ORIGINAL RHYMES.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 36, 17 October 1868, Page 5

ORIGINAL RHYMES.

A LEGEND OF ST. ALEXANDER. Of saints we have read, of all sorts and all sizes — Saint Thomas, Saint John, Saint' Francis d'Assissis j Of saints who were clean. And saints who were dirty ; Of some tranquil in mien, And some who got shirty. j But tho' in the libro d'oro you've read Till the hair with the study dropped out of yoiu' hoad, You never yet met a more orthodox hero Than Sauit Alexander of Tokomi-ree-ro. And the fame of Ms sanctity ° Was borne far and near — Not diminished in quantity By the tellers, 1 fear. - 11. A place there is, Balclutha bight ; The state of its finances ' Caused all to think ita people might Have gospel ordinances. So straight a scribe a scroll did write, The people did it sign ; A Call, to bring them gospel light, By this most learned divine. But folks of Tok'ini-ree-ro, Their spirits sunk to zero, At this so bold demander For good Saint Alexander ; And they got out bills and posters, With letters like cheese-toasters, And sent it to the " Bruiser " To stick among the news, sir, That it didn't matter though It came from friend or foe, They couldn't, wouldn't, shouldn't Let his saintship go. And the Elder-s and the Deacons, And the very pious people, Put courage in the weak-'uns, To rally round the steeple. 111. But, soft ! my muse a sadder strain Is better for poor G —^?'s pain. The match was bubble, and the liquor Had stirred a very hermit's ichor. His hand he ran against a fist ; He gained the race, but lost his list ! But when in solemn state The fathers of the people sate (They were quite a nonentity, If not au old identity). His tenets purely orthodox, ; " By apostolic blows and knocks," He offered to show On Mr. H — 's pow ! But A. — whose dental quavers fill Saint Alexander with a thrill Of holy fervour, till he prays — Got Up and quickly shut up H — . And the end of it was that the Saint got less to do, Which enabled him soon to get light that was new. And so he remains the orthodox hero Of the Free Church in Tokomai-ree-ro. Mike Moggs. Milton, 12th October, 1868.