F26r 
 
 H Y M E S 
 
 lARIOUS SUBJECTS 
 
 
 'tmmfr^fmaafmm^
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 k
 

 
 RHYMES ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS.
 
 RHYMES 
 
 VA.RIOUS SUBJECTS. 
 
 BY 
 
 WILLIAM FERGUSON, 
 
 R. VV. FUSILIERS. 
 
 CALCUTTA: 
 PRINTED BY THACKER, SPINK AND CO. 
 
 1883.
 
 CALCUTTA : 
 PRINTED BY THACKER, SPINK AND CO.
 
 
 TO 
 
 THE OFFICERS, 
 
 NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND MEN 
 
 OF THE 
 
 1st BATTALION, ROYAL WELSH FUSILIERS, 
 
 THIS LITTLE VOLUME 
 
 IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED 
 
 KY 
 
 THEIR HUMBLE SERVANT, 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
 C/^i^^OOi*-^*^
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 The effusions contained in this small work 
 have nearly all appeared in various public 
 journals at different times, and are now 
 collected and published in book form, be- 
 cause the writer has been led to believe 
 that many men of the Regiment he is at- 
 tached to would like such a volume as a sort 
 of Reo;imental souvenir. 
 
 This then, and not any favourable opinion 
 as to the merits of the various pieces, is the 
 reason for their publication; and it is to be 
 hoped that a knowledge of this fact may dis- 
 arm hostile criticism.
 
 8 PREFACE. 
 
 The writer is conscious that his perform- 
 ances are very humble, but such as they are, 
 his subscribers are welcome to them, and he 
 sincerely trusts this little book may be pre- 
 served by many who will look back witli 
 pleasure to the time spent in the Royal 
 Welsh Fusiliers. 
 
 AVm. FERGUSON, 
 
 School Master, 
 R. W. Fusiliers. 
 
 DUM-DUM, 
 
 1st July 1883.
 
 C X T E X T S 
 
 The Defence of Rorke's Drift 
 
 The Victoria Cross 
 
 Private Brown's Christmas Eve 
 
 The Soldier's Farewell (Song) 
 
 British Soldiers (a Vision) 
 
 The Unofficial Inspection 
 
 The Darwinian Theory 
 
 Sweet are the uses of Adversity 
 
 Lines written on the Death, by drowning 
 
 VATE Alfred Wall, R. W. Fusiliers... 
 The Crusader 
 The Two Valentines 
 Retrospection 
 Cousin Nellie 
 To Lizzie 
 
 To the New Year, 1875 
 Masonic Song 
 Autumn 
 
 Summer (to Nellie) ... 
 Lottie (an acrostic)... 
 M. E. Morrison (an acrostic) 
 A Roundel 
 
 of Pri 
 
 Page. 
 11 
 18 
 19 
 21 
 24 
 27 
 35 
 87 
 
 42 
 •13 
 
 4(3 
 48 
 49 
 51 
 52 
 53 
 
 59 
 59 
 (JO
 
 RHYMES ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS. 
 
 il^ gfftnqe of fvorlie'f) grift. 
 
 Shade of that bard who, on the ^'Egean strand, 
 
 In stateliest numbers, sang of Troy divine. 
 Grant tliat one spark from out the sacred flame, 
 
 AVhich fired thy soul, may now enlighten mine. 
 To sing of those thy Muse might well have sung — 
 
 Men unsurpassed by him of Priam's line. 
 Or by his conqueror, Thetis' god-like son. 
 
 Or all those kings and chiefs who crossed the 
 brine 
 To war with Troy for Argive Helen's sake. 
 And force her back to bonds she fain would break !
 
 12 The Defence of Rorhe's Drift. 
 
 The world lias cliunged since Ilium's doom was 
 sealed, 
 And war lias changed too, with the changing 
 years ; 
 But hearts still glow when heroes' deeds are told, 
 And sorrow's tale still claims its meed of tears. 
 Britannia weeps Isaudhvana's fray, 
 
 And hangs her head in mingled grief aud shame, 
 But proudly, smiling, lifts her trident high. 
 
 To write " Rorke's Drift " upon the scroll of 
 Fame, 
 Where " Cressy " " Poictiers," " Trafalgar " blaze 
 With other glorious names of by-gone days. 
 
 When drunk with triumph from tliat fearful fight, 
 
 Wiiose memory haunts us like some hideous dream, 
 The Zulu host its swartliy myriads rolled 
 
 On towards the passage of the border stream ; 
 What could resist that torrent's headlong rush. 
 
 And turn its furious current whence it came. 
 Could save Natal witli all its helpless souls. 
 
 And re-assert the mischt of Encjland's name?
 
 The Defence of Rorheh Drift. 13 
 
 Xo mighty force was near to face the foe, 
 
 No arm seemed strong euougli to strike the blow. 
 
 But He who sets the mighty ocean bounds, 
 
 Aud bids each planet circle in its place, 
 Gives not the battle always to the strong, 
 
 Nor yet the race to him of swiftest pace. 
 A puny host — about a hundred men — 
 
 Performed the feat an army might have done ; 
 Two nameless leaders swayed the gallant band. 
 
 And ere the morn their golden spurs were won. 
 One hundred soldiers girded them for fight. 
 And eighty heroes saw the morning light. 
 
 Some straggling horsemen, plying whip and spur, 
 
 Fugitives from Isandlwana's fray, [tale, 
 
 Had reached Rorke's Drift, rehearsed their fearful 
 
 Then urged their course where rest and safety lay. 
 Tims warned, the garrison their i)Ost prepare. 
 
 To meet the foe that Rumour said was nigh ; 
 "With wagons, boxes, sacks of flour and grain. 
 
