This, this, now is the tale
We have to tell to-day,
And now to you we've sung it
In our merry, mocking way.
Do you hear?

How our havoc we have wrought,
And to destruction brought
The treasures of the Earth,
Held by man in price, and worth,
Very dear?

Oh! ye cruel waves up-dashing,
Why rejoice you so to-day?
As shoreward ye come crashing
From your cruel, cruel play;
Why fling ye up your spray
On the shore?

The sand your salt spume splashing,
As ye frolic in your glee;
As the iron rocks ye 're lashing,
Ye scourges of the sea,
Will ye never then be glutted
Any more?

Sweeter than wild bird's throat,
Backward my memory float,
On music's wing my heart convey,
Where southern stars in beauty glow,
And Egmont lifts her brow of snow.

Again I'll see our long lost home
Upon Wairoa's grassy plain;
Among the fern the cattle roam;
With idle rein upon his arm o'erthrown
The shepherd guards his flocks again,
And his shrill whistle with his dog's bark
blends,

As down the hill the woolly stream descends.

Or now, the early "muster" over,
With Jim and Tom I'm slowly riding
Through the home-paddock white with
clover,

And followed close by Nip and Rover,
Their warm allegiance now dividing,
For Tom's fair sisters here we meet,
And welcoming smiles their weary swains
do greet.

Here in the world's great heart abiding,
We two have left the happy isle;
Australian grass Tom's face is hiding,
Jim in the spirit-land is riding.
From weary thoughts my heart beguile!
Sing, linnet, sing to me,
Sing my soul across the sea.

Yes! now my wings I feel,
Once more the isle I see ;
Let sleep my eyelids seal
While to those scenes I steal,
Borne thus on melody;

So sweetly you have sung to me,
Sung my soul across the sea.

ADIEU

O SHEPHERDS! take my crook from me,
For I no longer here can stay.
There comes a whisper from the sea,
Calling my soul from you away;
Friends of my heart! long tried and true,
O let me leave my crook with you.
An idle shepherd have I lain,
Dreaming while sheep-dogs barked in
vain,

Or chasing rhymes to wreathe the strain
Which from sweet musing grew.

Above the stars I drift in thought,
Melodious murmurings in my ears;
As though the upborne spirit caught
Soft echoes from the higher spheres.
But see! far up the azure height,
Bright Sirius hails me with his light!
My soul, impatient of delay,

Rides on the wings of thought away,
My heart alone with you can stay:
My Shepherds dear - Good night!

CANADIAN HUNTER'S SONG

THE Northern Lights are flashing On the rapids' restless flow, But o'er the wild waves dashing Swift darts the light canoe : The merry hunters come, "What cheer? What cheer?" "We've slain the deer!" "Hurrah! you're welcome home !"

The blithesome horn is sounding,
And the woodman's loud halloo;
And joyous steps are bounding
To meet the birch canoe.
"Hurrah! the hunters come !"
And the woods ring out
To their noisy shout,
As they drag the dun deer home!

The hearth is brightly burning,
The rustic board is spread;