TUSSOCK AND ASPHALT RHYMES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2253, 6 May 1897, Page 47

TUSSOCK AND ASPHALT RHYMES.

By David M'Kee Weight.

NO. 12.-THE WOES OF MACNAB. They had a set on Chinkies in a certain country town, And it's little wonder either that was so ; For the cdour of their shanties was enough to knock you down When you had to dsls3 them going to and fro. Aud the people in that city of the sun Have thdr own ideas of what is harmless fun. There waa in that land of peaches a most famous station cook, And his name was not an index to his race ; For the land of hills and heather never bred tbab happy iook ( Or that blacd celestial innocence of face. How a tartan and a Highland kilt would go With a yard or two of pig-tail, I don't know. He came down in all his glory mounted on s station screw, And admiring Chows looked at him as he rode ; And the smile upon his features told the jokers that ho knew Something belter than to hump a bamboo load. But it happens unto Chinkies, as to all, That pride is apt to gtt a sudden fall. He weut round upon a visit to his bright celestial mat s, Pub his torse up in the stable like a toff ; But fcome'ohiug's bound to happen if a joker only waits — When he came again the horsa's tail wan off. Juufc an inch or so of bristles left to show The place an tquiue tail is wont to grow. Then the sunshine of that city clouded over for a spell, With the breath of suhphur rolling from his torque ; That no one could translate it it was just about as well, For the reading of it mightn't suit the young. But I tancy even Chinamen can swear In the language of Confucius pretty fair. Then he went to seek for vengeance on hia deapicable foes, To lay an information of the crime ; And he fccok his charger with him, with the notion, I suppose, That he wasn't to be had another time. He hucg the bridle rein upon the gate, And some one saw in that the hand of Fate. The trooper, looking sclemn, tried to understand h"s"tale, Which took a little time, the way he raved ; Two languages to tall it were of very small avail — When he came again the horse's tail was ."havcd ! He s-ghed, " Too muchee no good," afc the sighfc, -^ And tbe happy town got " velly, velly " tigbt. Dunedin, April 1879.