TWELVE YEARS ON THE CHAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19780, 29 October 1927, Page 4 (Supplement)

TWELVE YEARS ON THE CHAIN.

I once was a frisky young pappy, Disporting myself in the sun,' And rolling about with ray brothers From dawn until daylight was done. We chased the wild birds in the bushes, And chivied the cats through the hay, Barking and scrambling, and pushing In our |pp-heavy, awkward young way. But « thing called a man got possession Of mo, the most lively of three; Afv soft baby neck he encircled With a chain he made fast to a tree. 1 tore at that chain and I whimpered, I howled—but my howling was vain, For no mercy he knew, nor compassion He felt, for a young creature s pain. " He has water and food in abundance, And a comfortable kennel, said he; But oh! how I hated the comforts. I'd have bartered them all to be free. Like the dogs on the farms round about

That worked while they worked, and then played, A , . And were wonderful pals to their owners—- * Ah me—what a pal I'd have made!

Bui no paiship for me, and no freedom; I've been for twelve years on the chain. I've grown old and ferocious and savage While guarding a bad master's gam. But perhaps in the final accounting, When to each shall be given his due, The life of the creature he's broken May be placed in the balances, too. There is something out there in the

shadows, A something 1 just faintly see. For my eyes are dimming and glazing, And all things seem distant to me. As it comes out and slowly advances Around me there falls a strange peace; J should rush out and bite, bat + cannot, For that Something is bringing release! —F. J. Ina Hyne. .Victoria.