A Code of Morals.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 4 October 1890, Page 2

A Code of Morals.

"—- — — —^^- . ByEudyard Kikjhs. Now Joneg had left hia new-wed brid« t« keep his house in order, And hied away to the Hurruni Hills above the Afghan border To sit on a rock with a heliograph: but art he left he taught. His wife the workings of the cede that sot» the miles at naught. And love had made him very sage, m nature made her fair. So Cupid and Apollo linked, per heliograph, the pair. At dawn, across the Hurrum Hills, he flashed her counsel wise ; ; At c'en, the dying sunset bore her husband's homilies. He warned her 'gainst seductive youths in scarlet clad and gold. As much as 'gainst the blandishment* paternal of the old : But keep his gravest warnings for (hereby the ditty hangs) , That snowy-haired Lothario, Lieutenant* i General Bangs. 'Twas General Bangs, with aide and staff, that tittupped on the way. i When they beheld a heliograph tempestu* i ously at play. j They thought of border risings, and of I stations sacked and burnt. So stopped t# take the message down, and this is what they learnt : j '• Dash dot dot, dot dot dash, dash dot ! dot,' twice. ; The General swore. i " Was ever general officer addressed IS i ' dear ' before ?" •"My love:' i' faith? "My dnck,' Gadj zooka ! ' My darling popsy wop ?" " Spirit of great Lord Wolseley, who'is on ' that mountain top ?" j The artless aide-de-camp was mute, the gilded staff were still. I As, dumb with pentup mirth, they booked that message from the hill ; i For, clear as summer's lightning flare, the ■ husband's warning ran — I '• Don't dance or ride with General Bangs I — a most immoral man." | At dflwn, across the Hurrurn Hills, he ' flashed her counsel wise — But howsoever love be blind. the world «f large hath eyes. With damnatory dot and da»h he heliographed his wife Some interesting details of th« General* private life. The artless aide-dc camp vrtl mute, the Bhiuiug staff were still, And red and ever redder grew the General's shaven gill, And this is what lie said at last (his feelings matter not)— " I think we've tapped a private line. Hi t Three's about there I Trot !" All honour unto Bangs, for ne'er did Jones thereafter know, By word or act official, who read off that helio ; But the tale is on the frontier, and from Michni to Mooltan They know the worthy General an "that most immoral man."