A Wheen Thochts

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 39, 22 December 1894, Page 17

A Wheen Thochts

[By Scotch Thistle.]

CHRISTMAS AND HEW YEAR REFLECTION'S.

Again, as the poet would say, the eternal march of time brings us Tonnd to the birthday of that happy morn when the angels sang their song of neace on earth, and good will towards men. To us, who are peaceful and inoffensive people, that song may find an echo in many a home ; bat to Japanese and Chinamen fighting in true ■civilised style, to the French preparing to sit on the Hovas, and the Hovas preparing not to be sat on, and to the Armenians wailing over butchered women and children, the song can only be an empty mockery. The day will surely come when, war shall ■cease, but apparently it won’t be just yet awhile. Peace, with liberty, is a glorious blessing, but to have peace with slavery is a national and an individual curse. To rejoice in peace when others are rejoicing in liberty and peace is elevating ; to remain at peace and to enjoy peace when others are enslaved and oppressed, is unmanly and degrading. There is no doubt it is a virtue to fight at times. Japan may accomplish more social reform in Asia by six months fighting than would have been wrought in ages of peace. As for the slaughter in Armenia, as honest Tammie would observe — Whaur is the mon but wud feel honoured in driving daylight through the unspeakable wretches guilty of such crimes.” “ Peace ! peace !” as the old philosopher observed—“ the surest road to peace lies in ever fighting onwards .” Turning to ourselves, it is clear that at present we are a’ John Tarnson’s bairns. Has not the Hon. John been hobnobbing and smiling amongst us, just like his noble self, honest and honoured chief that he is. More power to him. May he live to shake the harigals out of all the “ dirty little devils ” that would down him. And then our own cute little Ward is stroking them cannily by the hair up in Auckland ; and straightforward Dick is winning golden opinions from the gods of Dunedin. True, he is a bit rough on the unemployed, but they all understand Dick. Has not he with all his satellites taken a solemn vow to support the cause of the poor, and Dick isn’t the man to go back on them. We may admit that men desiring work have no right to demand it—■we may admit that men wanting bread for their wives and families

hare no right to demand it—but colonial good sense will demand that men, women and children requiring bread shall have it while it can be had ; and colonial good sense will say that it is better to feed men and let them work than to feed them and let them go idle. If the colony can afford to pay a man upwards of £4O a week to manage a bank, it can afford to give a man a living wage to do what he should be doing —making the wilderness blossom like a rose. According to newspaper fashion, it is customary to review the public events of the past year at this period; and somehow I have formed the habit of looking over my domestic progress in the same way. In the early years of my household I used to impress upon Mrs S. the great necessity for economy at this time, but somehow it hadn’t much effect. Neither did it add anything to the peace and goodwill of the business, so latterly I just let that part of the house work her own sweet will. I may be a shilling poorer through it, but then there is peace, and in the house peace is cheap at any price. During the year I didn’t exactly get all I wanted —but then I got what was better —all that I required. During the year my balance at the bank was small, and my troubles about the banks were ditto. I have had good health and just as much work as I wanted —I am easily suited in that respect During the year another young Thistle has come for food and shelter, but my neighbour has twins ; but the more to feed the more to pray ; and during the year my conviction has strengthened that it is best to live and let live ; to take it easy ; and if you cannot take it easy, to take it as easy as you can.