MY RICHES.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 714, 13 January 1877, Page 5 (Supplement)

MY RICHES.

BY E. G. TAYLOR.

Folks are complaining, now, I hear, about their poverty, — Of money scarce, and times as hard as times, perhaps, can be j But I am very rich, for I have raiment, food and health, And multitudes of treasures— yes, I'm rolling m my wealth ; I have two eyes to see with — they are worth ten thousand pounds; A pair of ears to hear with, and feet for walking round ; No one could purchase these from me for twenty thousand more ; My hands, so useful, raise the sum of thousands to the score. My tongue, though'of fc unruly, yet to me is such a prize, I would not sell ifc cheaper than I would my precious eyes. ; My head though somewhat empty, fits upon my neck so well, I would not part with it though you the price to millions swell. I own a life-long interest m that huge world, the sun j The moon is partly mine also j my list da but begun, For I have stock m all the stars that seem to crowd the sky ; They shine their dividends on me, although they are so high. The clouds that gather m the sky, aad shed on me their rain, And winds that bring them hither, are my servants, it is plain ; I plant no fields, and yet I garner harvests full and grand, In eye crops, rich aud beautiful, o'er all our fruitful land. I hold no houses m my name— that is, they're not called mine,— For to the cares of property I never did incline ; But ifl held by legal claim all dwellings 'neatb the sun, I'd do as now -let others have them all, oxcepting one. IVa had great artists painting for ma very many years, For centuries before my name among Ear.h's sona appears ; The masters, old and new, for my delight have dove their part ; I go to see my galleries, rejoicing m their art. Romancers, poots, essayists, historians, ali have vied With one another zealously, their skill aud genius tried, To offer me a literature ; and let their very selves, From divers climes and ages, speak from the book-case shelves. Astronomers are on the watch, like sentinels to see The movements of the heavenly host, and the report to see. The latest news received from constellation or from star,. Or of the frisky comets plunging into space so far. Inventors tax thoir brains for me, — sharpwitted men and keen, — To put mmy possession some new wonderful machine, By which my toil is easy made, and I subdue a king, The stubborn earth, and make it all to me its tribute bring, The railway spanning our broad land, and many aged with such skill. Are mine, to all intents at least ; they take me where I will. j My telelgraph thrills through the world, down underneath the sea, And brings each distant country a near neighbour unto me. And thus from ev'ry quarter, whether sea or earth or sky, • My riches are enormous ; and I cannot, if I try, Join m the murmurs of my friends, pretending I am poor, All things are mme -God says it, and His word is ever sure.