POETRY. A MODERN DANIEL.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 340, 6 February 1889, Page 3

POETRY. A MODERN DANIEL.

[Tho African missionary, Bishop Hannington, •whilst walking alone in a desert place, encountered throe lions. With great presence of mind, ho unfurled his umbrella, held it high above liia head, and danced a hornpipo vigoiously. Tho lions fled in dismay.] Bishop llannington once, with umbrella of silk, Set out on a peregrination ; llo'd a Bible and Prayer Book, a boltl° of milk, A flask, and a small cold collation. As at noontide— when wearied and spent with tho heat — He mingled his milk and his whisky, Ho spied, alar olFfrom his shady rotrcat, A lion's cub, agile and frisky. When the cub saw the Bishop, he rubbed both his eyes, Looked again.and then cried o t with ardour, ' Come hither, my parents, a welcome surprise ! Here's a man to replenish our larder.' The lions stalked forth with majestical grace, And the sire said, with look reverential, ' That a Bishop should stray to this desolate place Is a circumstance most providential.' Then said the old lioness, licking her jaws. With a smile that was quite diabolical, 'Christian Bishops of yoro oft filled leonine maws— The succession should be Apostolical.' Then tho Bishop ai'oso, and they cried, one and all, ' See, the man comes (his way, and looks firm at us ; 'Tis tho middle of Lent ; ho seems bony and tall, And long fasting makes man pachydermatous. Bishops' aprons can scarce be called savoury food, Nor can gaiters and buttons bo succulent. And we fear that his Lordship's in choleric mood, And rather disposed to be truculent.' Then out spake the cub, with a terribleleer, Peculiar to old Roman satyrs, ' If the Bishop has brought but his button-hook here We can quickly divest him of gaitors.' Then the Bishop advanced, and he sprang right and left, O'er his head his umbrella was waving ; The three lions stood, as ot senses bereft, While tho Bishop leaped raging and raving. Then tho Bishop delivered his charge, and he spoke Till his throat was a terribly worn pipe ; Then changing his tactics by way of a joke, He concluded by dancing a hornpipe. The terrified lions then gave up the ghost, And soon at the next mission stations, The good Bishop held— what this story needs most — Satisfactory full confirmations. Moral— Colonial bishops on the tramp, And all ecclesiastics, Ne'er Icavo behind your trusty gamp, And keep up your gymnastics !