POETRY, OLD AND NEW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13612, 4 December 1907, Page 9

POETRY, OLD AND NEW.

: MEN OF THE TRAIL.., EYES that are harrowed and keen, Gleaming 'neath, hat brims wide;. Obeeks that are browned •■ by the sun, Vigour in pose and stride; Scant of their' laughter and 'speech.. Swept by no impotent gale. . Yet quick'unto honour's defence—' These be the men of the trail.

> Paths that they follow lead far, 1 To the heart of the hills or the plain— To, snows that gleam white on the crest. , To the horizon lost in the vain; No flowery byways they seek; .-■.-. And duty alone is their grail; « " Our work, in the storm or the sun," Murmur the men of the trail. - ■ " —Denver Republican. .;./' ' " SUPPOSING? • Suppose that a man", avaricious and old, Should come to mo jingling his silver and gold. ■ ■ ■ "'■ " . ' And otter a share of his Mammon to me, If I to the sale of. myself would agree— . I wouldn't— you ? ; Supposing a hero, all bristling with fame, - And big with the weight of a wonderful Proposed' in a moment of bland condescenTo give me his hand and a little, attention— I wouldn't— you ? Supposing a youth, with his heart in his, eyes ■ '■■'•:..■>....•■ That shone like the light of the beautiful

Should promise to love me through all his glad life, ■ ; ..:■"..'■• And ben that I'd be his 'own dear little wifeThen I wouldn't you ? i ;-,■•

WHEN YOU ARE OLD. "When you are old, and I am passed away— Passed, and your face, your golden face is gray— •■*.... ; ','.'; * I think whate'er the end, this dream of mine, Comforting you, a friendly star will shine Down the dim slope where still you stumble and stray. " • So may it be: that no dead Yesterday, No sad-eyed ghost, but generous and gay, May serve you 'memories like almighty wine, When you are old. • Dear Heart, it shall be so. Under the sway Of death the past's enormous disarray » Lies hushed and dark. Yet though, there come no sign, .r Live on well pleased; immortal and divine, Love Khali still tend you, as God's angela •'■'.;. .may,- ■-, ' ' ■ ' .••:■•' ■■ When, you are old. —W. E. Henley..'

WISHING AND WORKING. The man who's always -wishing mat this or that might be, But never tries his mettle, Is the man that's bound to see His plans all come to failure, His hopes end in defeat: For that's what cornea when wishing And working fail, to meet.

The man who wishes this thing Or that thing, with a will That spurs him on to action And keeps him trying still, V, When effort meets with ' failure, ; Will'some day surely win; For he works out what he wishes, . And that's where " luck" comes in.

The " luck" you may believe in V Is that which conies with -work, And no one ever finds it .-•*.' ;. ; Who's content to wish and shirk; The men the world calls " lucky," ~.■.:. Will tell you, every one, * That success comes, not.'by .wishing, -v. But by hard work, bravely done. ~ r