TUSSOCK AND ASPHALT RHYMES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2250, 15 April 1897, Page 47

TUSSOCK AND ASPHALT RHYMES.

Br David M'Ker Wbight. Ko. 9.— "IT HADNT GOT TO BE." He came along with weary steps, bent back and ! heavy swag, The billy dangled in his hand, tied in its sootgrey rag ; His voice went swaying up and down with Eomething of a drag s " I sold a bloke seme mining scrip once on the other side, They reckoned it a duffer mme — it hadn't half been tried ; They struck on gold, he made his pile, that cove ; and look at me — I hadn't savvey to bang on t it hadn't got to bel" The sun was high above the hillr, the station close at hand, A laziness was in the air and over all the land, And not a whisper of a breeze the sleeping tussock fanned : " I might have bought the half of towli here in the early days, But every one was mad for gold and I had caught the craze; I might have had a fortune now like some ; and look at me — If I'd have only thought of it ; it hadn't got to be I " The sun was eloping to the weafc; he slowly dodged along ; The autumu day ?ras soft with haze, the sky was full of ( ong, And still he babbled en his tale of how his world went wrong : " I sunk si hole at Cow burn Creek, a duffer sure enough ; I tried a dish and only got a glimmer in the stuff. A dirty chow came in behind and had the loan of me — The gold was good if I'd have known ; it hadn't got to be ! " Tha sun wan sinking in the west, he sat upon the rail, And put his swag and billy down to finish up his tale ; The evening star came sailing out above the mountain, pale. He travelled slowly to the gate and up the station track, The swag he carried seemed as if ifc grow upon his back ; Tbe cook was savage* as a bear, he wouldn't give him tea, He was too late a3 usual — it hadn't got to be!" DunediD, April 1897.