The Coo-ee Reciter Part 9

Overhead the deep, clear azure is just fleck'd with snowy clouds, And the green and crimson parrots fly around in chatt'ring crowds; Far away is all the bustle of the smoky, restless town, And the timid kangaroo upon the gra.s.s lies fearless down; Nature calmly lieth waiting, in her peaceful solitude, For the dawning of the morning bright with hopes of future good: Lies as she has lain for ages, by the white man's foot untrod, Like a glorious new creation, freshly from the hand of G.o.d.

'Tis Australia's golden Springtime, and the vision, fresh and green, Of the lonely, peaceful country, is a swiftly changing scene; First a few white tents embosom'd 'mid the thickly growing trees, And the sound of human labour floating on the pa.s.sing breeze.

First a village--then a city--with an everswelling tide Pa.s.sing thro' its busy markets--stretching outwards far and wide; And while the growing nation overspreads the smiling land, Nature opens up her treasures with a free and lavish hand: O'er the verdant fields are roaming flocks and herds of sheep and kine-- Deep beneath the sunlit surface works the toiler in the mine-- Education and religion build their temples o'er the plain, And the iron horse moves swiftly past broad fields of golden grain, Where a plenteous harvest ripens to reward the toiler's care, And each honest, willing worker may obtain a rightful share.

Blessed peace and glorious freedom banish far the warrior's sword-- Fancy seems to gaze enraptur'd on a Paradise restored!

'Tis the Springtime of Australia, and the dazzled eye may see Wondrous dreams of future greatness--of the glories yet to be: Visions--not of martial conquest--not of courage, blood and fire-- But of lands by n.o.ble actions growing greater, grander, higher!

Of the wond'ring nations turning--gazing with expectant eyes, While oppress'd and toiling millions feel new hopes and thoughts arise In the march of human progress as Australia leads the van To the world's great Federation, and the "parliament of Man!"

Such the triumphs--aye, and grander, that the coming days shall see If Australia but be faithful to her glorious destiny; With the smile of Heav'n upon her in the future, as the past, Sweeping back the threat'ning war-clouds that her sky may overcast-- Like a stately white-wing'd vessel she shall keep her steadfast way-- Peace, o'er all her wide dominions, ruling with unbroken sway; And her progress be continued till the wings of Time are furled-- Her glorious page the brightest in the history of the world!

W. L. LUMLEY.

_THE MAN THAT SAVED THE MATCH._

BY DAVID M'KEE WRIGHT.

(_By kind permission of the Author._)

Our church ain't reckoned very big, but then the towns.h.i.+p's small-- I've seen the time when there was seats and elbow-room for all.

The women-fold would come, of course, but working chaps was rare; They'd rather loaf about and smoke, and take the Sunday air.

But now there's hardly standing room, and you can fairly say There ain't a man we like as well as quiet Parson Grey.

We blokes was great for cricket once, we'd held our own so long, In all the towns.h.i.+ps round about our team was reckoned strong; And them that didn't use to play could barrack pretty fair, They liked the leather-hunting that they didn't have to share.

A team from town was coming up to teach us how to play-- We meant to show what we could do upon that Christmas Day.

The stumps were pitched at two o'clock, but Lawson's face was grim (Lawson was Captain of the team, our crack we reckoned him), For Albert Wilson hadn't come, the safest bat of all, With no one there to take his place he counted on a fall.

"Who could we get? There's no one here it's worth our while to play In place of Albert." At his side was standing Parson Grey.

"I used to wield the willow once," the Parson softly said; "If you have no one for the tail, you might take me instead."

The Captain bit his fair moustache--he seemed inclined to swear; But answered sulkily enough, "All right, sir; I don't care.

There's no one here is worth his salt with breaking b.a.l.l.s to play."

"I'll try and do my best for you," said quiet Parson Grey.

"His best," Bill Lawson said to me, "what's that, I'd like to know?

To spoon an easy ball to point, and walk back sad and slow, Miss every catch that comes to him and fumble every ball, And lose his way about the field at every 'over' call.

The blooming team can go below after this Christmas Day; I'm hanged if I'm to captain it when parsons start to play."

Bill won the toss, we went in first. I might as well say here That I'm a weary kind of bat--to stick in for a year.

I can't hit out--it ain't no use; it saddens me to think A bloke that bowled against us once has taken since to drink.

He couldn't get my wicket, and his b.a.l.l.s came in that way I batted through the innings without a run all day.

The fun began. By George! to think the way our stumps went down!

Our boys was made the laughing-stock for them swell-blokes from town.

I kept my end up--that was all, Lawson was bowled first ball, And six of them went strolling back without a run at all.

Nine wickets down for fourteen runs was all our score that day When the last man came in to bat, and that was Parson Grey.

