NO PLACE FOR BOYS.

Otago Witness, Volume 25, Issue 2321, 25 August 1898, Page 52

NO PLACE FOR BOYS.

What can a boy do and where can a boy stay If he is always told to get out of the way ? He cannot sit here and he must not stand

there; The cushions that cover that fine rocking chair Were put there, of couise, to be seen and ad-

mired — A boy has do business to be tired. The beautiful roses ard flowers that bloom On the floor of the darkened and delicate

room Are not made to walk on — at least not for

,boys ; The house is no place, any way, for their noise. Yet boys must walk somewhere; and what if

their feet, Sent out of our houses, sent into the street. Should .step round the corner and pause at the

door Where other boys' feet have paused often be-

fore? Should pass through the gateway of glitteiing

light, Where jokes that are merry and &o.sgs tnat arc

bright Ring out a warm welcome with flattering voice, And temptingly say, " Here's a place for tht toy?" *

Ah ! what if they shotild ? "What if your boy or mine Should cross o'er the threshold which marks out the line 'Twixt virtue a.nd vice, 'twixt pureness and sin, And leave all his innocent boyhood within? Oh, what if they should, because you and I, While the days and the months and tho years hurry by, Are too busy with cares and life's fleeting joys To make round our hearthstone a place for thi boys ! There's a place for the boys. They will find it somewhere ; And if our own homes are too daintily fair For tho iouch of their fingers, the tread of their feet, They'll find it, and find it, alas! in the street, 'Mid the gildings of sin and tho glitter of vice; And with heartaches and longings we pay a

price For the getting of gain that our lifetime crn-

ploys If wg fail to provide a place for the boys. A placo for the boys— clear mother, I pray, As cares settle down on our short earthly

v, ay, Don't let us forget, by our kind, loving dcccX To show that we remember their pleasures and

needs. Though our souls may be vexed with the pro-

bloms of life And worn with besetuients and toilings and

strife, Our hearts will keep younger — your tired heart

and mme — To give them a place in its innermost shrine. And to our life's latest hour 'twill bo one ol

ouv joys That we kept a small comer — a place for tlie boys

— Eoston Transcript.

(XT' Beseriptioni of balli, &c. must bo cndoriteil by either th« T'jtoess coriesporniodt fur the distnctoi by tlio tecrotarj to thn ball committee. Hie MS. ol any correspondents \>lio do not comply with this rule lull be sent to the secretary lor endorse gent pn'or to appearing.- KM JIUWKr.

To ensure publication in tlio forthcoming iiauc, lellers should reach Hip \\ itnes* oHice (f possible «n Saturday night, but ou no ntouunt Liter Ihiin Jloml j i.i^lit.

bachelors' ball at blue spue.

D,ear Emmelino, — The bachelors of Blue Spur held their annual ball in Beaton's Assembly Rooms on Augusb 17. The weather being favourable, via tore) were enabled to be piesent from all parts of the surrounding districts. The hall was tastefully decorated with evergreens, and the bachelors one and all deserve to' be complimented for the able and energetic manner in which they worked to make the affair the success it undoubtedly proved. Several songs were contiibuted during the evening, and a sailor's ho-.-npipe, darccd by Mr T. M'Donald (.Lawrence) was much appreciated, ."'S was also an Iri'-.h jig, by Mr A. M'lntyre (Tv ipeka West). The catering, in the hands of Messrs Sutherland Bros., was all that could be desired. The dresses worn on the occasion were very pretty, and are well worthy of mention. The following are among the principal ones: Miss Thomas, cream nun's veiling, trimmed with blue; Miss JzSailonie, white relieved with red, and red sash: Miss Branighan, blue skirt, white blouse; Miss Heudry, white; Miss Anderson, dark skirt, light blouse; Miss M. Roche, cream nun's veiling trimmed with white lace: Miss E. Johnson, pale blue; Mis 3 Cuvsey, white, with blue sash; Mis? Baaton, bfock, with white lace; Mips N. M'Cormack, sj-reen skirt, light blouse trimmed with lace; Miss Reidy, dark skirt, pale blue 2iun's veiling blouse, whi te lace and sash ; Mis 3 Tippet, dark skirt, pink blouse and ribbons; Miss Crowley, daik skirt, pink blouse relieved with black;' Miss Christie, blue costume; Miss Lawrence, pale blue, with white chiffon , Miss M. JSowc' dark grey trimmed with black; Mrs S. M - Kay, black skirt, silk blouse, with white lace; Miss A. M'NeilJy, black, with white lace: Mrs J. M'TCay, dark skitfc. pink blouse; Miss L. Rowe, white, trimmed with red lace, and sash; Miss C. Johnson, dark dress, with silk trimmings; Miss M. Bailonie, peacock bine, lelieved with white lace and ribbons, and sash ; Mrs Dawson, black; Miss Bridie, black dress, green fron+,' and Bash. Music was supplied by "Mr M. Girvan, while Mr J. Daw&on made a very efficient M.C.— Veso.

