A Bush Poet.

Observer, Volume 9, Issue 559, 14 September 1889, Page 17

A Bush Poet.

We have had handed to us a printed leaflet, containing a set of verses entitled " Solitude," and bearing to be " composed by A. C. Smith." The effusion starts off with the profound remark : — 'Tis swe**-t to love, but oh, how bitter, To love a girl and then not get her. We are infinitely obliged to A. C. Smith for claiming the authorship of these lines. We had imagined that ihey were penned by some immortal bard of ancient times, judging by the frequency with which they are quoted by Observed correspondents ; but now we are relieved, and shall in future refuse to insert the ennobling sentiment unless we are sure that we are not infringing A. C. Smith's copyright. The modern bard proceedeth, and we quote a few of hi 3 more striking stanzas : — 'Tis sweeter still to work in vain, In the bush in the pouring rain ; And when you've done, nothing for it to get But a dripping skin and clothes all wet. Here the metre changes suddenly. I sit beside the river bank, and listen to the breakers' roar ; In loneliness I sit and watch the white-winged eagle soar. Are there any eagles in New Zealand? or is Mr Smith dreaming of home ? Oh, what a dreary life by a single man is led ! He haa to toil from day to day ; for it he gets his bread. Then, on Sundays, how slow the time it goes ; You see him sitting by the creek washing his dirty clothes. That will do, Poet Smith 1 Stick to the washing df clothes ; your poetry won't wash !

Coal is said to be the most contradictory article known to commerce, because on being sold it always goes' to the cellar, and because, 'though so dark, a ton of it is always light.