? The ice-mist swathes the mountain as flax from carding comb, But where the midnight deepens, my road, my road 3 leads home. Una Artevelde Taylor, in the Westminster Gazette.

DISARMING THE NATIONS. The"nations met to talk of peace and

of its many charms, Each told the rest he thought it best

that all lay down their arms, That spears be beaten into ploughs, war steeds turned out to grass, That guns be changed to pipes arranged for water or:for gas. ' "A worthy deed,'' they- all agreed, " for peace we are athirst'; But each one said he'd wait until the

others disarmed first. "It is not war I'm looking for," said hearty old John Bull; "But anyone that pulls a gun will find me in his wool. Yet I'll disarm—war holds no charm

for me—l'll only keep My forts to hold my lands outrolled, my ships to rule the deep." "I hate a fuss," observed the Russ, "I yearn for gentle calm; I'll merely save the swords that wave, held in each soldier's palm. I'll keep my guns—some other ones I've ordered, and, of course, I cannot spare my navy fair, it is a peaceful force."

"To peace I'm led," the Kaiser said. " My army shan't increase, Except that each boy I shall teach the way to hang to peace. And I shall roam upon the foam, insisting on the right, Each battleship a shoulder-clip—-I hope I need not fight."

The peaceful Jap, a timid chap, remarked that he agreed , That he would not keep in one spot more army than he d need. And Uncle Sam looked like a lamb when he observed that he Would build no boat that would not float upon the angry sea. The nations met to talk of peace and of its many charms, They frowned on strife, and drum and fife, and all of war's alarms; Then each backed out, with looks of doubt, with frettings in his mind, For as each went his arm Avas bent to <(} clutch a gun behind. Tis peace we need," each one i ar?n e? cl > " fcr that we are atnirst > And 1 11 lay down my guns and swords if you will do it first."

—Chicago Post