SATURDAY'S NIGHTS MEETING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1544, 6 July 1885, Page 2

SATURDAY'S NIGHTS MEETING.

Dedicated, without permission, to'the Foet Laureate, Thxxdxre Axnxld, by ‘Truthful James.’

Do I sleep, do I dream ? Do I wonder and doubt ? Are things what they seem ? Or is visions about ? Is our “high falutin ” a failure, Or is Joey Ivess played out ? Which expressions are strong, Yet would feebly imply Some account of a wrong— Not to call it a lie— As was worked off on Joey, my pardner. Which his name is Joey I. He was on at the “ Town ” On that very same night That his rival sat down With “ three cheers for Wright :t At the Oddfellows’ Hall. I got back and Reported, “Things is far, far from bright, ‘ ‘ For the boys have gone wild “ On this Fifty Pound game, “ And they won’t be beguiled, “ By your shuffling the same.” Soon af;er, the Wrights came in crowds, and among ’em A lawyer—’Purney” is short for his name.

P. was pozen to Joe, And to -core would be grand. So what did he do, But took paper in hand. And “pitched” on the Fifty Pound racket again, With language—l cannot command. Then I said, “ Joey I !” But he turned up to me. And the look in his eye Was quite painful to see. . And he says, “You mistake; my own meeting “I guess, will polish off C.W.P.” But when Joey was done, Purney rose, and straight out Gave po'ir Joey just one Mauling, terrible bout; And P., who never before would go down, Was cheered ; and Joey was nearly hissed out. Which the war dance P. had At Joey s own meeting, Was a sight that was sad. It seemed that the beating, And hissing and howling, terribly proved Joe’s popularity fleeting. Then Joey got riled, and On lawyers was * some ’ rough Fo getting his own band Had a lawyer, whose stuff And friendship were precious ; and himself had Tried, but could’nt—had’nt brains enough. Vote of confidence put, Carried —of course—Proth’roe. I’m afraid really not, Wright got most cheers, I know. And the meeting, s’posed to sit upon Wright, Came to prett well howling down Joe.

Is it guile ? or a dream ? Is it Joe that I doubt ? Are things what they seem And will Joe be bowled out ? Is our “ high falutin ” a failure ? Or is little Ivess played out ?