PARTING GUESTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20056, 20 September 1920, Page 6

PARTING GUESTS.

(By WALT MASON.)

I like to have my friends come in, when evening’s growing grey, and talk of autos made of tin, of liens and hogs and hay. Their coming does not make me sore; ’tis this that manes mo grieve: 'v nen they would go, their visit o’er, they take so long to leave! They quit tho dazzling sitting-room, at half-past ten o’clock; then in the hall’s religous gloom they talk And talk and talk. At last they leave my humble door, but on the porch they pause, and for another hour or more they ply their useful jaws. The night is waxing old and late when down tho walk they go, and then they loiter at the gate to talk an hour or so. How grand is that infrequent guest who says, at nine o’clomc, “ Time flies apace, you want to rest, so I will take a walk.” Ho takes his walking stick and hat, and when he comes some more, he finds a welcome on tho mat that lies before the door. My friends are welcomed to my gate, and harmless suds shall flow; but when it s time to pull their freight, I wish they'd up and go!