Poetry Column.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume II, Issue 106, 8 February 1900, Page 3

Poetry Column.

MY BOYS.

The following lines, which so aptly expi ess tbe sentiment that now peivades the Empire, were published in the London l > anc3h in February 1885. "War with Bnssia was 'then thrbatening, and the poet's hearth as fctiireJ by the fact that Canada was offering volunteers, and that New $outh Wales and Victoria were abouf id follow suit. After 15 years history has repeated itself.

P>nt'sh Lion spciks :— When and how I may havo iDri°oi tLom, My banded fo^s iv a ni-.'hu f.rv, Wheic I bli.ill bsAC tJ Incu— iVid bea: — i ! ie<n. I know not, out 'twill come some day. Am! whot caie I vmKt J =cc aioonrf in?, Musteung up \\.tr a manf.iJ Thu lads vho in love-im^s fiesh h.ava bound me — Thra> \\ hum 1 louk on. m/ Boys, my Boy,. ' ' J ' * Long I luvo dieaii-t of th< sn -wm' The huK ] I,m(. -r t >. And thp n,..v I..- : _„ iifj . \ () sLio \ f^ 'icocCi '<>' Must fill ,i la* u-i ,v (. i, ,s., s . „•;,, I And we aiu nil pioud, nuia olu 2\ \ai J.ady To ttie bnniblcbu hind who th > ;i<'b.t enjoys, To see them loyal, tiloit, t ind To do then dc\ou, mj JJoy^ my Boys ! Cioakpis chilly and Moi.i'ichoh, I'iophesy ilk to tin 1-ic^; I Imo, But genuine Biiton.-,, hi^ii-soM. 01 lowly. Have pli>( k sue h a p.iliO" spiuL above. And I'll ti U'st my home to then sUlwait keepings But, upon my honour, it swells myjo)S And sets my blood thiough my veins &\Mffc lea.pi ig, To see you coming, my Boys, my Boys I Liok at them, look at them, gaily tiooping "Up to the Stiiid.nd, the old, old flay ! tlinb oi the stocl: theie is no up-coopmg Talking the tongue no tyrant can gag. Like young 1 on ? to help the old one, Hwmci: tootUll and him oi poise, Bv Jo\e, th.it ioeiii in will be a Lold one Who'll Uca ub Landed, my Boys my \ Bo J s ! They fancy, do they, Old England's shg'ueis My cLsavs .ip cn i , and my oye= aie dim, That he .noietimo the fai&fc oHiglueV-,, ; ib slow ot spuit and slack of Irnb ?' Well, well, they maybe will find their euoi. And need loss roaiing is empty noise ; But they'll hardly stnke me with abject tei i or When I ses you round me, my Boys, my Boyb ! Who whs it said I was fond of snubbing The sUlwait slips that should be my pude ? Dnffei-,! The war diums rub-a.f'ubbing, Boon finds os ranged on the self-same side. Here's their answer ! Such Volunteciing As this should shame them. My heart it joys To see jour mustei, to hear your cheeiing. Best thanks, and bless you, My Boys, my Bo\s ! I'd tiust my honour to your stout keeping, I'd well, on manhood gush quickly cloys ; But chill 3 1 liiy heait must the blood go cieepmg Eie 1 cease to love you, my Boys, my Bo^s !