THE MESSENGER.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 207, 18 January 1872, Page 7

THE MESSENGER.

Over the land and over the sea A messenger speeds unchecked .and free, And ra&ftfll his name Electricity. Silent as death is his footstep light ; He tires not by day, nor tarries by night, And leaveth the wind behind in bis flight. His pathway is only a narrow wire, He hath fingers of steel and a tongue of fire ; He is staunch to his trust, and true to his hire. No matter the errand, be sure he will go, And carry your messages to and fro — Of sorrow or pleasure, weal or woe. Ah ! me, he hath told, and will yet tell again, Of humanity writhing in terrible pain, Of horrible corses, and broken-down train. You may put in his honest mouth a lie, And away with the falsehood he'll swiftly fly, Then flash back a silent, indignant reply. • He will bear the sad tidings of crushing grief, Or hurry with succour and soul-relief, Or o'ertake with his ill-gotten booty the thief. Let the blood-stained mnrderer take good heed ; He will fly before him with lightning-speed, And proclaim to the world the bloody deed. Yes ; wait for thee, wretch, and thy guilt reveal, And single thee out with his finger of steel, As if he had. life, and could reason and feel. He carries strange secrets, and messages dark, And holds up his hand with an ominous "hark!" , , As he whispers the tale to the listening clerk. He will stand on the const, by the ocean foam. And take note of the ships as they go and come, Outward bound or returning home. Swift as the god with the winged feeb, He flies from the field wheie the foemen meet, And tells of glad victory or sad defeat. An infant as yeb, with a lisping tongue : All languages known he will speak ere long, And grow to a monaroh, mighty and strong. In every country shall be his throne ; And the nation*, all his power shall own, From the frozen pole to the torrid zone. He shall spread out his hands over land and flood, And his presence be hailed as a token for good. And biud the wide world in one great brotherhood.