WEPDXNG AT WAIKOUAITI.

Dear Emmeline, — A very enjoyable afternoon was spent on Thursday, 4th inst., at the residence of Mrs Jane Falconer, Riverbank, Wa> kouaiti, the occasion being- the marriage of her second daughter. Alice Mary, to Mr John Allan, Merton. The ceremony was ycrlormcd on tho green in front of the house, by the Rev. A. M. Finlayson, of Waitati, tho sun sinning brightly on the happy couple. The bride, who was given away by her brother, Mr J. A. Falconer looked pretty in a dre&s oi silver erey tweed, trimmed with shot silk and passementerie trimnmig. She wore the usual veil find wreath of orange blossoms, and carried a bouquet. The bride was attended by her sister. Miss Jeannie Falconer, and Miss O'Sh°a, di Dunedin, who wore dresses of navy blue trimmed with cream serge olid chifl'on. The bridegroom was attended fey his brother, Mr M. Allan. The ceremony being over, the guests (numbering about 40) proceeded to tiie ammg rooia, where a sumptuous afternoon tea was laid. After omplo justice had been done to the various good things provided, piepaiations were made for the departure of the bride and bridegioom, who left. Aioiton station ijy [lie express, 'jiitdst ahoweis oi rice, for Hanipdeu en route for Onmaru, there to spend their honeymoon. In the evening congs, pianoloito and vioin &olos, games, and dancing were indulged 3 1 until the " sma hours." After singing " Auld lang syne," and giving three cheers for their hostess, the party bvolro up, one and all having thoroughly enjoyed themselves. — Uks Wtio Was Tkebe.

FORESTERS' BALL AT OASIAE.U.

-Dear Emmeline, — The Foresteis held the ; r annual ball in the Theatre Royal on Thursday, lltk insi. Alfclioutjh the weather was noi vcv promisng, there v,aa a good turn out, about 60 couple*, being present. The grand march •wpa led off by P.C.R. Bro. Rusbatch and Sis. Busbatch, and dancing was kqept merrily going till 4. a.m. During the eves ' Leg songs -were sung by Misses Hanger aud Orr, ard Messrs Reid and U/Kenzie conliibuted t> Highland reel and hornpipe respectively. Mv R. Appleoy made an efficient M.C., and Meldrum's Dand supplied capital music. The catering w?s vi the hands of Mr F. Myer, and was all that could be desired, everything being- supplied in excellent sij-le. The tables were beautifully decorated, the bright coloured flowers and crystal presented a brilliant aspect, to say uoimng of the d.iiuties which were supplied in abundance, and judging by the justice done to the good things they were fully appreciated by all. The decorations were dona by Mrs Myer. Everything went oft well, and the social was a decided success. Among the ladies I noticed Miss Godall in back, with pink trimmings; Miss O'Brien, white, with Liberty silk trminings; Miss Emsiie, creinn; Miss M. Ernalic, pink, with white satin tiiimnings; MiEtCt Ranger (3), green costume, pink and black, and fawn and pink, respectively; Miss M'Gillivary, black; Mrs Gai diner, grey; Miss Orr, white; Miss Eiordan, cream, w.th red tiimmings; Miss Richardson, white; Miss Cairns, cream serge, with scarlet velvet tviniiniugs; Miss J. Cairns, white, with canary trimmings ; Ali&s Rusbatch, fawn; Mrs Applcby, black aud wbne; Miss Johiifclone, pmk; Miss Deuton, whito; Miss Martm, bkek and red; Misses Webb, cream; Miss Clark, canarj ; Miss Willets, black and wliitoi Mrs Taaffo LWaiaiate), black and geld,;

Miss Ford, white and blue; Miss Anderson, white; Miss Waterworth, blue silk; Miss Sinclair, yellow and black; Miss Calcler, white; I Miss A. Anderson, cream crepon ; Miss Smith, j black, with heliotrope trimmings; Miss Frankj lin, black and white; Miss Pyke, black and pink; Miss Cox, black, relieved with old gold, Miss Forrester, cream, with red trimmings; J Miss Foss, black and white.— Spectator.