 And aught to hand the place they fortify ;
 
 14 The Defence of Rorhes Drift. 
 
 Slender defence, but, manned by Britons bold. 
 Stronger than strongest fort which cowards hold. 
 
 Scarce had these few their hurried rampart raised, 
 When o'er that ridge long scanned by anxious 
 eyes, 
 The Zulu host, in masses broad and deep, 
 
 Approached in silence hoping to surprise. 
 Like some dark cloud portending dreadful storm. 
 And from whose depths the lightnings soon will 
 glance, 
 Sweeping in gloom across the darkened sky, 
 
 So seemed, to those who watched, the foe's 
 advance. 
 But they who stood behind that wall at bay. 
 Were like the wind to drive that cloud away. 
 
 A pufF of fleecy smoke, a sharp report — 
 The Zulu chief falls by a British hand ; 
 
 And rifles, levelled with unerring aim. 
 
 Make dreadful havoc in his chiefless band ; 
 
 But on they rush, beneath that scathing fire.
 
 The Defence of Rorheh Drift. 15 
 
 Heedless of death, or wounds, or comrades 
 slain ; 
 Like some huge billow rolling towards the strand. 
 When tempests lash to rage the treaciierous 
 main. 
 Then, like that wave recoiling, back they fail, 
 Baffled and broken, from the guarded wall. 
 
 As some fierce beast, foiled by a sliglited foe. 
 
 With rage redoubled from the contest hies ; 
 Soon, with fresh force, the combat to renew. 
 
 And strain each nerve to snatch the victor's 
 prize ; 
 So the fierce foe his broken host withdraws. 
 
 To seek a shelter from the leaden shower. 
 Thence, rested, reinforced, to charge once more. 
 
 And crush resistance with resistless power. 
 Now gallant Britons ! quit yourselves like men. 
 And drive their savage legions back again ! 
 
 Oh ! for the presence of that prophet-chief. 
 Who stayed the fiery sun o'er Gibeon's height.
 
 16 The Defence of JRorke's Drift 
 
 And stopped, above the Vale of Ajalon, 
 The silvery chariot of the Queeu of Night ; 
 
 For twilight's shades descending wrap the scene. 
 And shroud in favouring gloom the attacking foe ; 
 
 Some, from the heights above, their volleys pour 
 In murderous hail upon the fort below ; 
 
 While others screened by Evening's shady pall 
 
 Essay once more to storm the guarded wall. 
 
 What words can paint tiiat night's terrific fray. 
 
 Illumined soon by War's own lurid light? 
 Can tell of desperate charge and countercharge 
 
 Of Zulu prowess foiled by British might ; 
 Of fierce attack repelled by stern defence. 
 
 Of showers of bullets, clouds of hurtling spears, 
 Tlie blazing pile revealing clustering foes. 
 
 The Zulu shouts, the answering British cheers. 
 Which through the watches of that dreadful night 
 Announced the varying progress of the fight ? 
 
 As dawn approached the horrid tumult ceased. 
 And morning showed tlie foe in full retreat.
 
 The Defence of Rorhe's Drift. 17 
 
 Wliileliard-wou Victory crowned the smoke-grimefl 
 brows 
 
 Of those who felt her welcome hour was sweet. 
 Thinned were their ranks by warfare's fatal shafts, 
 
 Their bodies weary witli protracted strife, 
 But knitted brows, clenched teeth, raised arms pro- 
 claim 
 
 Resistance still, resistance to the knife ! 
 Then the hoarse cheer triumphant mounted higli. 
 And e'en the wounded joined the joyous cry. 
 
 Oh, faithful few, Britannia's warrior sons, 
 
 Proud Victors, worthy all of loftiest praise ! 
 "Would that some laurelled bard in deathless lines, 
 
 Had shrined your deeds till Times' remotest days. 
 Perchance even he who sang " The Light Brigade " 
 
 May once again resume his sounding lyre. 
 And to a listening world your glory tell 
 
 In verses pregnant with celestial fire, 
 When these weak lines, unworthy of their theme. 
 Have found a resting place in Lethe's stream.
 
 18 The Victoria Cross. 
 
 &^ 0ii;toi;i;i €m%. 
 
 Not of gold with glitt'riiig diamonds 
 
 Is tlie ornament I sing, 
 But the soldier holds it dearer 
 
 Than the jewels of a king. 
 
 'Tis a cross of simple pattern. 
 Worthless in the huckster's eye ; 
 
 But the soldier gives his life-blood oft. 
 This worthless thing to buy. 
 
 No ancient, foreign motto 
 
 Decks this cross, whose days are young, 
 But the trumpet words *' For Valour," 
 
 In the (jraud old English touijue. 
 
 O CD CD 
 
 Peer and private wear it proudly. 
 For the Queenly Heart who gave 
 
 Coufesses all men equal 
 
 In the Leiiion of the Brave.
 
 Private Brown's Christmas Eve. 19 
 
 Dusky Cross ! so full of brightness 
 
 In the dauntless soldier's sight, 
 May you ever deck the bosoms 
 
 Of the champions of the right ! 
 
 And where'er the might of England 
 
 Is seen in war array. 
 We shall find brave iiearts resolving — 
 
 " I will win the cross to-day." 
 
 The sentry walks on the rampart high. 
 The lights of the town gleam faint below ; 
 
 And Heaven's bright lamps from the vault above, 
 Shed their silv'ry light o'er the virgin snow. 
 
 'Tis Christmas Eve ; and the soldier hears. 
 
 As he paces slowly to-aud-fro. 
 That grand old song which the angels sang 
 
 O'er the heights of Bethlehem long ago.
 
 20 Private Broivn's Christmas Eve. 
 
 " Sweet Peace ou Earth ; unto men good-will," 
 The heavenly numbers still proclaim ; 
 
 Though man make war on his fellow-man, 
 God's message of" love is still the same. 
 
