ORIGINAL POETRY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 82, 4 September 1869, Page 6

OR IG I N AL POET RY.

(To the Editor of the Tuapeka, Times. )

Sir, — Perhaps you will recollect that some time ago I sent you a poem which I stated had been written by au operative mason, a native of Crallowayshire, some time deceased. I mswte a mistake 5 he wag a ploughman. I again take the liberty of sending you another of hi 9 cmipUsiGibns, which if you think proper to publish in your favourite journal you will confer, a personal favour upon me. Of course do not know what you or your many readei'3 may think of it ; but I wish I had been its author.— l am, sir, &c, John Barb. Duuedih, August 30; ,

THE WIDOW'S AE COW.

Ah ! where's now the cottage that stood on the moor, Wi' its bright bleezing ingle and bonny clean I*'s doon iuid awa ; not a vestige appears Where iv peace and content dwelt' the widow for years. She kept a wee cow : 'twas lier living and pride ; She gathered her mouthfu' alang the road side. She was blftok on. the back ; had a bonny white brow ; And a wee lassie herded the widow's ac cow. - ■\v"eol ken'fc on't'ae bye-road twa mile 3 [up and doojh, S'le 1 lang held the favour o' ilka farm toon, s By master and servant, by Lid and by las?, was " Harmless wee hawkie ! puir thing ! let her pass." ,^ , t The very warsfc schoolboy who went'on the road, "Who pelted each cuddy and murdered each toad, T:i friendship and feeling ne'er passed but he • threw A handfu' o' grass to the widow's ac cow. "WT comforts contented, the widow lived weol ; Her bins o' potatoes, her kisfc fa* o' meal ; Tlie leaab obligation she loved to requite ; While the hameless anil wretched aye shared in her mite. In bonny clean b.isket she gned to fclie toon Wi' her sax pun a week amaista' the year roun'. For milk or for butter our wide parish through Oould'na boast iia a beast as the widow's ac cow. Bufc a new race sprung up, and^their pride could'na beur To see the we© cow by the road oriy mair ; They threatened the widow wi' gaol and wi' law, And blamed her wee Livrkie wi' things she ne'er saw. For foplings wha dar'd not their daddies displease Made her affc an excuse for ' their "blood-broKen knees. . ' Even jolly ol gentlemen trotting hame fu' Gob their-brpken nose blamed on the widow's ac cow. 3o they forced her at last to put bawkio away, -A'i-1 sair-hearte.l lefb her to wear o - ib her day. When o'er frail to labour and o'er bliu' to sew, A poor parish pauper they've made o' her noo. y ".' . The labe E. Kerb.