PATRIOTIC VERSES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 3955, 22 January 1900, Page 2

PATRIOTIC VERSES.

“THE FAMILY PARTY’ 5 IN SOUTH AFRICA. Great men were living before Agammemnon, .and there arc other patriotic poets than Kipling. , On the evo of the departure of the second New Zealand contingent, for South Africa wc make the following selection of patriotic verses suited to tho occasion; SONS OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS. (By Henry M. Stdwcll). Sons of the Southern Cross, arise And on Co England's aid, " For lo! neath Afrit;’s melting skies Your kinsmen are betrayed; Away! where stirring throbs of war Let loose the cannon's din. And witli tbe watchword, “God and Law,” Your virgin laurels win. Well has Old England, battle-scarrod. Fought foes defiant grown; Well has her power been spent to guard Tho isles her children own; Nor shall it prove an idle dream That gave her fortitude. New Zealand’s mountain, wood aud stream Have reared no craven brood. The lake, the shore, tho steep ascent Tho fern-clad slope and vale. The wooded bank, the chasmed rent That echoes to the gale; The lofty pah whose frowning side Bids haughty valour dread, All, all, have viewed the crimson tide Eu?h, where your fathers bled. Sons of f he-race of warrior chiefs Whose empire bounds the earth. No “failing fabric!' - moves Ibcir grief No fear of your uuworth; Their glorious charge bequeathed to you Let war’s jmmd test declare. And conquered fields once more renew Old England’s foes’ despair. Sons of the Southern Cross, awake. The Boors’embattled -see; Their war-fires ■ gleam by rock and brake - To light your victory; On! to the warrior’s grim parade Where camps beleaguered; lay. On! through the rattling cannonade That hails the hero’s way. The rushing hosts, the booming shot. The call to’ arms at dawn, ’ The foe en masse by hill and rock. With valiant hopes upborne; The shout; the charge, the trenches nigh The gaps their volleys see, These that await youn battle cry— ; “Ka horo!” Lo; they flee! Sons of the Southern Cross, with heed Advance your measured force, _ As our own, southern gales, which speed Unchecked along their course; On to the battle of the free That moves all England’s claiin, , Till Africa, till liberty, ' , Announce jour deathless fainc. Stand to your arms, though rude the shock Which seeks your: weaker fault; \ Firm as your native-mountain rock ; That shatters;.each assault; , Firm till your foes’ relentless strength , Shrinks iii the stubborn fight, : Then Charge! charge,home, through his .do fence'; ' ‘ , , An Empire bless your might! ' So, till fhe muffled drum’s sad beat: Consigns to warriors’ rest,Advance, that in that last retreat— ’ As bravest and the.,best— Loud on the i roll; of, rip me your might , Blonds .with tho western: breeze. In chords that thrill with proud delight Your loved oiics left at. case. Sous of thoHoutbcrn Cross, good-bye; Fond-hearts 1 and anxious care, The sunshine-of your native sky, - Attend you-everywhere; - ■ , . As warmly now wo wish farewell, . God send the,.clays, to come, n ; When pealing trump and voices swell , .Yoiir warmer welcomehomo,i ; ’ Hawcra, N.Z., January, 1000. ■ : THE VOICE OF - AUSTRALASIA. • j i. (By Thomas. McMahon; -Wellington).' '• \ The spring-pf deep affection and tho love that links -bur hearts, . , Flows freer with tho force of evil days. Tlio fire of patriotism with the shift of battle starts, , And tlio loyal spark of- fluty glows ablaze. Us gum suckers - and cornstalks,’and - us Maorilandcrs too, . Wo’re wanted where the bullets shower and fly, And I guess wo are a-going just to do what we can do, Ready, if we’re needed, 1 for to die. *O, the Empire has her soldiers in the roving drovers’ camp'— ■ -‘ ’ 1 ■ You’ll find them in the shearing shad . as. well— There’s pluck.and;gritty, valour, in the heart that loves to; tramp Aud listen to the 'tinkling bullock's: bell. ' - How could we fear the, bullets or the Hutch Boers’gory sword ? We, who have tramped the country far- , . thest put. •• ” ’ ■- I For the gaining of existence and the guile! of gold’s. reward, , ‘ We’ve starved and fought together in, the toils of flood and drought. ; - , ; O, lot’s muster on the stations as wc never i did before; Lot’s pickdhe finest horses we can find— Full-blooded, well-bred ;pacers, who have' heard the stockwhips'- roar r As they moved with sweeping motion just like yachts before the wind. • 'Let ns have a. human muster, let us choose the bravest men, 1 ‘ The brawn and brain and muscle of our land - ; ■ - Let the flag of Australasia in. glory flourish ... then, . Whilst Antipodeans go ami take a baud. For the Empire has her soldiers in the rugged mining camp— , You’ll find them'in the. shearing shod: as well—- 1 There’s pluck- and gritty valour in the heart that loves to tramp And. listen-to the tinkling bullock’s bell THE ANSWER OF THE COLONIES. (By Morgan Hawkes). • How many mien does England want To fight for, the Flag beyond the seas P England aska,for a, thousand troopers— Who of her soils will!furnish these? —lf'this be all that England wants, Australia answers over the sea. Here are a thousand steeds and men, ' Bred and equipped and armed by me. England knows, my bora .right well; j Clean, true chips qf the.tough old block; There arc some of them..up to the-front today, ■ Rial wart slips of the ancient stock. England knows my horses, too, Wberevcr ; the English tuif is green; So here arc - the pick of my best of both. To fight for dear old Flag and Queen. How many men does England want To drive the,Boer from his kopje lair ? England now . has a sudden need Of all the troops that her sous.can sparo. —lf this he all that England wants. New Zealand shouts from Sound and Bay, Here are 'gunners and‘horses and men. Willing and eager for the fray. England knows my'fighting boys. The world re-echoed their wild Hurrah ! As blackened and bloody, grimed and gashed, They rushed, the perilous Maori Pah. From the “land of fire, - ” from the “land of ice/ 5 From the dark pine forests that stretch between, : There’s a troop of them up at'tho front today ... . To fight for; the dear,old Flag and Queen. How many men does England waut To beat th» Boer at his own deep game? England asks for & thousand scouts.

