A LAY OF THE SUMNER ROAD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 428, 10 December 1856, Page 3

A LAY OF THE SUMNER ROAD.

" Tho first person of rank who in killod will put every thing ia order." —Sydxey Smith'h letters on Hnihvuya. I. It was ii goodly muster Upon a Monday morn, When tlio Council in a cluster Went to view thnt road forlorn. On Sunday night oaeh quaking man Had gtUhur'd round him all hit) clan, A lone;, n last farewell had said, And then despairing went to bed. 11. Hut tho thought camo with tho morrow, Ih this our valour's worth? Shall our liearls be mink in sorrow When our country calls uh forth ? Wn'll bravo thn point of Moabone, And, rccl«)cK« of nnch fulling stone. Each quiv'eriug hopr, each dizzy crug, Boldly we'll march on Jegs or nag. 111. Tho valiant vow vrnH wttcr'd ; The gallant deed i« done : Thongh many a bosom fiuttcr'd, Tho Ferry Punt is won. Of all that noble Council train Not one is in a quagmire olain! Not one is carrion on the wild ! Not one is lost to wife or child! IV. Oh! on that famous morning Hud but one member died! None could have missed the warning Which from his body hind : — " The road is doom'd." But now, alas ! We must go round by Evan's pass, Because no hero, all on fire, Like Marcus Curtius, would expire. V. What! is there no "brave Roland, The flower of chivalry"? Not one in all this slow land Who'll die to set us free ? Methinks I hear a whisp'ring sigh, ' Oh ! no, we never irill say die!' Ah ! treaeh'rous boast. ye recreant ten! Say die for once, and die like men. vr. Go, Patriots, call a quorum, And bo this your battle cry :— "Est dulce et decornm Pro Bridle-path inori!" Meet! spout! divide, and pick yonr man! Send him to glory, whilo you can ! And this shall be his requiem grim, " We sinash'd the road for it smash'd him."