ON NEW YEAR'S DAY.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 66, 4 January 1879, Page 3

ON NEW YEAR'S DAY.

Samoa's sunny isles are green to-day, And all her mouutains clad with forests gay, While many lands are wrapt in garments gray, The emblems of a lon;,' cold winter's stay. Along our shores high wave tho tufted toils Of ftgeu trees, from which thopopo* drops, Down-flung by native hands, and sought for food, Or thirst to quench, a fact well undeistood. O'or ftll theso fruitful isles tho orange blooms, And scents the air with pure and sweet perfumes. The breadfruit and banana groves abound, And yams and turo till the fertile ground. The CUltard apple too, a luscious fruit. Is found where best it doth the palate suit; And mangoes large and rich on mighty trees, That proudly wave in every passing breeze. 0 Kineeiicouuut.

y. ;■., nil th. -i fruits that fa <"■ tropics grow, Where —.ft and balmy breeiw •■••'• -i 1 low, Kiwi in island soil a genial home, And growth luxuriant in the mellow loam. ! To-day Samoa's rivers swell with pride, As from tlie mountains (o the seas they glide / I Through forest wild and vast, of tangled growth j And yet to rfrvc th ■ toiler n< thing li Ih. Tall fenw, and bamboo groves along theii banks Stand forth, and wild flowers }•■■ ,i:i in scattered ranks. Vet naught appears as yot i! mav, and will, These islands with productions rich to till. For the Samoa!) proud, too proud to work. Too fond his duty, when he can, to shirk, Will find a fain-r, if not liner race, Ere long to till his long-neglected place, And own and cultivate the fertile soil. Too long unused to faithful tillers toil. The fairest isles within the Southern seas Mas! beautiful for homes and love are these; And when the hardyyoernan hither comes, And capital in large sufficient sums, Within this lovely dime to work and dwell, The vast development, who can foretell ? Derail these isles will large plantations spread, Till those who live will scarce believe what's said, When told of their forefather's indole e, And how they tried with labour to dispense, And may that time begin, let all now pray, Ijcfore ! here comes another New \ ear's Day : An, rsriNi.'.-N. Apia, Samoa, Jan. 1, I«7U.