MY INVENTION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3175, 29 October 1892, Page 1 (Supplement)

MY INVENTION.

«. 1 conceived a grand idea in connection with so me gear To be used by vessels sailing on the sea ; And I bought a lot of tools, thinking all the time what fools The great mass of my fellow-men must be. Since none had ever thought of this simple gear that ought To be found on every ship and yacht afloat. And I exercised mv noddle while I worked upon the model, And of every imperfection made a note. 'Twas a means of saving life during elemental strife, And I thought 'twould bring me fortune, if not fame; And I thanked my lucky stars, when I thought how honest tars Would drink my health and bless my unknown name. For, you see, 'twas my intention to patent my invention, So I never mentioned it to anyone : But worked away by stealth, ever dreaming of the wealth That my patent gear would bring me when 'twas done. Thus I burnt the midnight oil, taking pleasure in my toil— For I never dared to work at it by day, Lest some heartless pirate might purloin my patent right— And I always hid the model safe away. With ardour undiminished, I laboured till 'twas finished, When I found that it would work just like n charm. Then I sought a sailor friend—one on whom I could depend, To show it him couid surely do no harm. He watched my model working, in his eyes an odd smile lurking; But what it meant I really didn't know, Till he said, " Old man, its grand, but I s:iw, in Yankeeland, The same inventi'in working years ago!" Tcaranoi.