Select Poetry.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 386, 5 July 1879, Page 3

Select Poetry.

DRIVING!- HOME THE COWS. Out of tho clover and blue-eyed grass, He turned them into the river-lane ; ' One after another he let them pass, Then fastened the meadow bars again. Under the willows, and over the hill, lie patiently followed their sober pace; , The merry whistle for once was still, And something shadowed the sunny face. Only a boy ! and his father had said He never could let his youngest go ; Two already were lying dead, Under the feet of the trampling foe. But after the evening work was done, And the frogs were loud in the meadowswamp. Over his shoulder he slung his gun And stealthily followed the foos-path damp. Across the clover and through the wheat. With resolute heart and purpose srim. Though cold was the dew on his hurrying feet, And the blind bats flitting startled him. Thrice since then had the lanes been white, And the orchard sweet with apple-bloom : And now, when the crows came back at night The feeble father drove them home. For news had come to the lonely farm That three were lying where two had lain ; And the old man’s tremulous, palsied arm Could never lean on a son’s again. The summer day grew cool and late. He went for the cows when the work was done ; But down the lane, as ho opened the gate, He saw them coming one by one. Brindle, Ebony, Speckle and Bess, Shaking their horns in the evening wind ; Cropping the buttercups out of the grass, But who was it following close behiud ? Loosely swung in the idle air The empty sleeve of army bine : And worn and pale from the crisping hair, Looked cut a face that the father knew. For Southern prisons will sometimes yawn. And yield their dead unto life again ; And the day that comes with a cloudy dawn In golden glory at last may wane. The great tears sprang to the meeting eyes ; For the heart must speak when tho lips are dumb, And under the silent evening skies Together they followed the eattlo home.