 As the sweet sounds rise tlirough the frosty air, 
 From the " waits " below in the sleeping town, 
 
 A chord harmonious — silent long — 
 
 Is struck in the heart of Private Brown. 
 
 His thoughts fly back to the happy past. 
 And a fairy scene in his sight appears ; 
 
 Clear, and distinct, and full of life. 
 
 Not blurred and dimmed by the mist of years. 
 
 He is back once more in the old loved home, 
 He feels the grasp of a father's hand, 
 
 A mother's arms his neck entwine. 
 And smiling sisters around him stand. 
 
 The season's sports attention claim, 
 And he is " blindman " once again. 
 
 With outstretched arms and cautious steps 
 Eagerly chasing the laughing train.
 
 The Soldier's Farewell. 21 
 
 Then with ardour fired in the merry chase, 
 Aud heedless grown of occasional knocks. 
 
 With a sudden rush he clasps to his breast 
 The fairy form — of the sentry box. 
 
 The spell is broken, the clock strikes twelve : 
 Five minutes more, and the welcome tread 
 
 Of the drowsy relief breaks on the ear ; 
 
 Aud Brown soon sleeps on the guard-room bed. 
 
 Wi\\ <^oIdicif^ (^aiji^iudL 
 
 A Song. 
 
 Darling, ere the trumpet's warning 
 Calls me sadly from thy side. 
 
 Ere I go at duty's summons, 
 Kiss me once again, my bride ! 
 
 * This song has been set to music by Herr Geeks, bandmaster, 
 R. W. Fusiliers,
 
 22 The Soldier's Farewell. 
 
 Oh ! tlie pain, the pain of parting, 
 Tongue of mortal ne'er can tell, 
 Fiercest pangs of human anguish 
 Centre in that word — Farewell. 
 Chorus: — Sweet wife, Farewell! those words now 
 spoken. 
 
 Roseate dreams of bliss dispel. 
 
 Lives are sundered, hearts are broken, 
 
 By that tearful word — Farewell. 
 
 Listen, darling, ere we're severed. 
 
 Listen to a soldier's vow ; 
 
 Fondly, madly have I loved thee. 
 
 But I love thee dearer now 
 
 In this agony of parting. 
 
 When each heart-beat seems a knell, 
 
 O'er the grave of hopes and pleasures, 
 
 Buried 'neath that word — Farewell. 
 
 Chorus: — Sweet wife. Farewell ! those words now 
 spoken. 
 
 Roseate dreams of bliss dispel. 
 
 Lives are sundered, hearts are broken. 
 
 By that tearful word — Farewell.
 
 The Soldier's Farewell. 23 
 
 By those tears that shiue so brightly, 
 
 In thiue eyes of azure hue, 
 Like tlie pearly drops of morning, 
 
 Glitt'ring on the violets blue. 
 By the lily in thy cheek, love. 
 
 Where the rose was wont to dwell ; 
 I am thiue and thine for ever. 
 
 Though I now must say — Farewell ! 
 
 Chorus: — Sweet wife, Farewell! those words now 
 spoken, 
 Roseate dreams of bliss dispel, 
 Lives are sundered, hearts are broken, 
 By that tearful word — Farewell.
 
 24 British Soldiers. 
 
 or 
 
 iijitiHli ^oldkr^fi. 
 
 A Vision. 
 
 I saw them — led by Marlbro* 
 
 'Gainst the vet'ran troops of France, 
 And my heart beat high with patriot pride 
 
 To see tiieir brave advance ; 
 For they swept the field before them 
 
 With their levelled English steel. 
 And they fought, and bled, and conquered. 
 
 And died for England's weal. 
 
 I saw them — on that Belgian plain. 
 
 Beneath tli' Iron Duke's eye, 
 Standing steadfast, grim, and silent. 
 
 Resolved to do or die. 
 Steel-clad cuirassier and lancer 
 
 Broke against that stubborn host, 
 As the waves of angry ocean 
 
 Break on tiie British coast.
 
 British Soldiers. 25 
 
 I saw them — ford the Alma 
 
 Lashed to foam by leaden hall, 
 I marked that wild Death's Valley ride. 
 
 When not a cheek turned pale. 
 Of the twice three hundred horsemen 
 
 Who galloped side by side. 
 Charging home the wide world's wonder, 
 
 And their native country's pride. 
 
 I saw them — in an Empire, 
 
 Which their arms had bravely won. 
 They were in a 'leaguered city. 
 
 Beneath a burning sun ; 
 Under the sainted Havelock, 
 
 A gallant band they stood. 
 And England's prisoned daughters 
 
 Were ransomed with their blood. 
 
 I saw them — and methought this scene 
 
 The grandest sight of all. 
 It beat the wild Death's Valley ride, 
 
 And Luckuow's sruarded wall ;
 
 26 British Soldiers. 
 
 All honour to the noble dead. 
 
 All honour to the brave, 
 Who with the fated ' Bhketdiead' 
 
 Went down beneath the wave ! 
 
 1 saw them — standing calmly, 
 
 Kuovvico; well that Death was nijrli, 
 " Save the women and the children, 
 
 As for us oh we can die." 
 Farewell ye red-coat heroes ! 
 
 Farewell devoted band! 
 I would have left the proudest place, 
 
 On that sinking deck to stand. 
 
 I saw them — home in England, 
 
 Upon their native sliore. 
 Honoured and admired ? no, hated, 
 
 And despised because they wore 
 That garb in which they trium[)hed. 
 
 Round which our history clings. 
 That garb which should be honoured 
 
 As the robes of England's kings.
 
