THE AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 



567 



of September, 1892. They have now 

 been kindly forwarded to us by a corres- 

 pondent from Tambo, Queeuslaiid, who 

 writes:— "It is thought here that the 

 author is Mr. R. W. Stewart, the manager 

 of Mitchell Downs, Roma, who is a great 

 horseman " : — 



" Snake I ' how the word ever serves to recall 



That pouy, all sinew and muscle, 

 Who gave me one tremendous fall, 



And many a terrible tussle I 



Strong limbs, and supple, his head set cn 



In a way that was just perfection. 

 With a curve in his neck (like the neck of a swan) 



In exactly the right direction. 



Such a back and loins, and beautiful crest, 



And a barrel round as an apple ; 

 And I know I can scarcel say, of the rest, 



With which it was hardest to grapple. 



For I've sat on his neck, behind his ears, 



And I've sat behind my saddle. 

 And I found him, with kicks, and bucks and i ears, 



A most awkward canoe to paddle. 

 Dark lustrous eyes, with a menacing frown 



No woman's were ever more splendid. 

 More bright, or more beautiful liquid brown. 



Or more with wickedness blended. 

 I used to think of the beggar by day. 



And I used to dream of him nightly. 

 And how I longed to be able to say, 



" At last I can ride you rightly." 

 -^nd with every day I used to find 



1 he fascination grow stronger ; 

 Till at last I finally made up my mind 



That I would delay no longer. 

 I remember the morning, cold and grey, 



And how I tried to dissemble 

 -That the nasty cold raw feel of the day 



Was the reason that made me tremble. 

 •'Charlie" and "Bungaree, ' darkies two, 



bat up on the stockyard railing, 

 An 1 said an occasional ' Budgery you I " 



To prevent my heart from failing. 

 (Poor fellows I Now to " kingdom come " 



1 hear they have both departed ; 

 One died of a cold, the other frjm rum ; 



But the pair were really good-hearted.) 

 I remember well the whistling snort 



1 hat shook my self-reliance, 

 As you boldly faced around, old sport 



And bade me a cool defiance. 

 As I looked in your face I shall never forget 



1 be evil look that you gave me, 

 ^"51*1^^® "strike" you struck at my head, and yet 



After all you did but shave me. 



You stood like an image as I drew tight 



Each girth almost to the bursoing ; 

 You were thinking, no doubt, of the coming fight, 



J^or which I believe jou were thirsting. 

 I carefully lightened the near side rein, 

 A "^i 'i "^"^^ touching my shoulder ; 

 And I thought, as I grasped a lock of your mane, 



1 hat you villain, you only looked bolder. 



And as I got up with the utmost care, 

 And you never attempted to "hook it," 



Mv goodness I how those darkies did stare 

 To see how quiet you took it. 



But I k lew very well 'twas an ominous sign, 



And I felt my face grow whiter ; 

 And 1 said to you, '■ Yes, this is all very fine," 



As I set myself down a bit tighter. 



Four miles we had gone ; I was watching you ; 



Could it be that your manners were mended ? 

 The blackboys laughed, and I laughed too. 



But the laugh was mighty soon ended. 



What happened exactly I never could say, 



But all that I'd sees bsfore me 

 Had gone in a most mysterious way 



As throug'a the bushes you tore me ! 



A sudden stop, and a furious bound. 



Our course exactly reversing. 

 Brought me uncommonly close to the ground I 



I'm afraid that I started cursing. 



Now, I felt on my face your waving mane. 

 And thoi, such a shock behind me ; 



I can ride thac ride here over again. 

 Where changes of circumstance find me. 



Backwards, forwards, dashing round, 



I shall never forget the feeling. 

 Nor the rattle of buckles and straps, and the sound 



Of the devil beneath ma squealing. 



By the mane, by the saddle, the bridle, all, 



I was clinging in desperation ; 

 I'd have collared the tail to have saved a fall, 



But for its wrong situation. 

 " Budgery ride, by Go^ly 1 hey I " 



Together the darkies shouted ; 

 I knew, in spite of all they might say, 



The end they never had doubted. 

 To be riding "all ovcr " from head to tail, 



A horse that is perfectly frantic. 

 Is a garne that I must say s jon becomes stale, 



And it certainly isn't romantic 



But all things end— the worst and the best. 



So far I'd stuck to the lea. her ; 

 "Snake " very suddenly ended the rest. 



For we both came down together. 

 Side by side for a moment we lay, 



1 here wasn't much time for talking ; 

 With a bound and a kick he darted away. 



And left me behind him— walking. 



Well 1 well I I look back and think of bis hate- 

 It's well to bd honestly hated ; 



He was always to me a dangerous mate. 

 As ever the Lord created. 



But I'll say of him, though he became my slave, 

 . And for years I used to ride him,* 

 That at least, though wicked, he still was brave ; 

 So may no ill betide him. 



And if of this life he's ended his lease. 

 So that there the whole thing ceases, 



I would possibly wish he might rest in peace- 

 Only probably now he's in pieces. 



One thing in the lines that compose this lay 

 And perhaps their small merit enhances— 



Is, only, that I can truthfully say 

 That they simply are facts and not fancies. 



R.W.S. 



