PORTRY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5656, 29 August 1896, Page 3

PORTRY.

JUGGLING JERRY. Fitch here the tent while the old horse grazes ; By the old hedge-side we'll halt a stage. It's nigh my last above the daisies, My next leaf'll be man's blank pageYes, my old girl ! and it's no use crying; Juggler, constable, king must bow. One that outjuggles all's been spying Long to have me, and lie has me now. We've travelled times to this old common; Often we've hung our pots in the gorse. We've had a stirring life, old woman ! You and I, and the old grey horse. Races and fairs and royal occasions, Found us coming to their call ; Now they'll miss us at our stations— There's a Juggler outjuggles all ! Up goes the lark, as if all were jolly ! Over the duck-pond the willow shakes. Easy to think that grieving's folly, AVben the band's firm as driven stakes ! Ay ! when we're strong, and braced, and manful, Life's a sweet fiddle ; but we're a batch Born to become the Great Juggler's han'ful— Balls he shies up, and is sate to catch. Here's where the lads of the village cricket ; I was a lad not wide from here ; Couldn't I whip off the bail from the wicket ? Like an old world those days appear ! Donkey, sheep, geese, and thatched alehouse— l know them ! They are old friends of my halts, and seem, Somehow, as if thanks I owe them : Juggling don't hinder the heart's esteem. Juggling's no sin, for we must have victual ; Nature allows us to bait for the fool. Holding one's own makes us juggle no little ; But, to increase it, hard jugghug's the rule. You that are sneering at my profession, Haven'tyou juggled avast amount? There's the Prime Minister, in one Session, Juggles more games than my sius'll count. We two were married, due and legal : Honest we've liv'd since we've been one. Lord t T could then jump like an eagle : You danced bright as a bito' the sun. Birds in a May -bush we were ! right merry ! All night we kissed — we juggled all day. Joy was the heart of Juggling Jerry! Now from bis old girl he's juggled away. Hand up the chirper ! ripe ale winks in it; Let's have comfort and be at peace. Once a stout draught made me light as a linnet. Cheer up ! the Lord must have his lease May be— for none see in that black hollowIt's junt a placo where we're held in pawn, And. when the Great Juggler makes us to swallow, It's just the sword-trick— l ain't quite gone ! Yonder come smells of the gorse, so nutty. Gold-lift? and warm ; it's the prime of May, Better than mortar, brick and putty, Is God's house on a blowing day, Lean me more up the mound ; now I feel it ; All the old heath-smalls ! A in't it Btrangt ? There's the world laughing, as if to conceal it. But He is by us, juggling the change. I mind it well, by the sea-beach lying, Once— it's long gone— when two gulls we beheld, Which, as the moon got up, were flying Down a big wave that spark'd and swell'd. Crack ! Aieiuaun : g one fel .Is the second Wheel'd round him twice, and was off for new luck: There in the dark her white win* beckon' d— Drop me a kiss— l'm the bird dead-struck ! — George Meeedith. At Eastport, recently, a great-grand-father, grandfather, father, and son, all worked together in digging a cellar.