A FAREWELL TO SMFIELD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1999, 17 November 1888, Page 2

A FAREWELL TO SMFIELD.

I am going, dear Seafie/d; I leave thee to. morrow : Accept this fond trifle before I depart. I have loved thee, sweet Seafield, through oorrel and sorrow, There's a tear m my eye, and a sigh at my heart. When I think of the charms I am leaving behind me ; Thy never-green landsoape, thy deep sap. phire main ; Thy gorße and thy gumtrees. Oh ! where shall I find me ' I Suoh bona fidi beauty m Nature again. The thistle may Boatter her scents on the breezes, From orimson-tipp'd tassels where rideth the bee ; The tussook may wave her bright looks when she pleases, They aoatter and wave not saoh beauties for me. The zephyrs may haste from their homes m the mountains To fan thee when Summer lies hot on the plain ; And bright " laughing-water " from snowbegirt fountains May Jave thy ohaßte sweets till thou blushest again. Alas ! and alas 1 for when destiny urges, The strongest temptations may nothing avail ; And, oh, thou art tempting ; but far o'er the surges Of life's mystic ocean I'm fated to sail. There's one thing, dear Seafield, Ml never Jorgvt tlicv, I have saorifioed something at thy sandy shrine Besides love and molassoß ; but that cannot fret me, For thinking of thee I Bhall never repine. Since from thee I've extractod muoh bullion of knowledge ; My degree I have taken m experi-enoe ; Want-of-cash was my tutor, and thou wert my college, iNow paupertets 1 president— hence I- go hence: Dear Seafield I'm going, I'm going to-morrow, There's a tear m my eye and a sigh at my heart. I have loved thee, fair Seafield, through sorrel and sorrow, Aocept this fond trifle before I depart. ! [Note.— l sincerely trust that no one will be so cruel as to characterise this composition as a satire. Extravagance m expressing an honest and excessive passion ought to be connived at, m all charity; — Author;]