"COAL, YO HO!"

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, Volume I, Issue 7, 1 April 1900, Page 507

"COAL, YO HO!"

Oh, it's " Coal, yo ho ! " Let the boxes go, Let the jig chains rattle away ; Let the clink of picks, and the shot booms mix In the flare of the fierce men's fray. The great world waits at the pit-mouth gates, And thus does the great world cry — " Coal, yo ho ! Let the boxes go, And the diamonds black go by." The glow-worms shine, in the deep, dark mine, And the blue gas flares in streaks ; Shirts grow wet, with the heat and sweat, And over the timber creaks. Grimy faces, and rustling races, And bustle, and scuffle, and " Hush ! Do you hear her crooning ? The bad roof's groaning — Grizzling away for a crush."

" Coal, yo ho ! " Lot the boxes go — " Curse it! You fools, come on ! " The wheeler yells, and tho tumult hwollb As off like a shot he's gone. Hurry, scurry — hurry, and hurry — Glimmer of lights in smoke — Cloudy black damp, ami "clamp! clamp! clamp ! " Says the sturdy mine engine's stroke. Still it's " Coal, yo ho ! " Let tho boxes go, Let the jig chains rattle away ; Let the clink of picks, arid the shot booms mix In the flare of the fierce men's fray ; For the great world waits at tho pit mouth gates, And thus does the great world cry : " Coal, yo ho ! " Let the boxes go, And the diamonds black go by." Tjiomas McMahgn.