THE COLONIST'S LETTER.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 250, 14 November 1872, Page 9

THE COLONIST'S LETTER.

Brother, across the bleak expanse Where Ocean's coursers fret and foam, > Backward to you I turn my glance, Nor quite forget my former home. Oh, home ! the magic of the word With melting music crowns my line ; And yet it wakes a wailing chord. For where in all the world is mine The cold sky, when we parted last, Coped gloomily the cheerless earth The morn when I for ever pass'd Forth from that old love-hallowed hearth. Such moments hare the weight of years j Bui more of that I need not say — Some sorrows shrink, with all their team, In silence from the sight of day. Yet even though Reason, Duty trace The course which Courage dares pursue. He must be more than man, or less, Who painless bids his home adieu. Then deem not my affection cool'd, Because my words were cold or few, For sternly must the lips be ruled That veil a rending soul from view. Change we the theme. In Scotland yet Are some, a tried and trusted few, Who will not soon my name forget, But oft the friendly wish renew : To them, and not to them alone, But every slave of thankless toil. Who heartless, hopeless, labours on. In Britain's old, o'er-crowded isle, Fain, would I speak ; bufc since in vain Thus for remote my voice I raise, Be yours anew to sound the strain Amid my haunts of former; days ; For surely there, where echo scarce Hath ceased to vibrate to my lays, Some heedful ear will list my verse, bless the prospect it displays. "How long, compatriots, will ye cope With Fortune in a fruitless war, Which yields at best but desperate hope, To keep the evil day afar? Arouse ye that adventurous strain Which nerved your Norseland sires of yore To launch their shallops o'er the main, And reap with swords each richer shore ! " Par past the "coasts of Afriqne, stieep'd In slavery ' neath the swarthing line — Beyond the isles with, incense heap'd That compass India's far confine — Untrack'd terrains your steps invite, Whose history yet is scarce begun, Where plenty will your toil requite, And independence may be won. In climes where endless summer entiles On virgin realms, profusely waste, And o'er a thousand Jovely isles, Whose fragrance soothes the waves to resi ; By pasture-plains and forests air, By valleys deep and mountains dun, A wider conquest waits you there Than that which Alexander won.

" Not by the sword, the spefer, the shield— Our conquering bands no weapons wear , The gleaming metal of our field The .sickle and the- gilding share. Well can we spare to Europe's powers Their royal pomp, their warlike pride ; A brighter memory shall be ours, Who found in freace an empire wide. ' ' There, where the brutal black man wrought His deeds obscene, too dark to tell, Or Maori fierce unflinching fought, Unflinching fought, unyielding fell, The starry cross that crowns the skies . Shall see beneath its silvery glow The temples of *he Cross arise - - O'er heathen fanes in ruin low.

" The Arts shall rise as wealth commands, And Learning sit in Freedom's bhade ; And Commerce waft from other lands The profits of productive Trade. Such is the land and such the views It offers to the 'migrant guest ; Say. Britons, Brethern, will ye choose The rising South or sinking West." Thus would I speak, and thus would wile Yourself to my adopted land, Where yet I hope, and long the while TiO .greet you on the busy strand. Bow blithely shall we all convene That night around my brighten'd hearth ; No wider ocean us between Than .the brown tankard's foaming firth.

For all around is strange and new, Without th'aoeustoni'd charm of years. Nought save the ocean's breast of blue .^^An old familiar aspect wears ; very stars in heaven aw strange— ."\ My spirit Btire not to their shine ; And much I miss the warm exchange Of thought for thought akin to -mine. Yet think not tbat I f«l or flinch, Though far from friendly kith or kin -, Tis not in aught without tv quench A spirit well resolFed within. The man who on himself can trust, Secure^in prowess prosed and tried. May meet the worst which meet he must. Nor ask one aidf ul arm beside. I loved nay birthlaud, and to part From it was that one thing alone ■Whose pxospect could appal my heart ; It cannot now— that deed is done. ■ done : without one local tie. At home alike in every land, What man exists more free than I To wring-ihe spoil from fortuue's hand. Adieu" ! fend when your anxious eyes Run eageV o'er my inky page, May courage iv.your bosom rise To tempt, likeme the ocean's rage— JBeneath the broad Britannic shield Your Austral home in peace to rear ; To till, untaxed, arentless field. ,>- And earn with ease unstinted cheer.