Select Poetry.

Otago Witness, Issue 1273, 22 April 1876, Page 19

Select Poetry.

By Philip Mouse.

TAKING TOLL.

In the door of the mill stood Richard Lee ". White as an image of snow was lie, From his heavy boots to his bearded lips, From the crown of lii.s hat to his linger lips. Now, slowly jogging along the street, Drove farmer Brown with hi.s grist of wheat, And with him Bessie, fresh as the spring, And ripe as the fruit the fall months bring. While the farmer drove about the town, Young Lee ground the wheat and bolted it down, AVith many a glance at the maiden fair Who sat by the door in the oaken chair. At last he called her in shouting tones. And she stood by the writhing 1 , rumbling stones, And \\ atehed the grain as it ebbed so still, Till the fanner came ; but the noise of the mill Drowned the .sound of his feet, and over the hopper, A good deal closer than he thought proper, Two heads \\cie bent, and when .Richard Lee Saw him standing there, he stammered : " I— sec That- -is " (then paused and shuillcd bis feet), " I think there are weevils in your wheat !" But the fanner smiled and said : "Well, Bess, Of two vvih always choose the less. And the maiden looked down, confused and meek, With a patch of Hour on one cheek ! Still, the old man didn't take it ill, For he knew young .Richard owned the mill. But he mused, as they slowly rode away : "Well ! I've been to mill now many a day — Say forty odd years- but, bless my soul ! That chap beats all of them taking toll."