The bowler with the break from leg sent down a hardish ball, I thought to see the parson squirm and hear the wicket fall; It didn't happen, for he played a pretty forward stroke; I knew that moment he could bat, that quiet preaching bloke.

And when a careless ball came down the boys began to roar, He drove it hard along the ground--we took and run a four.

Then it was "over," and of course mine was a maiden one, I broke the bowler's hearts that day for just a single run.

The Parson played a das.h.i.+ng game, his cuts were clean and fine; I only wish that strokes like them could now and then be mine.

He had a fifty to his name in just an hour's play, And then--well, then--I run him out, I own, that Christmas Day.

"By George," said Lawson, "who'd have thought that he could bat so well!

I could have gone and drowned myself when Bryant's wicket fell; But, man, he must have been a bat when he was at his best, I'm glad that Wilson wasn't here, or any of the rest; Now, if our chaps are on the spot, and bowl as well to-day, We'll give them news to carry home how country clubs can play."

Our bowling always has been fair; we couldn't well complain; We got a wicket now and then--they didn't fall like rain; But runs were coming rather slow, and fifty was the score When the ninth man was given out--an honest "leg before."

It was a single innings game, and plainly on the play It seemed the glory would be ours upon that Christmas Day.

Last man! The bowling crack came in--of course he couldn't bat, He could lash out and chance the stroke to show us what was what; Our hopes were down to freezing-point, twelve runs were to his score, To win the match he only had to hit another four.

He swiped; we groaned to think that we were beaten after all; The stroke was high--a splendid catch--_the Parson held the ball_.

Then how we yelled, and yelled again; he'd fairly won the match-- The splendid batting that he showed, the more than splendid catch; Why, chaps, you'd hardly credit it, that almost every bloke Goes into church on Sunday now, and does without his smoke; And no one's likely to forget that sunny Christmas Day, When we were all surprised a bit at quiet Parson Grey.

_ODE FOR COMMONWEALTH DAY_

_1st JANUARY, 1901._

Awake! Arise! The wings of dawn Are beating at the gates of day, The morning star hath been withdrawn, The silver vapours melt away.

Rise royally, O sun, and crown The sh.o.r.eward billow, streaming white, The forelands, and the mountains brown, With crested light; Flood with soft beams the valleys wide, The mighty plains, the desert sand, Till the New Day hath won for bride This Austral land!

Free-born of nations, virgin white, Not won by blood, nor ringed with steel.

Thy throne is on a loftier height, Deep-rooted in the commonweal.

O thou, for whom the strong have wrought, And poets sung with souls aflame, Born of long hope and patient thought, A mighty name-- We pledge thee faith that shall not swerve, Our land, our lady, breathing high The thought that makes it love to serve, And life to die!

Now are thy maidens linked in love, Who erst have striven for pride of place; Lifted all meaner thoughts above They greet thee, one in heart and race; She, in whose sunlit coves of peace The navies of the world may rest, And bear her wealth of snowy fleece Northward and west.

And she, whose corn and rock-hewn gold Built that Queen City of the South, Where the lone billow swept of old Her harbour-mouth.

Come, too, thou Sun-maid, in whose veins For ever burns the tropic fire Whose cattle roam a thousand plains, Come, with thy gold and pearls for tire; And that sweet Harvester who twines The tender vine and binds the sheaf; And she, the Western Queen, who mines The desert reef; And thou, against whose flowery throne And orchards green the wave is hurled; Australia claims you; ye are one Before the world.

Crown her--most worthy to be praised-- With eyes uplifted to the morn; For, on this day, a flag is raised, A triumph won, a nation born; And ye, vast armies of the dead, From mine and city, plain and sea, Who fought and dared, who toiled and bled That this might be, Draw round us in this hour of fate-- This golden harvest of thy hand-- With unseen lips, O consecrate And bless the land!

Eternal power, benign, supreme, Who weigh'st the nations upon earth; Without whose aid the empire-dream And pride of states is nothing worth, From shameless speech, and vengeful deed, From licence veiled in Freedom's name, From greed of gold, and scorn of creed, Guard Thou our fame!

In stress of days that yet may be, When hope shall rest upon the sword, In welfare and adversity, Be with us, Lord!

GEORGE ESs.e.x EVANS.

_A DESPERATE a.s.sAULT._

I have more than once had reason to admire the British soldier in battle, but never was there such good ground for admiration as in watching him prepare. All the blare and tumult, the death and disaster of actual conflict have no such tense, dramatic, nerve-trying moments as when a regiment is making ready for some great enterprise. The fight is a medley of mixed impressions, jostling each other for a moment's existence ere pa.s.sing away, but the getting ready is unforgetable.