Poetry. SIGNS OF PROSPERITY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2444, 10 March 1888, Page 1 (Supplement)

Poetry. SIGNS OF PROSPERITY.

If anybody can ijivo any bettor of the tip top state of things than the fulolwiiitf, lot ns see the list : Where spades grow bright and idle swords prow dull, Whore gaols are empty and the bams are f»". Where church-paths are with frequent footsteps worn, Law-court yards weedy, silent, and forlorn ; Where doctors foot it'and where farmers ride, Where apfe abounds and youth is multiplied— Where thc-e .-i»ns are, they clearly indicate A happy people ami well-governed state. UNSPOKEN WORDS. The, kindly words that rise within the il.ial't, A .u thrill it with their sympathetic tone, But die ere spoken, fail to play their part, And claim a merit that is not their own. Tlj6 kindly word unspoken is a sin— A sin that wraps itself in purest Ruise, And tells the heart that, doubting, looks within, That not in speech, but thought, the virtue lies.

But 'tis not so ; another heart may thirst For that kind word, as Hagar in the wild — Poor banished Hagar !—prayed a well might

burst From out the sand to save her parching child. And loving eyes that cannot see the mind Will watch the unexpected movement of the lips. Ah 1 can y.m let iU catting silence wind Around that heart and so.ithi? it like a whip V

Unspoken words like treasure in a mine Are valueless until we give them birth ; Like unfiiund gold their hidden beauties shine, Which (rod has made to bless and gild the earth. How sad t'would be to see the Master s hand Strike glorious no'.ei upon a voiceless lute ! But oh, what pain when at God's own command A heart-string thrills with kindness, but is mute !

Than hido it not, the music of the soul, Dear sympathy expressed with kindly voice, But let it like a shining river roll To desert dry—to hearts that would rejoice. O, let the sympathy of kindly words Sound for tho poor, the friendless and the weak, And Ho will bless you ! Ho who struck the chords Will strike another when in turn you seek. THE MODEL AUSTRALIAN GIRL.

[A. PAUODY ON THE So.NO IN " PATIENCE."] A practical, plain young girl; Not-afiaid-ot-the-rain young girl; A poetical posy, A iuddy and rosy, A helper-of-s«lf young girl. At-homa-in-lier-pliico y<>«nK Bid ; A never-will-la-co young girl; A toiler-serene, A life pure and clean, Aprinoess-tif-iwac) young girl. A wear-youi'-own-hair young girl ; A freo-fnmi-u-stare young girl; Improves every hour, No sickly sunflower, A woaltli-of-rare-sßiisso young girl. I'lenty-rinm-in-lier-shoe.s young girl; No induUer-iu-blue yuug girl ; Not a bang on her brow, To fraud not a bow, Slie'sa just-what-she-sceius young girl; Not a reader-oftrash young girl, Not a cheap-jewul-flash young girl; Not a sippet of rum, Not a chewer of gum. A marvel-of-sen.se young girl; An early-retiring young girl ; An active, aspiring young girl; A morning ariser, A dandy dospiser, A progressive Australian girl. A lover-of-pvose young girl ; Not » turu-up-your-nose young girl ; Not given to splutter. Not " utterly utter," But a matter-of-fact young girl A rightly-ambitious young girl ; Red-lips most delicious young girl A sparkling clear eye That says " I will try," Asure-to-suoceed young girl. An honestly-courtly young girl ; A never-seeu-flirting young girl; A quiet and pure, A modest, demure, A fit-for-a-wife young girl.

A Rouglit-everywhere young pirl ; A future-most-fair-young girl; An ever discreet, Wβ too seldom meet This queen-among-queens young girl. VniGir- A. ri.VKLEY

BACKBONE. Wlien'vou see a fellow mortal Witliout fixed and fearless views, Hanging (in the skirts of others, Walking in their cast-off shoes, Bowing low to wealth and favour, With abject, uncovered head, Ready to retract or waver, Willing to lie turned or led ; Walk yourself with firmer bearing, Throw your moral shoulders buck ; Show your spine has nerve and marrow— Just the things that he must lack. A stronger word Was never heard Than this—backbone.

AVhen you see a theologian Hugging close some ugly creed, Fearing to reject or question Dogmas which his priest may read ; Holding back all noble feeling ; Choking down each manly view, Caring more for forms and symb-ils, Than to know the (lood and True; Walk yourself with tinner bearing; Throw your moral shoulders back ; Show your spina has nerve and marrow— Just the things which he must lack. A stronger word Was never heavd Than this —backbone.

When you see a politician Crawling through contractor! holes, Begging for some fat position, In the House or at the polls ; With no sterling manhood in him ; Nothing stable, broad, or sound ; Destitute of pluck or ballast; Double sided all around ; Walk yourself with firmer bearinsr; Throw your moral shoulders back ; .Show your spine has nerve and marrow— Just tho things which he must lack, A stronger word Was never heard Than this—backbone.

A modest song, and plainly told— The text is worth a mine of gold ; Far many men most .sadly lack A noble stiffness in the back. — Piihlin Opinion