A Moral Cricket: Team.

Observer, Volume XVI, Issue 948, 27 February 1897, Page 6

A Moral Cricket: Team .

A Memento of the Australians' TtngiisTx Tout.

Let the pious parlour organ raise its elevating Btrain, For we sing a sacred solo — not a secular refrainVery solemnly, my brethren, lente, pianiß-

simo, Till we reach the name of Mußgrove-then, my brethren, let it go. Shout for Mr Harry Mnsgrove— not in

alcoholic drinks, But proclaim with voice exalted what the population thinks Of the man with pions principles who organised a scheme To revolutionise us with a moral cricket team. In the morning he vould dress them in their little suits of clothes, He'd apply a pocket handkerchief to every little nose ; He would wash their shining faces, and he'd comb their pretty hair, And sit each one down to breakfast in his own exclusive chair. Then ned slice the bread and butter, and he'd help the ample jug Of diluted milk and water into every fellow's mug— How their hearts would beat with rapture — how their bright blue eyes would gleam— They were very hearty eaters, Mr Musgrove's moral team Then, the cheerful meal completed, to the cricket ground they'd go, Hand in hand, all linked together, for they loved each other so. There was not a single one of them would see another stuck, And if oue bad got a lolly all the rest would get a sock. It was beautiful to see them as they passed along their way, Like a Sunday-school excursion, bound to Hamstead for the day, So ecstatic were their faces, and so joyous did they seem, For they au were young and innocent in Musgrove's moral team. Then, the quiet happy evenings, when the hard-fought match was done, And the team at home assembled for a quiet bit of fun; While on comfortable sofas they reclined their weary limbs, Mr Musgrove sang them solos out of Sankey's sacred hymns, Till, when nine o'clock was striking, and the long, long day was sped, He would come with kind anxiety, and tuck them up in bed, And he'd leave them, confidently sleeping, 'neath the moon's pale beam. For he knew the angels watched them — Musgrove'B moral team.

Carterton hopes in a few years to be the proud possessor of a centenarian. His name is Mr Swan, and he has just celebrated his 95th birthday by shingling a large barn all by himself.

Pastor Abbot, of Christchurch, has got himself into hot water, since he went over to Melbourne to take the spiritual oversight of a choice little flock, who call themselves the Free Christians. There seems to be a little too much free love among the Free Christians, and this reproach appears to have been extended even to Pastor Abbot himself. At any rate, it led to the expulsion of his predecessor, Pastor Johnston after he was discovered to have brought out another man's wife from England. And now Brother Bilton has accused Pastor Abbot of ' kissing a certain sister.'

They are telling a funny story at the expense of Mr. Kingston, Premier of Sojath Australia At that pleasant Hobart convention of Premiers, Mr. Kingston was giving his friends Borne illustrations in mindreading, taking as his subjects the people who passed in front of the hotel. Finally, one of those slow-moving, antique Hobart cabs drove up to the hotel and stopped. 'Ah !' said the South Australian Premier, 'blinds down ; someone inside that cab, gentleman for choice, come to meet lady stopping at hotel — drive to the corner, cabman, please.' There was a perfect roar of laughter when a lady came down the steps and got into the cab It was Mrs Kingston, off to attend a meeting of the local Dorcas Society.

The Chinese in New Zealand are advancing beyond market gardening, frnitBelling, lanndry work, cabinet-making and fan-tan playing. One Chinese woman has started to teach music down South, and there may also be found there a Chinese schoolmaster, a Chinese dentist, a Chinese chemist, a Chinese hairdresser, a Chinese draper, five Chinese doctors, and, jnat listen io this, Mr Cotter, a Chinese lawclerk. But the Chinese residents of Nelson take the cake. They have just celebrated their New Year by entertaining the leading European citizens at dinner. The speeches had all to be interpreted, bat the liquor was not spared oa that account. The affair broke up with three loosing cheers for the Chinese of NelsoD.