TO OLD TEMPLETON.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 382, 2 April 1880, Page 3

TO OLD TEMPLETON.

(From the Saturday Advertiser.) Old favourite, thy day is o'er, And plaudits greet thy form no more, The loud huzzas and shouts of yore

That cheer'd Traducer's son Are silent now, for thou art old ; Thy quondam friends are growing cold, But still thou art as good as gold, My brave old Templeton.

I think of all thy deeds and sigh, I see thee with thine head on high, With nostrils stretch'd, and clear bright eye, Before the race is run ; I watch thee from the start, and cry : ,l Now, now, lads, see the old horse fly ! He leads ! He's up the straight! He's by ! Bravo, old Templeton !"

Old courser, in thy palmy days, No vice had'st thou ; thy gentle ways Excited every sportsman's praise ;

And when the race was won, With gentle mien and modest brow, Thou stood'st as calm and meek as now, No vain, conceited braggart thou, My kind old.Templeton.

When flash young colts led off the ruck, I've seen thee glide along, old buck, With all that steady British pluck

Which makes a fight mere fun ; You'd let the youngsters take the lead Till nearing home, my grand old stead, And'lhen, ah ! then, you proved yonr breed, My proud old Templeton.

Cheer up, old friend, thy deeds shall glow In song and story, well I know, In years to come, and bards shall show How well thy work was done ; They'll sing of thee in many a strain, And count thy vict'ries o'er again ; Thy life has been without a stain, My grand old Templeton.

FRANK FUDGE