 The Unofficial Inspection. 27 
 
 In that lofty hill station, Panchbattie by uame, 
 An adventure occurred lately — unknown to fame ; 
 But now 'tis enshrined in the verse of a poet, 
 So renowned as the present the world will soon 
 know it : 
 
 Major-General George Fitzclay 
 Had notified in the usual way, 
 That he shortly expected a visit to pay. 
 To inspect and report in the regular way 
 On the discipline, drill, and books galore. 
 Kits and rifles and things in store ; 
 And — I forget — but something more. 
 Of that distinguished Infantry corps 
 (Lately stationed at Dumpipore 
 
 * This poem is founded upon a well-known incident, which 
 happened at Chakrata, when the Royal Welsh were stationed 
 at ■' that lofty hill -station."
 
 28 The Unofficial Inspection. 
 
 But now at Panclibattie a year or more) 
 
 Wliicli a very euphouious title bore, 
 
 And on its colours and badges wore 
 
 A Griffin, aud Sphinx, and something more. 
 
 When this notification was published aud read 
 To this Infantry corps we have mentioned before, 
 
 Some got most decidedly light in the head. 
 
 And some in their nervousness actually stvore ; 
 
 For though General's Inspection comes every year, 
 
 It always makes some people feel rather queer. 
 
 The officers started with right good-will 
 To cram as much as they could of drill. 
 And calmly swallowed the bitter pill, 
 Althoush it made some of them rather ill. 
 
 Harry Fitz Poole, the swell of the mess. 
 Had scarcely even time to dress ; 
 Aud Tommy Chaffer, the soul of fun. 
 Never gave vent to joke or pun.
 
 The Unofficial Inspection. 29 
 
 But button-holed comrades by iilglit and day. 
 And conundrums asked in an anxious way. 
 Such as — " What is a private's daily pay ? " 
 " Can you tell me the price of shirts and socks," 
 " Or the cubic contents of a blacking box ? " 
 *' What's a man stopped when fined for drunk ?" 
 In short tiiey were all in a terrible funk. 
 Excepting of course the intelligent cards 
 Who know Regulations and Drill by yards. 
 
 The battalion was drilled till it seemed quite 
 
 perfection 
 In the usual routine of a General's Inspec- 
 tion. 
 
 They marched-up and down. 
 
 At " shoulder " and " trail," 
 As straight as a plank. 
 
 And as right as the mail. 
 Their " Manual '^ was perfect, 
 
 Tiieir " Firing " likewise. 
 And they licked all creutiou 
 At Bayonet Ex'rcise.
 
 30 The Unofficial Inspection. 
 
 Major-General George Fitzclay 
 
 Is expected now in a week and a day : 
 
 A week — six days — five days — now four — oh ! 
 
 Three days — two days — he comes to-morrow. 
 
 The Regiment paraded at four P. M., 
 
 Under Sergeant-Major Plilegm, 
 
 To receive the hist tij)S required for them. 
 
 And on calling the roll of number three 
 
 Private Jones was absent. Where could lie be ? 
 
 It was shrewdly suspected on the spree. 
 
 For Private Jones was a jovial soul 
 
 And dearly loved the flowing bowl ; 
 
 He'd spend his money, and sell his clothes, 
 
 To muddle his brains, and colour his nose, 
 
 And now 'twas concluded he'd " spouted " his kit 
 
 And was somewhere busily drinking it. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 The Parade went on in the usual way, [stay ! 
 
 " Left wheel into line!" "Quick march" — now 
 Who is that officer over the way. 
 Touching his cap as the bandsmen play 
 And the Line *' presents " in the usual way ?
 
 The Unofficial Inspection. 31 
 
 Why 'tis Major-General George Fitzclaj, 
 Privately noting the corps' tlisplay, 
 In quite an unofficial way. 
 He must have arrived by the kictclia road 
 Over the hills from his late abode. 
 
 Not a man in the ranks tliat afternoon, 
 But saw the General, plain as the moon, 
 When she rides serene through a cloudless sky, 
 And they all resolved " to do or die." 
 
 Never, I ween, was such smartness seen 
 In any corps that serves the Queen, 
 As in that old corps which the Griffin wore. 
 The Spiiinx, White Horse, and something more. 
 As they " shoulder'd," and " ported," and 
 " charged " before 
 Major-General George Fitzclay, 
 
 In a perfectly unofficial way. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 Five o'clock struck on the jruard-room Econo-, 
 But none of the men thought the hour too long. 
 For each one felt, as he drilled that day.
 
 32 . The Unofficial Inspection. 
 
 He was uiuler the eye of General Fitzolay, 
 
 Althougli ill au unofficial way ; 
 
 And now 'twas over each man could tell 
 
 That the Regiment had never drilled half so well. 
 
 * # * * 
 
 The Sergeant-Miijor stalked away 
 
 To ask the permission of General Fitzolay 
 
 To dismiss the men — not as though they were tired, 
 
 But simply because — their hour had ex[)ired, 
 
 As the Sergeant-Major approached ; Fitzclay, 
 
 With a courtesy Generals always display. 
 
 Advanced to meet the man half-way ; 
 
 When, strange to say. 
 
 General Fitzclay 
 
 Fell straightway". 
 
 Into the gutter,- and there he lay. 
 Fell into the gutter that bounded the square 
 And lay as if quite contented there. 
 Now the Sergeant-Major felt very queer. 
 And his feelings increased when he came quite near, 
 And saw, that the bundle of flesh and bones. 
 Which all had mistaken for General Fitzclay,
 
 The Unofficial Inspection. 
 
 Inspecting the diill in a casual way, 
 
 Was the body tliat answered to '' Evau Jones," 
 
 " Thirteen hundred and seventy-three," 
 
 llight liaiid man of his company, 
 
 Tlie man wlio'd absented himself d'ye see. 
 
 And 'twas slirewdly suspected was on the spree, 
 
 Dressed in an old theatrical suit. 
 
 The General quite, from cap to boot. 
 