Swift iu the saddle, snre of aim, —lf this be all that England wants. Canada calls across the snows, Hero are a thousand steeds and men Bred where the broad St. Lawrence flows. England knows my fur-capped lads;i " Wiry, dusty, ruddy of face; ““ > There are some of them up at the front* tbday, - ; ■ ' Worthy sons of (ho ancient race. From lake and plains in the wide NorthWest, ; , Bold “Hough Eiders, - ’ hunters keen;. Here are the pick of my best of both. To fight for the dear old Flag and Queen. These are the men (hat England wants To he!;) her heroes trained and tried; These are the galloping, dashing lads. Sportsmen born,- and devils to ride. Australia, last of the;Continents. Now Zealand, realm of peak and crag; Canada, washed by oceans three— , Our boys will fight for the Queen 'and Flag. THE VOICE OF LETT. (Special Hymn by the Dean of York, sung at the farewell to the York and Lancashire Regiment, on leaving for South Africa). . , . The Voice of duty calls—True hearts obey. Though dark the storm cloud o'er the onward path; Though risk and death beset the troubled' way, i, ■ Which' bristling forms of angry focmcn hath. i The Voice of duty calls—Oome what, come may, Como toil, exposure, death, or hating pain, Not one will swerve through gloomy night dr day Till God shall call, to rest o'er home again. The Voice of duty calls—Defend the right. Conclude this strife, O God, bi i discord cease. ' Dispel the storm clouds with Thy heavenly • light, - And shed abroad on. all Thy blcss id peace. The Voice of duty calls —Alike are wo Enlisted with the symbol of the cross; And- ours the part, His faithful ores to bo Whether we gain the day or suffer loss. ; The Voice of duty calls—For'ever )’ life ‘ There is the contest with the power of siii, The steadfast struggle aud undaunted strife Of those who would the HeaVenly guer- , don. win. - The Voice of duty calls—Nop id 1c stand With coward hearts that fear to do His will. For evil lurks and spreads throughout the ■ laud, > Let all essay their duty to fulfil. 1 ' ! . The Voice of duty calls each one here; i Whore tablets to the brave adornv the , wall; • ■, , : ;• ,■, i And colours, borne by hearts devoid of fear. In solemn grave decay, droop over all. , Be ours the part to'quit us too like men, : To follow on the path which they have /,, : . trod;: : ; .’a / • i :■ ,f. 7/ / Fearless, alike of harm or death, for then 1 The faithful heart shall find its rest iu - : God. ■■ ■ : ' l - ■■ 1 “■ ' ■■■■•■! Tlie Voice of duty calls-wWo render here The willing offerings of tender hearts. The widowed and the fatherless, to cheer. 3 Give them. 0 God, the peace Thy grace l imparls. . ■ <i ■ THE REJECTED. , ,1 i ■ ■ , I v' 1 - ■ ■ !■ ] (By a Private in the Left Behind : ' ■ Contingent). ‘ Come pass The bottle round, my boys, ;And each a bumper:quaff 1 : 1 • •> To the-gallant little band of chaps - They’re not a-sending oil'. There's. Bill. and .Dick/ and Tommy Dodd i And' the Wanganui bloke,, Fit?; Montmorency Parkinson, . , Who: thiij.ks.it all a joke. .. ’.m. There’s you and T and Charley Jones Who tried the riding test; The moke sneaked off between my legs. And so I gavc.it best.' Am! Mac is also lett behind, ■ Who cobblcivwased his'pants, , Ke left ai portion on his “gee,” • , When she began to prance. ; j ■ .You’ll always spe mo on my moke When sho is under mo: Bvit what can a poor feller do 1 When partners disagree?, ‘ Then Dick is five feet eight in height.,’ . And nothing round the bust; He. is the definition of a, line, , To tell The truth I must. They heard that Tom had got a wife ~ , , And "little kiddies three. Who wanted much to sec him off. But still it could not be. Pitz Montmorency Parkinson, So debonnaire and gay, m • ! They feared he’d absent minded be . If he oncoigot: away. . . ' ‘ , . ,i. It’s Krager’s praj'ers have settled us; I really do believe If we’d been there, tbe Boers would stare 1 At the victories’We'd achieve. So here we are, and to ourselves ■ We’ll each a bumper quaff— The gallant little hand of chaps , . They’re not a-sending off ! e . , —Mangaweka,,January 1, 1300. : ,