"THE GOLDEN WEDGE."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18711, 17 May 1924, Page 26 (Supplement)

"THE GOLDEN WEDGE."

5 * A LEGEND. OF OLD PERU. < j The fpllowing verses won the' first prize for an; original recitation, written by a [ New Zealand resident, at the Hamilton |.' competitions on- Saturday; last.' It was recited by Miss Elfreda Hall, of Auckland. • Blood of the Incas in my vein's, ' i A Royal Princess I, - , . , ■ Daughter of Manco of . tlie Plains 'v '; Whose fame shall never die. • ; Writ in the annals of Peru : His name and reign- ye'll fir.d; < ; ' ' E'er to his subjects staunch and true, . .. '=> He strove to raise mankind., . Learn* how he came to save our race - • From degradation, dire. *,V jl'"'. Came when Peru had fallen from grace And roused the Sun-God's ire. • Jle.ar of 'the wondrous Colder. Wedge He brought from Heaven's gate; • • ' v Tale of the Inca's noble pledge' / ' i., In 'legend I relate. . <• Back in the dark barbaric days, > ' ' When wisdom we ' had none, * r War was our pastime, our rude ways. Aggrieved our parent Sun. !■ Down the great luminary looked,' ' „ ; Arid,* as he, looked, grew. grave; > ' Swore that these things', could , not be . ' .; brooked, .- 1 ' ' '? ■: His children he must save. / Marico, his son, lie called and said: V" Go, take thy, sister-wife; \ Over Peru-my mantle spread, Teach them the perfect life. .. . .. . Take with ye now this Wedge of -Gold, ! ' And where it strikes the ground, Build ye a'city, and there enfold r ; My children scattered round." . Kneeling, the great celestial pair • „ ' Both .gave their solemn pledge, .They .'would' abide and rule where'er Should sink the Golden Wedge. Bore they the sacred emblem-out,.' True children of- the -Sun. • : " r ; . Strong in j their purpose and devout, Their task they would,not shun, " - • Journeying forth, they came-at last ■ To where our ' race* did dwell. ' - . There, as the Sun-god had forecast, Tlie ;mi^cle;b"fpl 1 - v Drooped, from their hands unto the ground The Golden Wedge, arid then : Sank .neath the earth, nor shall be found By mortal man again. ' : Soon in the people's hearts there- burned :. Desire for nobler life. \ Civilisation's : laws \ they learned," Discarding sin arid strife. Thus .did - the vow he/rnade ; fulfil • King. Manco of the Plains. * . .. ■ . Nor ./shall his mem'ry 'fade'-.until ; v .. . . ... The Sun-God's . glory iwaries.' l * • r.• "• f'*"• ' *,•" J. 'Youlin BIKCH. 'I