 A couple of files with a corporal bore 
 Tlie " General" safe to tlie Guard-room floor. 
 Where he slej)t all night with many a snore ; 
 And his " chums " in tiie barrack-room laughed 
 
 and swore 
 That they never had lieard of the like before. 
 
 The "puhhah" General came next day, 
 
 The real General George Fitzclay, 
 
 And inspected the corps in the usual way. 
 
 Tlie old corps did as they always do. 
 
 And the General said — and he spoke quite true 
 
 Tiiey vera ready to do, as they'd always done, 
 
 3
 
 34 The Unofficial Inspection. 
 
 March and fight anywhere under the suu. 
 He diued at Mess iu the good old way, 
 
 And heartily laughed when the Colonel told, 
 Of his pseudo-self" of the previous day. 
 
 And how the men were so dreadfully sold. 
 
 Next day he called up Evan Jones, 
 " Thirteen hundred and seventy-three," 
 Right hand nian of his company. 
 The man who'd been absent and on the spree ; 
 And, after declaring he'd set him free ; 
 He strongly advised him to join "T. T." 
 And never more in earnest or fun. 
 To do again as he'd lately done — 
 ' Personify General George Fitzclay, 
 And inspect troops iu that unofficial way.
 
 The Darv.'inian Theory. 35 
 
 Some curious theories are now projiouiuled. 
 At which plain people well may be astounded ; 
 Of most of them I have my own opinion. 
 But still I doubtful feel of the Darwinian ; 
 And this short story which I now relate 
 JNIay interest thinkers in a doubtful state. 
 A soldier, travelling lately, learnt the style 
 (To use a vulgar phrase I hate the while) 
 Of keeping open wide his " weather eye," 
 And noting carefully what passed him by. 
 "While following out this self-improving plan. 
 Which I would recommend to every man. 
 One thing upon his mind was much impressed. 
 People's aversion to the way he dressed. 
 'Twas not so much his coat's cut as its colour 
 Which seemed to rouse all virtuous people's clioler. 
 Into whate'er society he came, 
 Clergy or Laity, 'twas all the same.
 
 36 The Darivinian Theory. 
 
 He quickly noticed nil turn up their noses 
 
 In that peculiar way which hate discloses. 
 
 Happening one day to visit at a farm. 
 
 With pain the soldier saw the wild alarm 
 
 And auger which his presence caused among 
 
 The bulls and turkey-cocks, both old and young ; 
 
 Cause of offence to bull and turkey-cock 
 
 Being nothing but the colour of his frock. 
 
 Now he being of a philosophic mind. 
 
 To reasoning by analogy inclined, 
 
 AVas doubtful putting this and that together 
 
 The good folks', bulls', and turkeys' choler whether 
 
 It did not show for scarlo-phobist fools 
 
 A clear descent from turkey-cocks or bulls. 
 
 To this opinion he so much inclined. 
 
 No argument had power to change his mind. 
 
 He'd still maintain the truth of his conclusion 
 
 By powerful arguments in great profusion. 
 
 By weak-kneed logic of a novel j^lan, 
 
 And long extracts from the "Descent of Man."
 
 Sweet are the Uses of Advei'sity. 37 
 
 Apollo's car had vanislied — 
 
 For that's the poet's way 
 Of announcing to his readers 
 
 That it was the close of day. 
 
 Yes, the sun had set in India, 
 
 Where, as all the world doth know, 
 
 India's scorched Feringhee guardians 
 Are glad to see him go. 
 
 'Twas seven P. M., bewitching hour ! 
 
 For me post-prandial time. 
 Aye to Nicotina sacred. 
 
 And sometimes, as now, to rhyme. 
 
 Buried in the depths cavernous 
 Of my favourite easy-chair. 
 
 Hid by aromatic vapours, 
 
 I reclined, absolved from care.
 
 38 Siveet are the Uses of Adversity. 
 
 Near me Punch, Pceta canis, 
 
 Lay intent upon a bone, 
 Which a wicked-looking pariah 
 
 Seemed to wisli that he might own. 
 
 I, of both alike oblivious. 
 
 Dozed in the waning lio-ht. 
 When my ears were rudely startled 
 
 By the sounds of canine fight. 
 
 Looking up I saw poor Punchie 
 'Neath that wicked pariah prone. 
 
 That bad dog's ulterior motive 
 Being to possess the bone. 
 
 All my soul with ardour buruing. 
 Quick to Punch's aid I ran. 
 
 And in quest of useful missile. 
 Stretched out my dexter hand. 
 
 Stick aud stone were at a discount. 
 But, convenient to my chair. 
 
 Lay a clothes-brush, which some Hindoo 
 Of ray household had left there.
 
 Siveet are the Uses of Adversity. 39 
 
 Gladly seizing this projectile, 
 
 With a giant's force I threw 
 It at that pariah's cranium 
 
 With an aim both swift and true. 
 
 And that pariah, when the clothes-brush 
 Hit him straight between the eyes, 
 
 As was quite to be expected, 
 Raised a howl of wild surprize. 
 
 Thus to smite the rash intruder 
 
 Filled my soul with wondrous glee. 
 
 But his subsequent proceedings 
 Raised astonishment in me. 
 
 For he gave one swift appraising look 
 
 At the missile I had sent. 
 Then seized it 'twixt his thieving fangs 
 
 And homewards bounding went. 
 
 With a mortifying feeling. 
 
 And no longer filled with glee, 
 In my chair I sought for comfort 
 
 From my evening cup of tea.
 
 40 Sweet are the Uses of Adven-sity. 
 
 Soon my iiiiud, beneatli its influence. 
 Rallied, luul resumed its tone. 
 
 While '•' Punch " in quiet possession 
 Lay muiiGhing at his bone ; 
 
 And methought this pariah's conduct 
 Gave to mau a lessou plain. 
 
