THE WHALER

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 237, 28 March 1885, Page 8

THE WHALER

("Written for the " Observer.")

By Thomas Shabps, Onehunga. Let long shore fishers bait the line or drag the heavy Siene. A wilder, freer, life is mine— a, noLlcr prey, I ween. Their shallops sail in sight of land ; I range the ocean free, And stay amidst his vast domains the monarch of the sea. From wild Spitzbergen's frozen isles, or Greenland's icy sea, To where the gentle southern breeze just stirs the coco tree, 'jSTeath ■wintry skies, ov wher§ the main gleam in the tropic ray, In storm or calm, by day or night, I follow my huge prey. Perch'd in the top, I scan the main and eager watch I keep ; And when I see a jet of spray uprising from the deep, "AM! a fish!" I gaily ci*y; "oh! haste, my gallant crew, And man the boats ye oarsmen stout ; there's work for me and you." The tough oars bend, and backward send a whirl of foam and spray ; Urg'd by a dozen lusty arms the whaleboat darts away. " Give way, brave boys," the steersman cries, " a hundred barrel fish !" And one fair chance to wield the lance ; what more can whaler wish ? At every stroke we near the prey, the boat flees on, and soon The bowman turns and stands erect and poises the harpoon. A moment's pause, a flash, a whirr, the fatal dart has sped, The fish is fast, the straining line is round the loggerhead. Let Neptune guide his ocean car and view his steeds with pride, I trow he never o'er the sea at such a rate did ride ; And we can rest awhile, my boys, no need of oar or sail : Our gallant boat goes faster when she's harnessed to a whale. And faster, faster, yefc we fly, and lo ! on either side Above the gunwales of the boat the seething seas divide ; The line smokes round the loggerhead — two hundred fathoms gone, And still at twenty mile an hour the slender boat flies on. But see the line is slackening ; be ready with the lance. The boat hauls up, a:^d eager eyes are watchfor the chance. At length, it comes, tlio fish appears and blows a jet of foam, And ere the spray falls in the sea the lance is driven home. " Stern all, my boys !" the steersman cries, as mad with, pain and rage The mighty fish with desperate strength uprises from the main, Flings half his pondrous bulk in air ; then with a mighty shock Falls back amidst the blood-stained waves, and makes tlie whaleboat rock. Hurrah ! he's in the flurry now. See ! see ! he's spouting blood ! And fast the torrent gushes out and crimsons o'er the flood. "Hurrah! hurrah! 'tis flukes up now!" the steersman loudly cries ; And mid a whirl of blood and spray the ocean monarch dies.

A wise Deacon.— "Deacon Wilder, I want jou to tell me how you kept yourself and family so well the past season, when all the rest of us have been sick so much, and have had the doctors running to us so often." " Brother Taylor, the answer is very easy. I used Hop Bitters in time, and kept my family well, and saved large doctor's bills. Four shillings' worth of it kept us all well and able to work all the time, and I will warrant it has cost you and most of the neighbours £10 to £100 apiece to keep sick the same time. I fancy you'll take my medicine hereafter." See.

The New Zealand Tweed Company, so successfully managed by Mr Joseph Moses, have just disposed of the lease of their Queen-street premises for a period, and intend to open business in the well-known establishment of Mr Hampton, Shortland-street. Mr Hampton has been in business in Auckland for more than a quarter of a century, and intends to retire, after his lons business career, The Tweed Oompant will succeed him, and, we have no doub.,,, that under Mr Moses' courteous management, his successors will receive a fair share of the patronage so long bestowed upon, him by the public of Auckland.

The largest stock of first- class sewing machines in Auckland. — D. S. Chambers, 20, Queen - street. Established 1879.