THE CHAPS WE USED TO KNOW.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 1, Issue 5, 20 January 1911, Page 6

THE CHAPS WE USED TO KNOW.

The chap 1 used to nod to has vanished from The Block ;' They buried him a AA'eek ago today; I only knew this morning; it had worried mc a bit— 1 wondered what Avas keeping him away. His smartly throAvn " Good-morning" used to brace mc as he passed— Between ourselves, I grew to love him so, That the world is blessed dreary, things have kind of gone to Hell, Through the dying of the chap I used to know. The chap I used to drink with will never shout again ; He's gone Avhence he shall never more return. I stood beside his grave side, I watched his coffin sink, And the moment taught mc all I want to learn Of life's small limitations, of the feebleness of man, Of the parting Avithout warning as Aye go ; And I reckon that the system is the loser on the deal, When it killed that kindly chap I used to knoAv. I haA r e come to the conclusion that this life is more or less A kind of shadoAv business at the best, And the Glory Hallelujah that the foolish advocate Appeals to mc as but a sorry jest. I grant L'm but a human, and I may not understand, But it seems to mc there's too much useless woe, And I offer a suggestion to whatever gods there be— Give us back the decent chaps we used to know. —Exchange.