JOY AND GRIEF.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17037, 10 May 1923, Page 2

JOY AND GRIEF.

(By

WALT MASON).

My Aunt Ophelia bumped the bumps } and left this world of care: since then L’ve had the doleful dumps, all kinds of bleak despair. My life seems desolate aqd flat since Aunt Ophelia died : a band of crape is on my hat. some seven inches wide; and on my lapel and my .sleeves are other .sable bands, and everywhere 1 go 1 grieve and sigh and Avring my hands. My letter paper’s edged with black, that no one may forget ; and on the front door of my shack there is a dark rosette. But yesterday the parson said. “in grief you run amuck; 1 know your Aunt Ophelia’s dead, and that is beastly luck ; J know she was a good old dame, 1 understand your woe ; but she would have you play the game, if she Avere here, 1 know. If she could come from t’other land, a vague, but kindly shape, she’d ask that all your tears be canned, and likewise all the crape. Some little mourning she’d accept as tribute safe and sane, but if she kncAA* how long you’re wept. 1 know she’d have a pain. .She was a bright and blithe old maid, and laughter filled her home ; she wouldn’t like the crape displayed upon your arm and dome. Your aunt is on the golden shore, she's happy as a bird; no doubt she thinks you are a bore, and all your gloom absurd.”