MY NEIGHBOUR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17036, 9 May 1923, Page 6

MY NEIGHBOUR.

(By WALT MASON.)

I do not know my neighbour’s creed, nor how lie likes to vote ; 1 know that he’s a friend indeed, when I have lost my goat. When I am stricken m mv shack with spasms dire and fell, ho puts a poultice on my back and soothes me when 1 yell. He herds the hens and milks the cow and gives the pig its swill, and hands me, as he fans my brow,the powder and the pill. Men do not know what he believes, they know not where he stands; and this condition rather peeves the ohew-and-argue bands. He is a strangely silent man, who sticks around his shack, and people do not like this plan—they say all tongues should clack. He never will get out and root at statesmen wise direct.- he doesn’t seem to care, a hoot what has-been we elect. We’ve heard him say it makes'no odds who triumphs :it the polls, that all Hus candidates are frauds, out to increase their rolls. And people roast him pro and con, and also to and fro, and gossips gather on m v lawn, and ask me, ‘Ain’t it so?” And I reply. “My neighbour. Jinks, (iocs me a kindly turn ; he brings! me large and cooling drinks when 1 with fever burn ; and when my corns are burning red with fierce internal heat, he deftly stands me on my head and poultices my feet. T know not wliat my neighbour thinks, nor what his faith may be. but I am always strong for Jinks, who is so good to me.