SELECT POETRY.

Southland Times, Issue 632, 15 February 1867, Page 3

SELECT POETRY.

♦ MISCHIEF MAKING. Oh ! could there in this world be found Some Uttle spot of happy ground, Where vUlage pleasures might go round Without the vUlage tattling ! How doubly blest that plafe would be, Where aU might dwell in liberty, Free from the bitter misery Of gossips' endless prattling. If such a spot were reaUy known, Dame Peace might claim it as her own ; And in ifc she might fix her throne, For ever and for' ever r There, like a queen, might reign and Uve, While everyone would soon forgive The Uttle sights they might receive, And be offended never. "Tis mischief-makers that remove Far from our hearts the warmth of love, And lead us aU to disapprove What gives another pleasure : They seem to take one's part — but when They've heard our cares, unkindly then They soon retaU them aU again, Mix'd with their poisonous measure. And then they've such a cunning way Of teUing Ul-meant tales : they say, " Don't mention what I've said, I pray, would not teU another ;" Straiht to your neighbor's house they go, Narr a ting everything they know ; And break the peace of high and low — Wife, husband, friend and brother. Oh ! that the mischief-making crew Were aU reduced to one or two, And they were painted red or blue, Thafc every one might know them : Then would our vUlagers forget To rage and quarrel, fume and fret, And faU into an angry pet. With things so much below them. For 'tis a sad, degrading part To make another's bosom smart, And plant a dagger in the heart We ought to love and cherish. Then let us evermore be found In quietness with all around, WhUe friendship, joy, and peace abound, And angry feeUngs perish !