Verse Old and New.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVI, Issue 18, 1 November 1911, Page 71

Verse Old and New.

ear, once in a clearing, high in I the snowy wood, I / The bearded lumbermen, filing with axe, and eart, Wherever the saplings shot up straight and good, . ’Hacked at the boles and crashed them down and apart; And long. O lover of little pines, you stood ... Mute on the hillock, watching, and sick at heart., , . Aii<i alien on the pitiful hurdles, death's poor dower, Jbe innocent felons lay under cords unblest, . - And oxen, welding in one their deepbreathed power, . ;• • • I’pheaved the burden grandly, with no . arrest— J’or the ended beauty of little pines that hour Tears iii your eyes, and anger in .your sweet breast. But now a wondrous sight in the Bay below, A crove of masts, all winged aerially! ’Twi.vt wave aiid cloud so thrilling]y fair they go, . . , bu~v. so spirit-bright, who would not be Glad for your little pines? That overthrow . . ]s life, is laughter, along 'the illumined sea. .. , —Louise Imogen Guine.y. ❖ $> The Belles. O, the belles! Summer belles; What a plentitude of heartaches their giddiness compels; Ho'" they giggle, giggle, giggle,

Tn the sea-breeze-laden wight. How their victims squirm and wriggle In an ecstasy of fright. How they hurt When they flirt. When with ghoulish glee they gloat On the squirming of a fellow when they have him by the throat. O, the belles! Brazen Indies; How they conjure, scheme and- plan To entrap the Summer-men,-The ribbon-counter gentlemen who masquerade as swells. O, the belles! Greedy belles; How they wring, wring, wring Soda-water, everything, From the pockets' of those “Cash!” exclaiming swells. O, the belles! Foxy belles; What a wealth of hints they fling To compel the pleasant ring, Diamond ring, , Ah, the heart-engaging ring, „ Of the golden wedding bells, bells, bells, bells, bells. O, the belles! «><s><?> When a man becomes a hero all the . world is standing round. Tn waiting for a chance to share his glory. From shore to shore innumerable voices will resound, All eager to add something to the ■ story. “We used to know him in his youth!” "We said he was a. wonder!” , “He was a genius; that’s the truth. You couldn't keep him under.”.. “He was the catcher of our nine!” “His sharpness beat 'the weasel’s!” ‘‘That six-foot oldest boy of mine

From him ouee caught th^measels!” And the anecdotes came rushing, in bewildering array, From folk of every station and complexion, For there’s always ambition, which no wisdom can allay, To revel in some brilliant man’s reflection. “His family we’ve visited!” - “We were his next door neighbou rs! ” ‘ Kind words of hope we've said To cheer him at his labours!” “My father told him he might call / Z< On our folks to assist him!*’- * Ami iloudest chorus of them'nil) “A\ e are the girls who’ve kissed him.'’ ' —Anonymous. « <•> '♦> * The Glory of the City. How fair the city looks to me. How bright its towers, how sweet the Let others wander to the sea: And siilfer hard discomforts there Or wander to the far-ofT bills If discontentment weighs ,th< in down; Serene,st joy my being fills,' * ) And 1 shall linger here iirtown. How beautiful the city;,. seem, I low green and eleahjf.be hew hs»a ppea r ; Let others liuntifor babbling s'trcan s Or seek the mountain Jf wanderlust is in their hearts ■' < Ami duty is a thing they’d slum; , But in the crowded, busy.’marjS . ’ , My daily pleasures shall be won. How fair the city looks, how proud! How good, it to walk the street, 4 To mingle with the moving crowd iWhere many streams'- of coDinierce meet; " ** j Let others go to splash in' brine. ■ Or rest in distant woodlands seek: The gay old, glad k>ld‘town* for mine— 7 I have been camping for a week.

Why She ChQse Him. She chose him out of all the crowd Of men that came and went; Jii* voice wae low. his tie was loud. But ahe was well content. The fivMt man’s education was I’erhapa more finished and Another’s manners gave her cause As being much more grand. Another’s’garments fitted him; Another's hair was curly: A not liar's name was “Arthur” Jim Was choscu by this girlie. Ami not for wealth ami not for love Was Jim by Mabel chosod— But that he was the one man of The whole lot that proposed’ Diet. *“t <an see no sense,’’ said the Goat, i '“ln the ruinous diet of man; Why•. sutler with meat, When Hmu’c’s nothing as < t As .rhe top of a nice tin can?’’ .' * 4 TMe -Miwor. *<• MJtlyin a wondrous glass, A wund-ptfus magic mirror, 1 gaze and see my features noble"’ shown 'Phan I can dare to own - <di. fairer, dearer. Wirr*h inward graces brighten as tnev w-l pi ’ WS! vjUjpw, beaut iful, how >t range To Jiote* so wondrous grace’s! might feel Ler sceptre cin'aply If/she could thus Indiold A wherein her face? is j>yond desire* made fair by magic i change. Nndi mirrors no one buys, Buji they may freely own them Who rightly love, who gladly greet the , time*. •All these will have' sublime Their souls and features shown them, Nvrtfly renewed within their children'” Horace Holley.