Selected Poetry.

Otago Witness, Issue 1382, 25 May 1878, Page 17

Selected Poetry.

DICK OOLEMANS WILL. Bt Mhs 0. M. Stowb. Jnst roll mo over to the other aide, And stir the straw — yes, that's better so. Smooth down the blankets ; no, the bank's mob wide j c „ Bring in soaae water, Ben, before yon go. How long have I been rick ? a week to-d»y I ' Yea, that's it ; I've taken cold again ; • • You do not know how hard it U te. lay .;'< { Without a aoul to speak to, in euch pajn,, , ,1 r Take that old coat and place' it; 'neath »y head, . >•. \ . w . ;>■ And hang this shirt jutt so, to hide the ligqt i Th« boys do all they can, but than the b*4. y Is not of down, and sunshine hurts' my sight. There, that is nice 5 pull that old box up 'Bear, , And sit a moment. Are the boys' in campr Tell them to bring my pick and shovel here^Ji What, struck a lead, Ben? won't, you light the lamp P - (rt ' Not dark, not dark : jnst tak«' my hand; dear Ben ; ■_■<> I think my head has gone a little wrong. ,}, } You do not think I'm dying now ; well, thea. Call in the boys, I know it can't last long^' All here, good-bye ; I have no will to make f Yes, there's my claim, boys ; if you strikflf * lead " - „> Just give my mother something for my sake | a Trust you, aye, with a thousand claimg.i£ need. Then a faint gasp, a quivering of the breathy And all was quiet. Not a word was said^ We stood a moment face to face with death, Each with an honest sorrow for the dead. Dick Coleman Bpoke — broad shouldered, «r3n« browned youth ; *.• t Long, shambling limbs and sinews tonj&ta* oak— ' ■ t\h We knew his heart, his bravery, and hie .truth, And listened while his words the"" sileBQQ broke. ' * " Here by the dead, boys "-—every hand .was raised, , ' And ev'ry hat was lifted from the brow-- * " I make my will " — hi* brown eyes upward gazed — • -fi ; " And here's my pile ; he cannot see me now ] But he will knew in the great world of bliw "T How I stood by him, even after death;" '\ To help hia mother I will send her this-V' J ] He thought of her, aye, with bis latest breath." , .{.<.- '> Before the twilight deepened in the' west ,',' ri Six piles of gold-dust heaped upon' the fldo^ Told how we stood by Dick's kind wordsiW pressed. _ _ . m Eaoh gave his all, a king could do no morft We dug a grave and laid our comrade the^e .; On the hillside, and marked the place WKea done ' "'-'? With a great stone; our hearts were full^of prayer .• / • „ „0 For the mother who had loit a.aon.,,^ • •