IN LIGHTER VEIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21112, 20 February 1932, Page 9 (Supplement)

IN LIGHTER VEIN.

A CAUTIONARY TALE. The Saturday Review in ifs playful mood offered prizes for a poem in the manner of Hilaire Belloc's " Cautionary Tales," beginning with the two lines:— The only fault of Reuben Brown "Was knocking aged spinsters down. Here is the first prize-winning poem by George Van Raalte: — The only fault of Iteuherv Brown Was knocking aged spinsters down. He loved to hear their timid squeal And see their look of soft appeal, And wept with joy to watch thern flutter On muddy mornings in the gutter. And in this not unhealthy pleasure lie spent his frequent hours of leisure— Till came a day when Spinster Fate JJecided to retaliate. A lady sauntered close ahead; lie caught her up with wary tread. And sent lie:* sprawling on the earth. Ilis eyes grew dim with tears of mirth. They cleared, and there before him lay, Among wet leaves and liquid clay, 'J'lie richest of the rich relations On whom he based his expectations, ILI3 sunt! She turned, she saw. sho knew! In blind and nervous haste he flew. And slipped beneath a passing bus; Ilia death was instantaneous. Two morals, reader, here are shown : " Don't knock a lady down " is one; The next, if you'd avoid a shock. Is simply " .Look before you knock."