THE KARE KARE BUSHMEN'S BALL.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 227, 17 January 1885, Page 9

THE KARE KARE BUSHMEN'S BALL.

TWritten for the Observer.]

Dear M.,— I have no one to growl at just now, And no one with whom I can get up a row, For they've all gone out fishing, or prowling about, And I feel just as sulky and mean as get-out. ;So just to dispose of the enemy, Time, I'll send you another infliction in rhyme. You're gracious indulgence I will not abuse, If I cannot instruct, I will try to amuse. I think I remarked, in the note that I sent, "We were just on the eve of a coming event ; : And now, I may add, that our famous town hall Has been opened in style with a supper and ball. Quite a brilliant affair — a decided success, Though not over g-ood as to costumes or dress. The evening commenced in the usual way, { Discussing ham sandwiches, sponge cake, I and tea ; About 45 people sat down to the feed, At which the two Eadhouses wont for the lead, Especially hungry ''Kangaroo Ueorge, Who frightened the ladies the way he did gorge. j "When supper was over the tables were cleared, The hall was lit up and the music appeared, The ladies all giggled, the gentlemen grinned, Each with a rosette in his button-hole pinned ; They paired off in couples, the dancing bebegan, i Ajid I looked for a perch the proceedings to scan. • There were fallers and cross-cutters, bushmen and j ackers, Sawyers and planers, and loggers and stackers ; The tenement rattled from basement to crown, As their forty-five pair of elevens came down ; And, right in the midst of a set of quadrilles Poor Johnnie McMahon went head over heels, Upsetting sis couples who came in his wake, "Which gave the town hall a most serious shake ; In fact, all the papers, the very next day, Reported an earthquake down Manukau way. Poor Johnnie ! he struggled from under the crush, And he looked like an elephant trying to blush. ' The stewards assisted the ladies to rise, "While the gents muttered something about Johnnies eyes. Poor Mrs McMahon, who took it quite cool, .Said, "It's just what I thought, you provoking old fool." But the incident only augmented the fun. And I laughed till the tears from my optics did run. Little Gertie, assisted by one or two swells, Enraptured the audience with " Sweet Village Bells " ; Mrs Sprat (I'm afraid I have spelt that name wrong) .Sang that beautiful ballad, "The Whip Poor Will's " song ; Mr Murdock sang also "The Boss of the Mill," And joined in the fun with a hearty good will— 4 And they laughed and they roared till their sides they did ache, '.When yours truly, that's me, tipped them "Finnigan's Wake." In fact, such good feeling through all did abound, .'.That even old Stenhouse got prancing around — "The music's sweet strains touched a choid in his breast, And he capered and polkered along with the rest. Mrs Murdock exerted her efforts to please, .And her lady-like taste put us all at our ease. .Miss Douglas excelled without fuss or parade, -As our splendid harmonium sweetly she played. There was Miss Tilly Larson, aesthetic and tall, And Kate Tilly Gerald, the belle of the ball, .And we kept up the fun till the clock it struck two, When we parted for home, a most jovial crew ; . But, trying their way through the darkness to seek, ' Two respectable matrons fell slaj) in the creek, ' On which they set up a most vigorous squall, The -i gravely and piously d d the town hall. But I'll tell you the rest when I'm writing again, So I'll tease you no more with this mischievous pen, And with kind love for all, especially you. Believe me, dear M., your own Long Kangaroo.