SELECT POETRY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 300, 30 October 1873, Page 7

SELECT POETRY.

THE C'KRECT .CARD. - : ' A Racing Lyric. (From " Temple Bar." J " C'rrect card, sir ? C'rrecfc card, sir ? "What ! You've seen my face before ? Well. I dare say as how you have, sir ; and so Lave many more ; But they passes me by -without a word — but perhaps it's just as well : A poor crippled chap like me, sir, ain't fit company for a swell. But I've seen [.the time when they all was proud -with me to be talking seen — When I rode for Lord Arthur Forester and wore the black and green. " How did it happen ? I'll tell you, sir. You knew little Fanny Plight — Old Farmer Flight's one daughter — always so pretty and bright ? You used to joke with her sometimes, sir, and say as, if you'd she'd marry, You'd set up a v pub " together, an' pitch your folks to Old Harry. You was just down for the holidays, sir, from Oxford, -whei'e you was at school ; But you only played at being in love while I ... was a cursed fool .' ' Well, there was lots of 'em after her, sir, what with her ways and her face ; But 1 was in earnest, you see, sir, and rode a waiting race. 'Twas one fine April morning, when she came out to see us train, And just as she stood with her little hand holding on by my horse's mane, I felt as how I could do it, and came with a rusli^you see, An' I said to her— all of a tremble, sir— 'Fan, will you marry me ?'- \^-~ Aud she blushed, an' smiled, an' whinnied, and after a bit she agreed That, as soon as I found the money to pay for our keep and feed, Why, we'd run in harness together,. We'd - ha' made a tidyish pair ; For I weren't a bad-looking colt at the time, an' she — such a nice Hfcfcle mare .' Such a mouth ! such a forehead ! such action! Ah, well, let 'em say "what they may, That's the sort ,fo make running with iis, sir — though, damn it ! they never can stay. " Well, the time went on, and I rode my best, an' they called me a 'cuteish chap. And Lord Anhur put me up to ride for the Leicestershire Handicap. Lord Arthur, he was a gentleman — never was stingy or mean — An' he said, ' I'll give you five hundred, my man, if you win with the black and green.' Well, the horse I rode was Rasper ; perhaps you remember him well ? Black, all but one white foot, sir ; and a temper !— he'd pull like h— l ; But jump like a bird if he had a mindplenty of power and pace — And I knew he had it in him, And swore I'd win the race. " The night before the race came off I ■went down to Farmer Flight's — They'd got to expect me regular now on Tuesday and Friday nights — And I told her whar Lord Arfchur said, and how, if I chanced to win, We'd go into" double harness on the strength of his lonlship's tin. An' she put my colours in her hair and her arms around my neck, And I felt . . . but. damn it ) a chap's a fool as can't keep his feelings in check. But then, you sees, sir, 1 was a fool - a big one as ever was seen — But then I was only twenty when I rode in the black and gi-een. . "I got up early next-morning, an' felt as light as a- feaiher, And I went to start for the stables ; and Mother she asked me .whether I'd not take my flask in, my pocket, in case it might come in handy ; But, ' Mother,' I says, 'when a chap's in love, he don't feel to want any brandy.' And I ihought, as I put on a new pair o' spurs and a jacket bran new and clean, Tliafc I'd give long odds that I'd pull it off— ten to one on the black and green. "Well Lord Arthur gave me my orders and a leg up on to my horse, And I just had taken my canter an' was coming back up the course, When_ who should 1 spy but Fanny, in a stylish sort of trap, Talking away like blazes to a, dark, long■wMskered chap ! But I hadn't time to think of more, for we got the word to start, And Rasper gave a thundering tear that nearly pulled out my heart ; An' then I pulled him together, for mine was a waiting race, And I knew that what was to win it was tßasper'st ßasper's pluck, not pace. " Well, I got round all right the first time ; the fences were easy enough — At least, to a couple like we were ; the only one that was tough Was a biggish hedge, with a post and rails : but the taking-oif was fair, And I shouldn't call it a dangerous jump, as long as you took it with care. And Rasper !— that very*morning I said to Lord Arthur, I said, f JI think as that horse there could jump a church if he took the thing into his head ;' An' that morning he went Jike a lady, and looked as bright as a bean, ' '-- And I knew, if it only lasted, I'd win with the black and green. " I was riding Uasper easy, when, just as we "passed the stand, It struck me the carriage that Fanny was in was somewhere upon my right hand ; And I took a pull at Rasper and. a glanse to- • wards that side, And I saw whatjnade me forget the race and forget the, way^ to ride — Only a kiss ! An"w|iat's a kiss to the like of him and her ? ' " But I couldn't help letting "Rasper feel that I wore a long-necked spur ; An' though I set -my teeth to be cool and steadied him with the rein, I knew that the devil in Rasper was up, and couldn't be laid again ; An' the very next fence, though I kept him straight, and he went at it after the rest, I could feel that he meant to do his worst ; and I couldn't ride my best. 3?or, you kuow, when a, r man feels desperatelike, he's no more head than a child, And it's all v p with a jock, you see, if he goes at his fences wild. •' Over the next fence — over the next — till I thought, as my teeth I set, > t% *t - If I only could keep my head to my work, j might pull through with; it yet ; And I took a pull at Rasper, an'-fell back a bit to the tail, For I'd never forgot the one difficult spot— the hedge with the post and rail. How it all comes back? We're in the field — now for a rattling burst, - For the race is half won by the .horse "and man that crosses that fence the first. I run up to my horses and pass them — I've givenjlasper his head ; 1 can -hear some lengths behind me the trampling and the tread ;

And now I send him at it, firmly, but not too fastHe stops— lays his ears] back— refuses ! The devil's come out at last ! And I dig in the steel and let him feel the sting of stout whalebone. And 1 say, 'You shall do it, you devil ! if I break your neck and my own.' And the brute gives a squeal, and rushes at tlio post and rail like mad — No time to rise him at it — not much use if I had : And then . . . well, I feel a crash and a blow and hear a woman scream. And I seem to be dying by inches in a horrid sort of a dream. « ' No, thank ye— l'd rather not sir. You see they ain't all like you j These gents as has plenty of money don't care who they gives it to ; But as for stopping an' saying a word, an' hearing a fellow's tale, They'd rather give him a crown sir, or stand him a quart of ale, But it brings back old times to be talking to you. Ah ! the jolly old times as I've seen, When I rode for Lord Arthur (c'rrect card, sir) and wore the black and green !"