Among the Poets

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17218, 8 December 1923, Page 5 (Supplement)

Among the Poets

a d | A Bouquet of Verses Q

A FIRELIGHT REVERIE.

In the warm firelight glow, when the long shadows fall, As the spirit of ev’ning broods softly o’er all; With the mist on the hills, and tho haze on the a*ux, The thoughts of my darling come homing to me. When the daylight has faded afar from the west, There cometh of all hours vhe hour I love best ; In tho glowing red embers weird faces I see, While the love of my darling comes homing to mo. As 1 sit in the fireglow the thoughts cf the past Meet and merge with the future and golden gleams cast; For sweet peace comes at even on land and on sea, ' And tho prayer of my darling come horning to me. PATRICIA PAR KICK. Christchurclf.

- MY CASTLE.

(For the “Star.”) I built a castle very long ago Of gold and pearl; No builder’s hand could work more bruve than 1 — A tiny girl! The walls were high ambitions, silver wrought; The roof was pride; And nought save rose of love, and blue of truths Was laid inside. My eyes are dim with tears ; my hair is white ; My strength is gone, My ninety years could scarcely feel the sun, Though warm it shone ; Yet still .1 see a castle, rose and gold, Deep blue, and pearl. Undimmed and bright as when its builder wrought "* „ A tiny girl ! BESSIE HEIGHTOX.

THE REBEL GARDEN.

There is a house upon a mil, I know not ■who lives there; Bui. from the garden to the road Gold coleopsis stare ; And shrubs encroach upon the walks, And grass springs everywhere.

A silky oak drips orange ure, Gladioli in sheaves Thrust rosy points between the dry Wild litter of the leaves. If no one comes to sweep the path. Well, no ono ever grieves !

That rose needs pruning by the fence, That creeper on tho post Is dragging all the rail awry, The weeds, a raggea nost, Presume . . . they know the gardener Is nothing but a ghost ! O! Little garden on the lull I I love your rebel ways! About the porch, clematis white Its fragrant curtain sways, As though it danced a measure to The pipe of happy days.

That past the grisly gate of Time Have stolen unaware. I do not know why owns the house, I do not greatly care, I feel so sure that; quick or dead, A laughing soul dwells there i —M. Forrest in “ The Australasian.

JUST A LITTLE.

Smile a little, sing a Whistle*and be gav ; , Think a little., talk a little, Heeding what you you. Work a little, help a little, . Busy nil the day; Read a little, rest a little. Have a little play. Love a little, laugh a Kite, Cheering all you may ; Dare a little, do a little, Golden deeds will stay. Spend a little, give a little, Never say one nay ! Heed a little, lead a little In tiie ,l army” way. Hope a little, trust a little, Doxlit forget to pray--^-Be a little gleam of sunshine All the blessed day.

Little Brother: “ Mr Johnson, won’t you go and stand beiorc tn© window?’ -Mr Johnson: “ Certainly,/ my littlo man; but why?” Littlo lirotfier: “ Oh, ma says she can seo through you, and 1 want to see if i can.” First Pickpocket: “Here lie conies, nowl” Second Pickpocket: ‘‘All right. Aou keep a watch on Min while I take a watch off ’im!” Mrs Talker had discharged her cook. “1 shall not give you a character either,” she said spitefully. “Yo haven’t anny to spare, mum,” shrilly retorted the cook, as she flounced out of the room. Mother (whose daughter is engaged to a young farmer): “Don’t you find your Fred rather rough?” Daughte(blushing): “ Yes, mamma. And yetho says he shaves every day!” Ned: “Darling, says the words that will make me tho happiest man in the world.” Edna: “Shall I really?” * * Oh, if you only would!” “Well., then, stay single.” She: “So you told Lady Buncombe she looked as young as her daughter' That caught the old lady, 1 know!” He: “Acs, but it lost me the (laughter.” Newlywed : “Have you never thought seriously about marriage?” Singleton. “Certainly net. No man ever think-, seriously about marriage until after it has happened. Then he has time.’* Now, my son, you are married. Bo v/liat a man ought to be.” “ How do 1 know just what a man ought to be?” “ Your wi lp will furnish full plans and specifications.” Irate Parent: “Am I to understand there is some idiotic affair between you and that impocunio*Ms young ass. Lord Bilairs P” Fair Daughter (very sweetly) : “ Only you, papa!” Prisoner (to his lawyer): “Do 3'ou really believe all you have been saying about me this moaning?” _ Lawyer: “Of course 1 do.” Prisoner: “1 don’t.”