 To make gladness spring from sorrow. 
 And take profit out of pain. 
 
 Tiius, if Brown, by anger prompted. 
 Threw at Jones's liead a brick, 
 
 Jones, instead of mauling Browu 
 With retaliatory stick. 
 
 Were to calmly lift that brick. 
 
 And never glance at Brown at all. 
 
 But coolly take it homewards 
 To repair his garden-wall ; 
 
 Brown the vicious would go homewards 
 Feeling altogether " done," 
 
 While t!ie virtuous Jones would chuckle 
 O'er his chop to think he'd won.
 
 Sweet are the Uses of Adversity. 41 
 
 The words which fonii the title 
 Of tliis string of silly rhyme. 
 
 Are to most folks quite familiar 
 111 this litera,ry time. 
 
 So I shu'ii't insult my readers. 
 Who I trust iu crowds abound, 
 
 Bj presuming to inform them 
 
 Where those words are to be found. 
 
 They are words of truth and comfort. 
 Which I thought I knew aright. 
 
 Till tliat pariah's wise proceeding 
 Showed them iu another li"ht.
 
 42 Death of Private Alfred Wall. 
 
 %m^ a-rittcji on Ihij geaih, bn {Iroiuninig, of 
 Uriuatc gilfrcd Mlall, g. a ^[u.^iUjjr,^. 
 
 Though Nature to-Jay wear lier suiiulest smile, 
 Dull to me seems tlie laudscape, and gloomy the 
 skies, 
 
 For he Avhom my soul loved with more tliau Eartli's 
 love. 
 In the clammy embrace of the Terror King lies. 
 
 And Nature's bright smile seems but ill to accord 
 With the sorrowful gloom that o'ershadows my 
 brow, 
 And Earth's '* thousand voices," that erst seemed 
 so sweet, 
 Sound harsh, or discordant, or sad to me now. 
 
 Beneath his red coat beat as knightly a heart, 
 As ever pulsated 'neath corslet of steel, 
 
 And he owned, wiiat is rare in tiiis Mammonite age, 
 A hand that would help, and a heart that could 
 feel.
 
 The Crusader. 43 
 
 I am told he had faults — there are spots on the sun 
 And 'tis not for friendship those faults to proclaim, 
 
 But I kneiu him so gentle, so noble, and true, 
 That my ears must be deaf to attacks on his 
 fame. 
 
 This garland of wild flowers I lay on his tomb. 
 Rude rhymes from a heart that in life loved him 
 well, 
 Tiie Muse's weak effort in numbers to show 
 
 Those pangs of the soul which no language can 
 tell. 
 
 Wi\t ^xm'dtx. 
 
 In the beautiful Adela's lovely bower, 
 A sorrowful scene takes {)lace to-day ; 
 
 For young Maurice, her knight, in his armour 
 bright, 
 Comea to say Farewell ! and bid her pray 
 
 That the Virgin may save and keep him well 
 
 In the distant laud of the Infidel.
 
 44 The Crusader. 
 
 As she fustens lier glove in her k)ver'8 crest, 
 Deep are the sighs of that Lady fair ; 
 
 And a tear unhid to the kniglit's eye starts, 
 As he toys witli a tress of her golden hair ; 
 
 But lie checks his grief, though his heart is 
 pained, 
 
 As unworthy the knighthood so lately gained. 
 
 His page and squire in the courtyard wait, 
 With his steeds arrayed in warlike gear; 
 
 So he presses one kiss to his lady's lips, 
 And whispers ' Courage ' iu her ear ; 
 
 Tiien, with clanking step, to the courtyard strides, 
 
 Where the squire th'impatient charger chides. 
 
 And mounting, away o'er the drawbridge he 
 rides. 
 
 Under the grim [jortcullis, whose teeth. 
 Ever ready to drop at the sight of a foe. 
 
 Look threateningly down on the portal beneath. 
 He goes in his Love and young life's spring, 
 To join the array of the Lion-heart King.
 
 The Crusader. 45 
 
 And Adela weeps in her lonely bower. 
 
 And night aud morn to Heaven doth kneel. 
 
 That Sir Maurice be saved from all danger near. 
 From wizard's spell and Pajnim's steel. 
 
 From perils by land, or by ocean wave, 
 
 Slie prayeth Our Lady her knight to save. 
 
 But her prayers were vuin, for the knight was 
 slain 
 
 In that Holy Land he loved so well. 
 The foremost Lance in the Christian host 
 
 In Arsoof's fight he nobly fell ; 
 Pressing in death to his gallant breast 
 Tiie glove she had bound 'neath his helmet's crest. 
 
 When tidings come to Old England's shores, 
 Of the deeds and fame of her warlike King, 
 
 The Nation's heart beats high with joy. 
 
 And loud througii the land his praises ring ; 
 
 But one heart, full of a selfisii grief. 
 
 In a nation's joy finds no relief.
 
 46 Tivo Valentines. 
 
 Fair Adela, long in the cloistered shades, 
 Mourned the loss of her brave young knight. 
 
 And the world seemed sad and full of gloom. 
 That erst had looked ao fair and bright. 
 
 Till by precept taught, and example fair, 
 
 She humbly learned her cross to bear. 
 
 In the days of the golden past love, 
 
 WJieu our hearts were still in their spring, 
 
 When the months seemed weeks and the weeks 
 seemed days. 
 As Time flew past on unheeded wing. 
 
 I sent you a missive then, my love, 
 A beautiful marvel of paper design. 
 
 With Cupids, and hearts transfixed by darts, 
 In short au elegant Valentine.
 
 Tvjo Valentines. 47 
 
 Though tliose days are past aud goue, my love. 
 And our hearts beat calmer thau of yore. 
 
