SPORTING NEWS.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 81, 20 December 1884, Page 6

SPORTING NEWS.

The following acceptances were received on Saturday night for the Christchurch Midsummer Handicap, run on New Year's Day: —Tasman, 6yrs, 9st 71b ; Vanguard, syrs, 9st 61b ; Ike, 4yre, 7s* 41b ; Tim Whiffler, aged, 7st; Lady Evelyn, 3ys, 6st 121b j Wapiti, 4yrs, 6st 71b ; Leodogran, 4yrs, 6st. Middle Park Stakes (Second Payments). —Dime, Wizard, Marion, Russley, Mokoia, Tasmania, Tiger Tim, Spade Guinea, Grand Flaneur —Scraps filly.

Mr Wilkie Collins is occupied with a short novel, to be called "Royal Love." The 3tory is said to be in Mr Collins's best vein. Mr More wrote to a girl asking her to marry him. She declined, and closed her note with—"No more at present."

*£*& >M&tm* happy Christmas time, .and, ; yetVtow v-tnuige it seems I &o flame on tho Fpiendid stisams ; * The aWs bold 'tflatfce -the imrage-dimee of the taatnmi Stfttthern noon— As "the warm-breathed breeze just store the trees thai girdle the hrtfud lagUoh. Still, as I gaae the 'uiooihs that fringe tl« wild creeps 'aiiuny fl >w, > Jt tlii»k of fuceftfar a\v«y wwre the SelrtF white with snow, v .Ami wondttraiidi.w.eep: "Will their memories kiiep 'Mid the mirtttof tliis gl«d9Miie daj-, A sacred place for an absent face Five thowswwl leagues aw*^ ? Aguin I see the -old elm tree, with Its brunches bleak and Unfa. A«d tke rustic sent wliwo lovers meet— yea! lovow and' sen* uro. there^ And I fancy I know thnt arch bright smile, the turn of the glittering curl That hangs {like the spmy <*f the fruitful vine) on the neck w£ a l(»velygirl] the sterner f.vce, above her bei»t, is lit with a softer light, As her voice falls low like a wavelets song- when sunset fades to-nigUt, Aud they list to the merry Christinas chimes, And laugh. Ah 3 welU-«Uy] Does she over think of .a Hwnsrplesa rice Five thousand leagues away ? The snow may rest ia tost year's nest that] hangs on the haze* copse ; But the birds will flit through the boughs, i and sit aguin in the rocking top* ; Though the cottage eaves arc lone and miss the flash of a welcome wing, "We know tin 1 swallows will cume agnin with the sunshine aiwi the. Spring And m>, returned, an. old, old love in each true bosom swells, When -the ad sweet rhyme of an ancient time chimes in with t!»e Cln istmas hells. Ah ! then their memories turn to me, And " God's blessing" still I pray On the eyes that dim when they think of him JFive thousand leagues away I I know life's time of golden prime— the beautiful time of yore— Has faded &way,- like a fallen star that will shine in heaven no more, And I Rometimes yearn to backward turn : my steps, and a day re-live That my lips might sound the happy laugh. that only a child can give I But, ah 1 'tis vain ,- we can ne'er regain our childhood's sand of gold ; *Tis well as our bodies fade and fall, if our spirits grow aot old I That heart to heart in love may start With the bells of each Christinas Day; " Lord, keep our memories green 1 ' for those Five thousand leagues away.