'AROUND THE BOREELOG’ AND OTHER VERSES

New Zealand Tablet, 19 January 1922, Page 13

'AROUND THE BOREELOG ’ AND OTHER VERSES

By “JOHN O’BRIEN.” . ,

JUST PUBLISHED

This is the book of the Irish settlers in Australia. In its verses are enshrined the best and most characteristic of their ideals and their surroundings—the home life, full of intimate affection and instinct , with true . piety; the intercourse, ' gay or humorous or comradely, with neighbors and friends; the ties of religion and family unity that ;; bind to : the home hearth even those . who wander farthest from ■ it, and the, “Church upon the Hill”- that is the •'centre of all. The heroine is the “Little Irish Mother,” keeping her tireless vigils in the outback hut, mothering* her children-(and “himself” as well) through the years. i The tale of her doings appeals most strongly to the deep,est ■ humanity in all ' of, us. After- her we remember best the fine old priest, Father Pat—-ministering at the Altar, * or driving behind “Gurrajong” to the bed of pain, or with ' i his fellow pioneers daring “a wide, weird waste of world.” ? And the Little Mother, and Father Pat and all the rest ,of 1 the . healthy, ? happy; folk among whom “John O’Brien’—? brings us are true Australians also,, as he is himself : ■ C ? ;: •An Australian, ay, Australian — oh, the word is music to : me, he says in his poem; on St. Patrick’s Day and? his; every ?• J utterance confirms . the claim. '; •? ?* - . . s i . Obtainable from —i- ‘ ?. 7, y.;?7, . ~ ~ . ? Manager N.Z. ; Tablet. , Posted. for 6/6.