At a, meeting of Borough Councillors recently:—Tll© Chairman: “You an out of order, sir.” The Speaker: “« beg your pardon, Mr Chairmafci, 1 neve.* felt better in my life.”

The young man with the hunting outfit and the sporting cap was shooL ing in company with tho farm owner “That’s tho twenty-fifth rabbit Fve shot at.” said tho young man, as he let ■off the left-hand barrel. “ Oh, no,” said the farmer. “It’s all the same rabbit. He’s keeping near you for safety.”

Why is a horse that can’t hold his head up like next Wednesday?’ •Don’t know.” “Why, because it’s neck’s weak.” “ Oh, I heard that joko about a weak back.”

Dobbins; “I say, old fellow, you ar® getting thin since you retired from business.” Tobbins (ex shopkeeper): “That’s right, ou see, I don’t weigh as much as I did.”

“What costume shall you wear at the Dc Pevsters’ F” “I shall go as a fool.” “ Whv, Mr Peters, it is to be a masquerade.”

“Mamni2, do you think it is true, as papa eays, that teachers do not have to work as hard nor/ as they did when he went to school?** “I expect it is.” “What do you suppose the reason isP” “Tho teachers of today do not'have to teach your father.”

Daughter: “She seems to have got over the death of her first husband.” Father: “ A r es, but hor second husband hasn’t.” He: “ [ shall work very hard, and in a year or two we’ll have our own little home in the country.” She “ Oh. how lovely. Then we can let it and have a flat in town, can’t we, dear?” Master: "I’m sorry to hear, Pat that your wife is dead.” Patrick: “ Faith, an’ ’tis a. sad day for us all. sir! The hand that rocked the cradle kicked the bucket.” Mr Sproggins : “And if I decline to let you have my daughter, what do you propose to do?” Mr W T ibblesen :“ I warn you that in that case we are prepared to act. Even now beloved Aurelia has her best clothes on, and awaits me near a railway station. If you do cide against us, we will fle© together and ne\ r er come back.” Mr Sproggins (without a moment’s hesitation): “Then I refuse.” “So you’ve stopped eating moat, have you?” inquired the actor. “ Who did it—the doctor?” “No,” said the poet sadly, “ the butcher.” Audlcy: “Every man has his troubles.” Bass: “Yes, and most of them wear skirts, but it can’t be helped.” “ What did your -husband think of that five-guinea hat you bought lastweek?” “ Oh, he just raved over it,” Host: “ Tt’s beginning to rain. You’d better stay to dinner, i shall bo so delighted if you will.” Guest: “Oh thanks very much but it’s not bad enough for that.” “So tho widow Herculo is going to marry again, eh? Is her prospective second husband a good catch?” “ I hope so. They say she used to throw flatirons at her first one.” “ Ah’ve no’ seen auld M’Ginty lately. Hoo is he?” “ Deid, puir soul!” “ What, joined the great majority?” “ Na, na! I shudn’t like to say that. I’m afraid ho wa’na guid enough,” The other day a ragged tramp knocked at a door. The mistress herself saw him from a window, and opened tho door to him. She recognised him. “ 1 told you never to come hor© again,” she said. “ Pardon ma’am,” he answered. “My secretary must lmv© forgot ten to strike your name off my list.” A well-known actor was taking a cler ieal friend behind tli© scenes, when the latter stumbled and fell. The actor assisted him to rise, apologising for the semi darkness which had occasioned the accident. “ Don’t trouble, my dear fellow,” said his friend, laughing goodhumouredly. “This is not tho first time tho Church has been down on the stage!” From a recruiting centre comes this story:—All Irish recruit was being drilled in the mysteries of fencing witn the bayonet. “Now,” cried the instructor, after carefully explaining the various lunges, “ what would you do ii your opponent feinted?” “ Bsgorra. sir,” said the Irishman with a wink.

“I’d jest prod him wid the point or my bayonet to see if he was sham min’.”

The Irate Intruder: “Look here! you’ve been in there over half an hour and never said a word.” The Man in the Telephone Box : “ I am speaking to my wife, sir.”

Absent-Minded Professor : I will show you the internal structure of r frog.-” (Opens paper parcel, disclosin' two ham-sandwiches.). “ I was sure 1 ate my lunch a few moments ago !”