DOWN BY DELAGOA BAY.

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 14, 6 October 1900, Page 18

DOWN BY DELAGOA BAY.

" Have you heard," said Tommy Atkins, " That ' Old Paul ' ain't very fit ; That he's asked for leave of absence, And he's packed his little kit ? He's left his Ooms and Tantas A-hidin' in the kloof, And he's off to board a Dutchman, With a waggon load of ' oof I ' He isn't in Johannesburg, He ain't in Bloemfontein, Nor sleepin', one eye open, Toinmy-dodgin' in a train : He's granted leave of absence, And he's took a holiday, For to board a dirty Dutchman Down in Delagoa Bay. Tho' he acted heavy villain, And the prompter in the play, There's " Debtor to Paul Kruger " On some bills we like to pay. He's taught us Outer England Is a world-wide loyal land, And he starved the men he captured, Tho' he's richer than the Band. There's accounts we'd like to settle, For the Englishmen who fell Face-forward on the kopje, By the Mauser and the shell ; For the Pats who wore the shamrock In the fight on Patrick's day, , For the men from the far islands, And the " Jocks " we gave away. But I think I see him standin' Down by Delagoa Bay, A-heliographin' Botha To collect — for he can't stay. 0 ! I think I see him standin' "With the bullion on the deck, Inspannin' the old ocean , For the last and longest trek. So we'll say ' Good-bye ' to Kruger, And we'll hope that those who fell, Sittin' snugly up in heaven, Will behold ' his nibs ' in , Where they live on famine rations, Where they march on red hot coals. And the Devil snipes his Mauser Everlastin' at thpir souls." " I heard," said Tommy's brother, " And in a dream last night The God's own trumpet sounded, And the dead, all cold and white, Came crawlin', bashed and battered, Hollow-eyed from out the clay, And cursed the dirty Dutchman Steamin' seaward from the Bay." ' — D. M. Boss. Waikato, 15/9/1900. i

0 lovely isje, proud Maoriland, With sky so blue and landscapes grand, All radiant with the summer's sun, And foliage green when winter's gone ; That season with its storms and geles Brings coughs and colds, then grief and wails, Unless we do good health assure By takieg Woods' Great Peppermint Cure. — Advt.