"MENE. MENF, TEKEL, UPHARSIN."

Otago Witness, Issue 2413, 31 May 1900, Page 49

"MENE. MENF, TEKEL, UPHARSIN."

Daniel v, 25. j The following is what really happened during j "Kruger's visit to the Soothsa3 r er. Steyn was > behind the door hiding as usual : ] Soothsayer, loquitur : " Oorn Paul! Oom Paul, You've been talking pretty tall ; Mauser rifles soon would shoot All the ' rooi-neks, horse and foot, Then you'd gather in the loot, Clever Paul! " Steyne (sotto vooe) : '• Not bad at all! " Soothsas'er : " Oom Paul! Oom Paul, When you'd made a raking haul, South Africa would hail you King ; 'King oi Diamonds' — that's the thing r Now you'll lose all — that's the sting ' Of it all." - ; , ' . Steyne (sotto vboe) : " We've made a haul." : Soothsayer : .1 *' 2 Oami Paul !■' Oom Paul, It must make you rather small; 'Clever Continental schemes; '' 1 Cherished hopes, dreams, Vanish when the bayonet gleams At England's call."' Steyn : " Confound them all! " Soothsayer: > "Oom Paul! Oom Paul, Great Britain's ringer of them all ; When her account's made up and read, When you've counted up your dead, You will get that in your head After all." Steyn (laughing to himself) : '•No, no! Not Paul." Soothsayer : " Oom Paul! Oorn Paul, You were riding for a fall ; They have the men — admit it now ; • They ride, they shoot — that you'll allow ; To England's Queen you'll have to bow — Poor old Paul!" Steyn : " The worst of all." Soothsayer : '" Oom Paul ! Oom Paul, When you're driven to the wall, Just think of that ilag unfurl sd — The triune eross — all round the world; Think of the lion's tail upciirled. Won't you, Paul ? " Steyn (truthfully) : " It does appal." Soothsayer : "Oorn Paul! Oom Paul, They've scored the most points after all • There's Kimberley and Lady smith— ' Mafeking held out pretty stiff— Kroonsfcad was taken "in a jiff; And Cronje— Paul ! " - ' Steyn (glumly) : " And that's not all." Soothsayer : " Oom Paul! Oom Paul, That melancholy march in ' Saul ' You'll hear — that wail of dying hope The Goidons played o'er brave Wauchope — Perchance they'll let you off the rope And give you ball." Steyn : " They're demons, Paul ! "• Soothsayer : " Ooin Paul ! Oom Paul, The fiat's written on the wall; Youi game is up! You'd better trek Through vaal and drift, o'er veldt and nek, And just keep going— don't come back To the Transvaal." Steyn : " Wormwood and gall! " Hushes out fiom mere force of habit and has not been heard of since. He is probably looking for a new capital somewhere. —LITTLE JIMMY. Southland, May 18.