 Still tlie light of love from thiue angel- eyes 
 Shines steadily now as it did before. 
 
 Aud our passion, though now never talked of, love, 
 
 I know is still leal aud true. 
 As ever it was in that golden past. 
 
 Which is sacred to Love aud you. 
 
 So I send you a token again, love. 
 
 On this St. 'Valentine's day, 
 A token to tell, what you know well, 
 
 That my love, though old, has not passed away. 
 
 A plain little card with a border, love. 
 
 In the centre a true-lover's knot. 
 And the words in gold, on an azure field, 
 
 '^ I love thee, dearest ! forget me not."
 
 48 Iietrospection. 
 
 !>cti;oi)pc^cfioii 
 
 Kindly tliouglits are o'er me stealing, 
 As I think on Youth's bright day ; 
 
 In my ears the school-bell pealing, 
 Sounds a chorus to my lay. 
 
 And oh ! tluit love of childhood, 
 With a fairy form so slight, 
 
 Seems nearer, dearer, clearer in 
 My mem'ry's eye to-night. 
 
 Passion's fire hath scourged my bosom. 
 And run riot through my heart. 
 
 Yet it ne'er effaced tliat mem'ry, 
 Of my life the i)urest part. 
 
 No, the pure flame still burns brightly, 
 
 Luugli cynic as you may ; 
 Its clear light, o'er my wayward llear^, 
 
 Still sends a cheering ray.
 
 Coiisiii Nellie. 49 
 
 Wliioli, like the friendly lioine-litilit 
 To the storm-tossed sailor's gaze. 
 
 Speaks to me of a refuge, 
 And a hope for better days. 
 
 Charming, fair-haired, cousin Nellie ! 
 
 You are in my thoughts to-niglit. 
 And your presence felt so near me. 
 
 Thrills me with a sweet delight. 
 
 Oil ! how well we loved each other. 
 In that glorious summer weather. 
 
 Laughing, sporting, flirting, loving 
 Morning, noon, and eve together. 
 
 When decoyed by fairy legends, 
 
 Through tiie fields your way you took, 
 
 There to see your future lover 
 
 Mirrored in the shining brook. 
 
 4
 
 50 Cousin Nellie. 
 
 I, ill ainbusli, watched tliee, Nellie, 
 Tremblingly ap[)roacli the })lace, 
 
 Smiled to see your disappointment. 
 Seeing but your own sweet face. 
 
 Fairer picture ne'er was mirrored, 
 In that clear brook's shady stream. 
 
 Fairer form than thine, dear Nellie ! 
 Ne'er was rhyming soldier's theme. 
 
 Oh ! how bravely when we parted 
 Tossed on high that pretty head. 
 
 But one pearl}' tear-drop falling 
 Kested on my coat of red. 
 
 By that tear-drop's pearly lustre I 
 By my faith and hojie for bliss ! 
 
 Ne'er shall other lips than thine, love. 
 Take again thy parting kiss.
 
 To Lizzie. 51 
 
 i0 %\mt 
 
 Though your years, my little Venus, 
 Dou't exceed the sum of four, 
 
 And your curly pate scarce reaches 
 To the hantlle of my door ; 
 
 Though your best articulation 
 Sounds sometimes rather odd, 
 
 And your usual affirmation 
 Is an arbitrary nod ; 
 
 Yet your honest broken prattle 
 Sounds far sweeter in my ears. 
 
 Than the vapid conversation 
 Vented oft by older " dears.'" 
 
 You frankly say you love me, dear. 
 Then most surely am I blest. 
 
 Even though I hear you sometimes say 
 That vou love vour kitten best.
 
 52 To the New Year (1875). 
 
 Not a tliouglit of rings or necklets 
 E'er into your luiiul intrudes. 
 
 And a lollipop's sufficient 
 
 To appease your surliest moods. 
 
 For a beau with slender income 
 
 You're the belle young sweetheart mine, 
 
 So till Mammon swells my coffers 
 I will worship at thy shrine. 
 
 io ilic 11(110 |c;ir (1875). 
 
 Centuries iiave gone since, upon Bethlehem's plains, 
 Angels from Heaven proclaimed Messiaii's birth. 
 
 Centuries may still elapse before His name 
 
 Is known and praised by every tongue on earth, 
 
 But oh ! may this, and each New Year, increase 
 
 The present prospects of the lieign of Peace.
 
 Masonic Song. 53 
 
 Full of bright hope we hail thee then — New Year, 
 And may'st thou realize our fairest dreams ; 
 
 Sorrow and care no doubt thy days will bring, 
 But think not now of such unpleasant themes; 
 
 We'll know thy history who thy course survive. 
 
 Meanwhile with smiles we greet thee — Seventy- 
 five. 
 
 \\m\\\ ^ong. 
 
 Air: — "SCATTER SeEDS OP KiNDNESS." 
 
 Dedicated to the Brethren of St. David's Lodge, 
 R. W. Fusiliers. 
 
 Brethren of the " square and compass " 
 
 Seated now in social throng ! 
 Speeding on the golden momenta 
 
 With tlie joyous toast and song,
 
 54 Masonic Song. 
 
 Let us not forget Life'.s ti-oubles 
 Mid the pleasures of to-day, 
 
 But stretch a liand to brethren 
 Wlio may hxg upon tlie way. 
 
 Chorus : — And hand in hand tosrether. 
 In calm or stormy weather, 
 We'll journey o'er Life's pathway 
 To the Lodge beyond the sky. 
 
 Ill the busy world around us 
 
 There are many ups and downs, 
 And our brightest hopes are bligiited oft 
 
 By Fortune's cruel frowns ; 
 But fair or foul may craftsmen still, 
 
 Howe'er they fall or stand, 
 Never lack the kindly pressure, 
 
 Of a loyal brother's hand. 
 
