A Reformer.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 179, 20 November 1886, Page 6

A Reformer.

" The Bench remarked with truth that the assault was ' a most brutal and disgusting one,' and let Morgan off with a fine of £1 and costs."— " St. James's Gazette." Bill Morgan was a moral man, la tact, " his mother's aoc," A bit of a philosopher Atd collier rolled Jn one. He used to ro&d " Repulsive Crimes" V\ lion by the Presa disclosed. And note iho absurdly lenient flnea Tne mußibtratea imposed. Men who had kicked and beaten wives AJmost to death were lold Politely " there -was some excuse For men if wives would scold ;" While bo; s who stole a pcnDy pear We re, by the beak's decision, Condemned to penal servitude And ten y earu 1 supervision. This caused his noble blood to boil, And he Rave vent to it, "Which made him shunned in public-house And hated ir> the pit; But he was a philosopher. And spoke hid indignation 'Gainst mavifltratf s till he became " A marked man" at the station. At last he said : ' In England men Candojuat what they like, And, since they t^eat their spouses worse Than they would treat a tyke. I'll let them see mo as I Hee Them ; thoußh the task disploapes. One must prescribe f- Irons? remedies For desperate diseases." He loated the task he'd set himself — He'd ne^or cause a tear Or blueh to rise on woman's cheek In anger or in beer. Ho )o\ cd the lady whom he called As pat-name his '* old woman." Though collier and philosopher, Bill Morgan was but human. He put his cause before her and Told her the cruel laws ; He said : "I'll sacrifice myself And you in Dutys cause. A terrible example wo Will makn for men. I'm thinking." She only paid : " Bill Morgan, you, I fear, have took to drinking." H« drew her townrfl him and ho kif sed Her on the month and cheek, Then knocked her with his fists into 'I ho middle of next week. When she erot up he took her hands And fondled her and kissed her, Then tried to hither in the eye. But- as she ducked— he missed her. Be blacked her eyes and pplit her lip. Then cried Hko any child ; Shd bolted underneath the bed, Bur, pobbing " Don't be riled,' He seized her hair and drew her out, And round the room, half dyinc;. Ho bit her- par and nose clean offThen fairly broke down, crying. Police and neighbours here rushed in, And seized him there and then ; He hit the sergrant on the chest, Before some twenty men So'jwrl him and beat his bead, and then, Without more heaitation. Played football with him for a milo Before they reached the station. Before the Bpak thor brought him up, One ma?B of wounds and EC*rs ; H" never '* pliw'cd innocent," But smiled behind the barf. A nound they fined him for the wife H.i'd sacrificed to hobby ; A» (I "let him off" with ton years for The assault upon the Bobby. It brok<? his heart ; he died to find The wi'e be loved, and cause, Were sacrificed in vain attempt To inpnd Old England"* laws. Anrl o'er hla grave they placed these words : "If "wife and * raufc ' yon cherish, Let ' wrongs ' «r,d wives die of old ageThus all reformers poriali 1"