A BALLAD OF THE FORCE.
A peeler cm his long and lonely wav Is pacing as the dawn begins to show ; His thoughts on dynamite have gone astray, And in each post he sees the Irish foe. A nervous tremour shakes his massive frame, He owns that he is feeling " rather queer." Then pausing, starts— Oh, do not harshly blame Z Noughty-nought, since he has cause for fear.. For there beside the wall a something lies A something dark, irregular in shape ; The peeler gazes with dilating eyes, - His heart is wildly throbbing, 'neath his cape. " One more o' them machines," he groans at last,. Emotion twitching at his under lip. What shall he do, lie asks himself, aghast, And Caution, like an echo, answers, " Skip !" Ah, had he but the courage of his convictions, Now were his chance to tread promotions^track, And win a medal. Yet, upon the -whole, The risk's too great. And so he turns his backUpon temptation. Did he hear a laugh ? He jumps into the air like one who's bitten, As some rude loafer cries, in tones of chaff, " Don't be afraid— it's only a dead kitten !"
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TO18850502.2.97
Bibliographic details
Observer, Volume 7, Issue 334, 2 May 1885, Page 16
Word Count
192A BALLAD OF THE FORCE. Observer, Volume 7, Issue 334, 2 May 1885, Page 16
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