THE SHEPHERD LAD AND HIS DOG.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1291, 27 May 1880, Page 2

THE SHEPHERD LAD AND HIS DOG.

jA COLLOQUY.] Scene —A hillside overlooking a small seaport. SHEPHERD. Methinks, my gentle dog, we are from home In this smart town. Here on the swardy

brae, With you down at my feet, and gazing o'er The restless brine, I seem as if I smelt The blooming heather ; butvwhere'er I turn What do I see before me but long streets, With sandstone houses, shop'-/, banks, and such like, And near below a cheeky £" *!e pier, Which sets its nose to stem the mighty sea. Gude keep us ! What C'e things a coming to? p When even I, a simple ohepherd lad, Leave my fireside among the bonnie hills, And come to town to get election news, My " faither " ne'er had such a privilege. What think you, Collie ? I am a little dazed. COLLIE.

And well you may, my " master." My own

wit Is little better than a silly sheep's. Out on the moor, when all my work was done, And sometimes when you took a quiet nap, I had a frolic with the rabbit beasts, And liked the fun and sappy dinner too ; But coming into town the other day I saw the long-legged long-nosed pointer brutes Le't off the string just at the creatures heels. It's neither sense nor nonsense, that's my mind ; Nor half the 3port that I have by myself. And then look round about you in the town. What miserable, half-starved curs you see ; What sleekit poodles, and what terrier things ; And, worst of all, they seem to do no work. SHEPHERD. Stop, stop, my Collie ; you're a dog yourself. And have your faults, as you have freely owned. The beasties of your kind you see about Never can beat the like of you, that's true. But doubtless they are useful in their way ; Apd I'vp been thinking, though I'm not "myself," In such a bustle as we see down here, That it will well befit us to look round, And show our sense by learning how things are.

For instance, you and I do earn our bread By tending of the sober flocks of sheep. Our employers, on the other hand, earji their's By selling wool and mutton in the towns. Such thoughts as these should make us circumspect, And look at both sides ere we vote for one. Many times upon the hills, when seeming sheep Had shut their eyes, I just would think the

more, To come down here to realise the facts ; For I'm God's free man thoiigh I sell my time. My Queen I like as well as any man, But I'll confess I love my country best.

COLLIE. Ah, sir! your taking, by that last admittal, A fearful stride to the United States; I'm but a dog, but I'm content to do Whate'er you in your wisdom think is best, So is it not best for peoples to obey And queens to rule, and rulers own their sway?

SHEPHERD. Yes, yes, my dog, but yet again its not In that great country that ye speak about The people, for the people make the laws, And such is right for them in tlieirne\y land. In Britain rulers rule as people will And honored are according as they act; But here is just where I'm perplexed, Who is the best man to serve most; men best? Tor that js after all the man we want

To represent Waitaki in the State. First there is Reid, for he has spoken first, And spoken fair, but query "Will he do it?" I'm from the country and incline to him, For he.has proved the armor that he wears And would in consequence do u§ gOQd credit,—r If I could trust him to forget himself, If I could feel that in him was a soul

Of honor, like the good and great we know Who live in history as the stars in heaven; If but a corner of their mantle fell

On him, sufficing to support the right, Then he's my man, in spite of all his land,— And not a word say I that he is not.

Next there is Roberts, respectably unknown, Nor him willT deprive of any merit; I will-not utter cheers or breathe a groan, We seldom know what modest men inherit; But how familiar sounds the coming name, Fear not, electors; it is "qnly Jones, But who is Jones ? Needs it that I should tell . Ye men of Oamaru, ye. know him well! He bearded Whitaker in his own den,

If you'll but back him he will do't .again ; He's full up to the brim with politics, / I'm not quite sure but he is up to tricks . Which -vvoukl upset the kettle fish and all. To give Sir George the place of Johnny Hall. His name is popular. The people's Jones Need never blush to own the name he 9wns I

COLLIE. Oh J Maister, stop, lets to our folds again, Your clean demented since you came down here, Your heart can ne'er be wrong, but ah! your head Is really turned with new and strange concerns, Where will they lead you ? Our country's small— SHEPHERD. There, Collie, is the rub, they'd have it all, And leave to you and me but little more Than pay our tailor or our grocer's store, I And what's to happen to my wife and weans ? ' COLLIE. For mercy's sake speak not in such a tone ; You used, like me, to let things well alone. Who'll take the land ? Will Roberts, Jones, or Reid? Does reason not reply, "Who most has need," I'm inclined to think we Collie brutes Are more sagacious than your King Canutes; We come, you know, from Scotia's canny

realm, Our hearts are leal, and caution guides the helm; Whene'er the ship of State goes over fast, We furl the sail the closer to the mast;

We cannot stay the waves upon the shore, For Liberty in chains will chafe the more, Yet we . would put a brake upon the wheel, Else, ram stam goes the car clean to the de'il. Just do as I do with these " coursing" dogs, The're but to me so many jumping frogs. Good of their kind ; if I were forced to piok One from the number for to serve my trick— Although, as I have said, their ways and

kind Are not in all things suited to my mind— J would proceed to " wale" from 'mong the

rest The one I thought would serve my purpose

best; Thus every voter, acting as you do, Would choose the man most to the people true. SHEPHERD, Thanks, -my good dog, for all that I have learned Hevs been that I have come a foolish errand. I might have talked with you upon the

moor, And had my wits, but now I'm scarcely sure What's to be done, I'll go right home and

think, Keep free from prejudice and witching drink, Oamaru, 23rd May, ISBO.