ORIGINAL RHYME.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 78, 7 August 1869, Page 6

ORIGINAL RHY M E.

THE GftEAT PANACEA.

As I was one eve reclining where tHe moon "was brightly shining, While the sof fc breeze gently whispered soothing nonsense in niy ear, Suddenly I heard a rushing, as of water guggling, gushing ; ,A.nd in spite of lny tush-tushing, voices sounded very near ; Put the meaning of their raving seemed to me by no means clear. This they uttered : " Black Horse Beer !" Then I asked myself the question, Is it really indigestion That makes this hallucination to so strangely real appear ? Then I muttered, deeply thinking, "Certainly I've not been drinking ;:>; :> But my heart with fear was sinking, for the voices in my ear Uttered words, as if in warning, crying loud, distinct and clear : " Drink but Bastings' Black Horse Beer !" But my spirits fast did rally as I thought |of Dr. Halley, Who I knew would quickly tell me what it was that made me .queer. So away I went and found him ; tried my uttermost to sound him As to what was wrong ; confound him, how he made me quake with fear, for he used those words grown awful, whispering hoarsely in my ear : "Take a diink of Black Horse Beer !" Said the Doctor, "You are bilious, and you soon will be delirious, If you are not very careful with your diet, that is clear ; Eat of bpef and mutton sparely ; geese and turkeys take but rarely." "But," I answered, puzzled fairly, "there's one thing you've not made clear : What I am to eat you've told me ; what I am to drink let's hear." Quoth the Doctor, "Black Horse Beer !" (t That's a strange prescription, surely," said I, looking down demurely. Said he " Follow my directions, or you'll soon be on the bier." Then my vision came before me— like a spirit hovered o'er me, And those voices seemed to bore me wjth their whisperings in my ear ; Till at at last I made a promise that I'd drink frqm year to yegr Nothing but the Black Horse Beer. ?Fhen the vision straiglifc departed, and once more I felt llglii-liearied. £11 my troubles quickly vanished, leaving head and bosom clear. And no more I need fear sorrow ; comfoi"t from this drink I borrow ; Careless am I of the morrow while I to my vow adhere. Thankful am I that I listened to the whisperings in my ear : " Drink but Bastings' Black Horse Beer !* Wetherstones, August 4th. tf.