 Chorus: — And hand in hand together, 
 In calm or stormy weatlier. 
 We'll journey o'er Life's pathway 
 To the Lodge beyond the sky.
 
 Anhimn. 55 
 
 Let us order well our conduct, 
 
 By the plummet's rigid rule, 
 Heedless of the scorner's scoffino". 
 
 Or the laughter of the fool. 
 Let us ponder well the lessons, 
 
 That our tools of labour teach ; 
 And show the world around us 
 
 That we practise wluit we preach. 
 
 Cliorus : — And hand in hand together, 
 lu calm or stormy weather, 
 "We'll journey o'er Life's pathway 
 To the Lodge beyond the sky. 
 
 ^ufumn. 
 
 The changing hue of the trees. 
 
 The falling leaves in the lane, 
 And the russet tints of the heathy down. 
 Seem to say with no uncertain sound 
 *' The year is on the wane."
 
 56 Auhimn. 
 
 I love i'ii)e autumn well 
 
 With liis gay fruit-laden traiu, 
 But Ids falliug leaves, and fading flowers, 
 Awake sad thoughts in our gayest hours — 
 The year is on the wane. 
 
 'Tis only another year 
 
 With its blended joy and pain, 
 Gliding away to the wondrous Past, 
 So slowly to some, to others so fast, 
 But surely on the wane. 
 
 And of hosts of human lives 
 
 May be sung the same refrain. 
 For millions, alas! in this world of ours. 
 Like the dying year and its fading flowers, 
 Are surely on the wane.
 
 Summer. 57 
 
 <^unimcr. 
 
 To Nellie. 
 
 Oil wlio could tiiiiik of being sad in June, 
 
 Tliat leafiest, loveliest month of all the year ; 
 AVheii Nature's choristers all sing in tune 
 
 Tlieir sweetest songs to every listening ear ? 
 ^Vhen even our dull sky is sometimes seen 
 
 With that of sunnier climes to vie in hue, 
 And fleecy clouds ])iled stately and serene 
 
 Appear like mountains on the ethereal blue. 
 
 Such were my thoughts, as on the " gowan lea," 
 Beneath a spreading branch I idly lay ; 
 
 From every care or thought of trouble free. 
 Seeing the Future through the brigiit To-day ; 
 
 Lulled by the sound of drowsy insects' wings, 
 Pleased with the (rrateful smell of sweetest 
 flowers, 
 
 1 laughed to scorn the petty pomj)s of kiugs, 
 And dreamt of Love, and walked his golden 
 bowers.
 
 58 Summer. 
 
 Though to my eyes Dame Nature had displayed 
 
 As fair a scene as man could e'er survey. 
 Hid were tlie various beauties of the glade 
 
 To me, for oh ! my thoughts were far away — 
 With thee, my darling, in that distant dell, 
 
 Wiiich first beheld our mutual {)lighted love. 
 When one soft sigh, and one sweet kise, dear Nell, 
 
 Settled the comi)act, and the stars above 
 
 Looked calmly down upon the scene so fair, 
 
 Heaven's own bright witnesses of lovers' vows. 
 Oh, happy hour ! oh, "bliss beyond compare" ! 
 
 Which Jove to mankind once in life allows — 
 That first fond kiss and mutual caressing 
 
 Of Youth and INIuiden in their young Love's 
 bloom. 
 Each blessed and each bestowing sweetest blessing 
 
 The happiest hour to man this side the tomb.
 
 Acrostics. 59 
 
 Lottie. 
 
 " Be good, sweet mind, let those who will be clever." 
 
 Kingsley. 
 
 Let those be clever, dear, who vrould be so, 
 Ouly remember talent ne'er wins love ; 
 
 Try to be good as tlirough tliis world you go, 
 Trusting for helps to One who sits above ; 
 
 In times of darkness look for light to Him, 
 
 Enthroned between the glorious cherubim. 
 
 M. E. Morrison. 
 
 {Written in an Album.) 
 My Album this, where friends may write their 
 names, 
 Enlarge upon the toj)ics of the day, 
 Make neat quotations from their favourite books. 
 
 Or on pet subjects have their little " say " ; 
 Record in various styles their loves or woes, 
 (Reaping applause or laughter for their pains)
 
 60 .-1 Roundel. 
 
 In lijiltiiig verse, or niiiylinp jumbled prose, 
 
 Showing to all tlieir wealth, or Wiuit, of brains. 
 One thing is certain, those who use ray page 
 Need never fear the envious critic's ragre. 
 
 % Houiwlql 
 
 {After Algernon Swinburne.) 
 Dear wife, thou ministering angel, who 
 
 Mak'at smooth for me the stony path of life, 
 Dark were my day if thou wert lost to view. 
 
 Dear wife ! 
 When weary with the burden of my life, 
 
 I think of thee, so tender, leal, and true, 
 I bless thee. Heaven I who gave me such a wife. 
 
 Thou art, my darling, of God's chosen few 
 
 Who shed sweet peace around them in the strife, 
 And so I dedicate this verse to you, 
 Dear wife !
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 
 Los Angeles 
 This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. 
 
 Form L9-32m-8,'57(.C8680s4)444 
 
 i4 
 
 >«L 
 
 iwrf^<- 
 
 
 
 :Xik
 
 •pp -Far pus on - 
 
 III 
 
 11 ilj II 
 
 V 
 
 1 1 11 11 
 
 1 II II 1 
 
 111 III 1 
 
 ; U699 Rhymes on vari- 
 ' F2^y Q^^ sub.jects 
 
 L 009 522 060 4 
 
 PR 
 
 h699 
 
 F26r 
 
 7mw \mi\i '-^ 
 
 i • f 
 
 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
 liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinH 
 
 ^ .^f^ ' A A 001 4271 97 
 
 'u.i^^^'m^t-'