"THE CHILDREN'S PETITION."

New Zealander, Volume 2, Issue 102, 15 May 1847, Page 3

" THE CHILDREN'S PETITION."

When Night had spread her sombre wing, O'er mountain, vale, and stream, Sleep, from Fancy's garlands culled, This rare and motley dream I— Two children of a thoughtful cast, Upon a hillock stood, Their liaxen curls and blue eyes spoke ' The island Saxon Wood. But though the bkies shown bright and blue, And the wild flower bloomed there, A shade of infant sorrow sat, Upon those children fair.— At length, quoth one, whose words were firm And full of melody— "Sister, they say the great men will, "Make beggars of you and me!~ "But dare they haughtily deny "The Law, themselves have madef " Our father ciavei no more, than that "For which he justly paid', " Can they of noble lineage "Link tyranny with might? "They'll give the ground our father bought " Nor rob liiin of his right ! — "He toiled and struggled, patiently, "Through many k weary day — "Then, Sister, imU they crush him novr, "And take his am away?" He paused — and seemed contented with, The little words he'd spoke j — His fair companion answering thus, The short-lived silence broke : — "Brother, they gave permission to " Our lather, to buy Land, "Oh, then, they cannot, ought not, now "To wrest it from his hand! " For he has baid. the Exile's wealth, " Should with his years advance, " That toil and trouble might not be, "His child's inheritance " And we have heard him proudly say, "How British men «ie free; "That She who wears the Crown is just X " And rulci most rightfully ! - "But, Oh! when She, with queenly power, " An erring man exalts, " She'll not allow the innocent, " To suffer for his faulti ! "She'll not bring grief and sorrow on, "A loyal yeoman's head, " She'll not withhold his free-born righti, "Or take his children's bread."— I heard no more — yet on my ear, Those accents linger still; — 'Twas but a dresin --a simple dream, Think of it, as ye will. It. Caoudacjs Joplik. Auckland, May 13th, 1847.