The Only Boy.

Free Lance, Volume XVIII, Issue 948, 12 September 1918, Page 5

The Only Boy.

(For the blew Zealand Free Lance. There seems a load of things to learn! In summer's heat I used to yearn (Especially en route to school) To paddle in the parish pool; And longed a "living wage" to earn With downy ducks that tack and turn As easy as a weaver's spool, And cuddle them to keep me cool I In winter's depth I lost that spell, And found.it paid to "feel unwell' '• When mother poured the water out From ewer's fearful, frozen spout;

Then, spoke of Little Lapps, that dwell In snowy climes, who never "yell," Protrude no tongue, impatient pout, Or chase the Lappy cat about 1 In later years it was a joke To watch my father fill and smoke His pipe from nether end to rim, And puff and pant with mighty vim; So, stealthily, with night as cloak, I filled, and pulled, as pulls our stroke When passing groups of maidens prim— But what I "passed" surprised him! My sisters seemed a lanky lot, Just born to bother, or to squat On any stool that suited me To sing a silly sol-fah glee. I'm grown-up now, ana know what's what, Oft linger in a likely spot, All trembling as the aspen tree, For she's another's sister —seep —Rongotai. Miramar.