Untitled

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3553, 30 August 1879, Page 3

Good friends, to you it must be very dear, That eaoh and all are donbly welcome here, For, by your presence, yon at onoe proclaim, Yon view with kindly interest our aim, And so endorse the wisdom and tho way Which makes provision for a rainy day. To those employed upon that wondrous page, Which doily seeks your favour to engage, Ie only known the weariness— the waste r ; Which they endure — to meet the public taste. ' Behold the printer at his nightly tack, ■■'; Picking 1 up letters one by one, and ask ... Why all thi? drudgery till early dawn ; •Why heavy eyes, why features wan ana worn t And be will quickly answer-" Sir, 'tis true " I live a life of drudgery, but yon "Would miss your morning sheet and its supplies " With all its faots— its politics— and lies, "Wore not suoh beos as I within tne hive, " Content to work, that social life may thrive. " Of all the latest you must be apprised, " Mast have ths news; though I bo sacrificed." Nor. doesthe very imp himself, escape, Bnt day by day is in some awkward scrape. Be also has his troubles to deplore, And eaoh day's plight seems harder than before. He bows before the Editorial throne, And, in a voioe subdued, and eoft in tone, He murmurs, " Copy— leader, if you please," Then pauses, hesitates, seems ill at ease, For well he knows the awful voice which ones— " Whit, here again ! Thou vision of surprise I " When will thy impish persecutions cease, " Thou nameless incubus upon my peace ; "Thou breathing daub of ink and paste unmatched, " Thou pronoun, with an adjective attached 1 " Avaunt I Begone— quick— vanish from my sight I " I'll write no more for imps like thee this night," And now. good friends, another word or two, One small request, before 1 say adieu 1 Be not severe upon our amateurs, But pravfl to them, you make their interests yours, And let them feel; they play their several ports. To British men, who still have British hearts.