RANDOM REMARKS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 140, 18 March 1909, Page 5

RANDOM REMARKS.

How often we long for peace. Rest for the body and mind. We can find none. Flee to the town, and the bobbob of life distorts one; flee to the sea, and Che rotting of the boat distresses one; flee to the bush, an J the mosquitoes and sandflies drive one mad. There is no rert. either for the wicked or for the good. When the mosquitoes bite, the priests and the wicked curse them: but the good and the pagans pray for release, and are bitten while they do it. Occupy your hands to draw a cork, and you are assaulted: clasp your hands to pray and you are not spared—There is no release. Mosquitoes, having numbers*, are übiquitous: having devils, are inexorable: having wings, are capable: having music, are insidious: being atoms, arc invulnerable: and having a bite, are intolerable. They are the eseence and sumtotal of the ten plagues of Egypt. Nothing need th«*y eat but they keep alive. The evil one in them predominates. They have no hunger, yet they bite: they have no thirst, yet they drink your bleed. Life** the special plagues they issue from the water: from filth and cesspools, and the wierd darkness of swamps. Like thr atmosphere they are universal. They die of the cold, but with a fiendish instinct thf-y have prepared for it. The eggs are in the swamps. Like Satan and Co.. they multiply. As serpents they wallow in the mire, and as devih they have wings. No naturalists havr yet discovered from when-re they panto From the nether regions I have no doubt, and being too exquisite torment for Hades, they have come to earth. We poor mortals * ainsT alas! ft is a highly po*tical subject, forgive me if t wander. .*

Ten brothers once, now taksj great heed. Were guilty of a hellish deed. What it was I may not tell. But then, and there, they went to Hell. The devil in exulting mod. Knew them, the vilest of his brood. And all hi* skill he brought to bear On a new scheme their to tear. Ten days he thought nor did he sleep. But on the next his flesh did creep. He catted his friends around and cried "I long have thought, but now decide How I shall torture these vitc men And make them tit for Heaven again." And each imp shuddered as he knew What 'twas Old Satan had in view. His scheme was such, ah woeful day When Satan's thoughts did turn that way. His scheme was such: Upon the wing He'd make a living, cursed thing That they should sing, and they should bite. And torture make both day and night. That these ten men shut in a cell Should know the bitterness of Hell. A dungeon dark he made right then And in he thrust these moving men. Alt that night through Hells' thick celts Were heard their long- trawn piercinff yells. He pleasure took to hear them roar And smiled ani chuckled more and more. Tilt at last he loud did cry. Those insects thick around they tly And t declare that naught can kill These vicious insect* 'gainst my will. In heat or cold, in wet or dry They shall increase and multiply. And Satan fell asleep again. And dreamed with pleasure of these men. Now in the night an earthquake shock Did bid Hell's strong foundations rock, And then ten men with pleasure roar. For they see a great crack near the door. A bumming horde, with stinging bite. Invade Hell's corridors that night. And in through Satan's bedroom door They rash in millions quite a score. And in among bis blankets creep. Ha! Satan then sprang up front sleep. He sprang up. but a* be rose Thy settled tight among hi* clothes. And he did roar and stamp with pain. And tear his hair and stamp agayi. But each time as bis breath he drew Down his throat these creatures flew. Then he these words in anguish spoke. 'Let these creatures flee from smoke.* The ffues alt open. Hell's smoke turned on And soon the insects all are gone They wheel and wreathe in spiral line Up to earth from Hell's dark mine. Then spreading far o'er land, and sea They bring to all Hell's misery. But comfort take that Satan spoke. And bid mosquitoes flee from smoke.