THE TARANAKI MOTHER'S LAMENT.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1507, 22 March 1861, Page 4

THE TARANAKI MOTHER'S LAMENT.

(Frfijn the New Zealander.) Farewell to my cottage, farewell to my homo, 'Midst strangers and houseless my children must

roam, The trees of the forest are burning and fall, Our dwelling is burning and we've lo3t our all; The garden is trampled, the orchard is gone, And once more, sad pilgrims, we're hreadless and lone. 0 1 where shall we wander, and where shall welie, For no Friendly Maori now cries " Haremai .'" Our faithful horse "Ranger" ia driven away, The poultry quite frantic are flying astray, Dear " Tommy" the pony has met a sad lot, He sav'd his poor master, — himself has been shot, The Bheep are aU stolen with " Daisy" the cow, And none are so hapless as we are just now. Perhaps hy to-morrow hy hatchets -we die And no Friendly Maori now calls " Haremai." Loud booming of cannon and rifles we hear, And yells of defiance convulse ua with fear, Our trembling young children, scarce able to stand, Keep asking for why thoy were brought to this land! They hear that their father must leave them and

fight, And who shall protect the poor lone ones at night? O ! teU us dear mother when danger is nigh, Will no Friendly Maori exclaim " Haremaii" Say when shall we welcome sweet tidings of peace, And when shall these battles, these butcheries cease, Shall we ever return to yondei lov'd farm, And know that the Natives will do us no harm ; That they are forgiven, and they too forgive, And once more good friends and good neighbours we live. Most joyful the day when the Maori shall cry In true Christian love my friends " Haremai 1"