66 



REVIEW OF REVIEWS. 



March 1, 1913. 



lines, which recently appeared in the 

 London Academy : — 



SONG OF A GOOD-FOR- 

 NOTHING. 



BY AVILFRID THORLEY. 

 Were I a hearty husbandman ifs happy I ^voiild 



be 

 With a loaf of rye and honey, twelve brown eggs, 



and apples three. 

 To make my daily faring for the bonny wife and 



me. 



And had I half the wisdom that I've read about 



in books. 

 I'd leave the world of wranglers, and I'd love 



the world of brooks 

 And willow-shaded shepherd lads a-leaning on 



their crooks; 



There with my lass my life I'd pass, and dream 



no more of towns; 

 There'd be crow's-foot and crane's-bill a-growing 



on the downs 

 For careless girls o' holidays to fasten in their 



gowns. 



I'd toil for life. I'd toil for vife, and then when 



I'd be old, 

 I'd like to keep a toll-bar and gather in the gold 

 To give to ragged wayfarers to clothe them from 



the cold. 



I 11 never keep, save in my sleep, a toll-bar nor a 



farm; 

 I'll live with strangers all my life, and some will 



do me harm. 

 If only I'd a strong will and a strong right arm! 



A LAY OF A TIMBER CAMP. 

 Mr. Moreton Frewen. in a sketch 

 which he contributes to the National Re- 

 view of the late Senator Jones, of 

 Nevada, says that he might have been 

 a delightful writer of vernacular dog- 

 gerel, and publishes some charmirg 

 verses on "Silver Jack's Religion." It 

 is a lay of a timber camp in California. 

 There was a sceptic amongst them who 

 used to "sit and weave highfalutin' 

 words together, saying what he didn't 

 believe " : — 



As for miracles and such like 



'Twas jnore than he could stan'. 

 And for him they called the Saviour, 



He was just a common man. 

 " Yo're a liar," shouted some one, 



" And you've got to take that back:" 

 Tlien everybody started, 



'Twas the voice of Silver Jack. 



Jack clicked bis fists together 



And he shucked his coat and cried: 



" Twas by that thar religion 

 My mother lived and died. 



And though I haven't always 



Used the Lord exactly right. 

 When I hear a chump abuse Him, 



He must eat his words or fight." 



Bob preferred to fight, and " they fit 

 for forty minutes" : — 



At last Jack got Bob under. 



And he slugged him wunst or twyat; 

 When Bob finally admitted 



The Divinity of C 



Still Jack kept reasoning with him. 



Till the cuss began to yell. 

 And allowed he'd be^n mistiiken 



In his views concerning Hell. 



So the controversy was ended and the 

 bottle was kindh- passed round : — 



And we drank to Jack's Religion, 



In a quiet sort of way. 

 So the spread of infidelity 



Was checked in camp that day. 



THE RIDERLESS HORSE. 



BY 



HAROIJ) TROWBRIIXiE PULSIFEiR. 



(From the Outlook^ 



Close ranks and ride on ! 



Though his saddle be bare. 



The bullet is sped. 



Now the dead 



Cannot care. 



Oloee ranks and ride on ! 



l^et the pitiless stride 



Of the host that he led. 



Though his saddle be red 



Sweep on like the tide. 



Close ranks and ride on! 



The banner he bore 



For God and the right 



Xever faltered 1>efore. 



Quick, up with it, then! 



For the right! For the IJght! 



I.eet legions of men 



Be lost in the night! 



MY FAITH. 



BY' E. CR A WSH AY-WILLIAMS'. 



I In the W esXinimter Gazette.) 



We in this weary world. 



Beset with littleness and steeped in strife. 



Tortured with doubt and dreamings unfulfilled, 



Xever at one with longing and vrith life — 



How can we help, in such black darkness hurled. 



But ask to what sad end that world was willed." 



Yet, turn we from the sorry-seeming show. 

 Face the blue seas and the glad hills and sky, 

 Look inward and confront our naked soul 

 (Poor soul, that from its heaven sinks so low! 

 Great soul, that from the gutter looks so high I) 

 And a.iks what all this mystery can tell. 

 Star calls to star and pole to sundered pole, 

 "All's well!" 



