Old Grumble on the Creation of Misery

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 141, 21 May 1891, Page 2

Old Grumble on the Creation of Misery

"Grumble, surely man makes misery * for himself' and neighbors." "Of course he does, -Mrs. Grumble, Russia has several huge factories of it,' some in Siberia, some in other parts; which I must be forgiven for not naming as they can neither be spelt or pronounced by an Englishman ; however, such an immense amount- has been created there lately that they do not know what to do with ifc, so propose transporting the great bulk of this undesirable commodity to these colonies. What would effete Europe do, without Austra- . lasia and America as an outlet for their off-scourings ?" " Tes,- Grumble, but it was nofc Russia I meant. - There is, not far from Feilding, a sequestered . spot, the Maori pakeha's paradise ; from- which no sigh, no murmur has ever before been heard; where the fair Hinemoo has a bower in which she used to sit and list fco the sweet strains of the two-reeded pipe of her beloved swain, and where the longevity of the inhabitants was such- that they thought immortality -was- theirs, and heeded naught what pertained fco mortals. Now, all is changed. Through the dra^"*;.. contentment of one' who, hankering affcefr^*s--such superfluities of civilisation as a grave-yard and a public hall,, has clamoured so long and loudly that afc last he -, t has caught tbeir ears and sounded such ' an alarum upon their ' Lythicized drums* that has startled them, and_ ah undefined fear has taken possession of- them lest their end be that suggested by Macbeth, and their ' Graves will be the maws of kites.' So, henceforth, Grumble, we may opine that these people will have an assembly room and a cemetery and, .like ofcher folk, take part in mundane matters, and for the future wiU meet, talk politics and die." ' Old Gbumbib.