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Sitting by the fire；
Happy in its glow；
Forty summers back …
Forty years ago。
Words of love were interchanged；
Maiden hearts we stole；
And the light affection throws
Slept on every soul。
Oh； the hours went flying past …
Hours of priceless worth；
But we took no note of Time；
Sitting round the hearth：
Page： 19
Sitting by the fire；
Happy in its glow；
Forty summers back …
Forty years ago。
Gleesome children were we not？
Sitting by the fire；
Ruddy in its glow；
Sixty summers back …
Sixty years ago。
Laughing voices filled the room；
Oh； the songs we sung；
When the evenings hurried by …
When our hearts were young！
Pleasant faces watched the flame …
Eyes illumed with mirth …
And we told some merry tales；
Sitting round the hearth：
Sitting by the fire；
Ruddy in its glow；
Sixty summers back …
Sixty years ago。
。
。
。
。
。
Barren Age and withered World！
Oh； the dying leaves；
Like a drizzling rain；
Falling round the roof …
Pattering on the pane！
Frosty Age and cold； cold World！
Ghosts of other days；
Trooping past the faded fire；
Flit before the gaze。
Now the wind goes soughing wild
O'er the whistling Earth；
And we front a feeble flame；
Sitting round the hearth：
Sitting by the fire；
Watching； in its glow；
Ghosts of other days
Trooping to and fro！
Page： 20
BELLAMBI'S MAID
AMONGST the thunder…splintered caves
On Ocean's long and windy shore；
I catch the voice of dying waves
Below the ridges old and hoar；
The spray descends in silver showers；
And lovely whispers come and go；
Like echoes from the happy hours
I never more may hope to know！
The low mimosa droops with locks
Of yellow hair； in dewy glade；
While far above the caverned rocks
I hear the dark Bellambi's Maid！
The moonlight dreams upon the sail
That drives the restless ship to sea；
The clouds troop past the mountain vale；
And sink like spirits down the lee；
The foggy peak of Corrimal；
Uplifted； bears the pallid glow
That streams from yonder airy hall
And robes the sleeping hills below；
The wandering meteors of the sky
Beneath the distant waters wade；
While mystic music hurries by …
The songs of dark Bellambi's Maid！
Why comes your voice； you lonely One；
Along the wild harp's wailing strings？
Have not our hours of meeting gone；
Like fading dreams on phantom wings？
Are not the grasses round your grave
Yet springing green and fresh to view？
And does the gleam on Ocean's wave
Tide gladness now to me and you？
Oh！ cold and cheerless falls the night
On withered hearts and hopes decayed：
And I have seen but little light
Since died the dark Bellambi's Maid！
Page： 21
THE CURLEW SONG
The viewless blast flies moaning past；
Away to the forest trees；
Where giant pines and leafless vines
Bend 'neath the wandering breeze！
From ferny streams； unearthly screams
Are heard in the midnight blue；
As afar they roam to the shepherd's home；
The shrieks of the wild Curlew！
As afar they roam
To the shepherd's home；
The shrieks of the wild Curlew！
The mists are curled o'er a dark…faced world；
And the shadows sleep around；
Where the clear lagoon reflects the moon
In her hazy glory crowned；
While dingoes howl； and wake the growl
Of the watchdog brave and true；
Whose loud； rough bark shoots up in the dark；
With the song of the lone Curlew！
Whose loud； rough bark
Shoots up in the dark；
With the song of the lone Curlew！
Near herby banks the dark green ranks
Of the rushes stoop to drink；
And the ripples chime； in a measured time；
On the smooth and mossy brink；
As wind…breaths sigh； and pass； and die；
To start from the swamps anew；
And join again o'er ridge and plain
With the wails of the sad Curlew！
And join again
O'er ridge and plain
With the wails of the sad Curlew！
The clouds are thrown around the cone
Of the mountain bare and high；
（Whose craggy peak uprears to the cheek …
To the face of the sombre sky）
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When down beneath the foggy wreath；
Full many a gully through；
They rend the air； like cries of despair；
The screams of the wild Curlew！
They rend the air；
Like cries of despair；
The screams of the wild Curlew！
The viewless blast flies moaning past；
Away to the forest trees；
Where giant pines and leafless vines
Bend 'neath the wandering breeze！
From ferny streams； unearthly screams
Are heard in the midnight blue；
As afar they roam to the shepherd's home；
The shrieks of the wild Curlew！
As afar they roam
To the shepherd's home；
The shrieks of the wild Curlew！
THE BALLAD OF TANNA
She knelt by the dead； in her passionate grief；
Beneath a weird forest of Tanna；
She kissed the stern brow of her father and chief；
And cursed the dark race of Alkanna。
With faces as wild as the clouds in the rain；
The sons of Kerrara came down to the plain；
And spoke to the mourner and buried the slain。
Oh； the glory that died with Deloya！
‘‘Wahina；'' they whispered； ‘‘Alkanna lies low；
And the ghost of thy sire hath been gladdened；
For the men of his people have fought with the foe
Till the rivers of Warra are reddened！''
She lifted her eyes to the glimmering hill；
Then spoke； with a voice like a musical rill；
‘‘The time is too short； can I sojourn here still？''
Oh； the Youth that was sad for Deloya！
‘‘Wahina； why linger；'' Annatanam said；
‘‘When the tent of a chieftain is lonely？
Page： 23
There are others who grieve for the light that has fled；
And one who waits here for you only！''
‘‘Go … leave me！'' she cried。 ‘‘I would fain be alone；
I must stay where the trees and the wild waters moan；
For my heart is as cold as a wave…beaten stone。''
Oh； the Beauty that was broke for Deloya！
‘‘Wahina； why weep o'er a handful of dust；
When the souls of the brave a