Recaptured Rhymes Being a Batch of Political and Other Fugitives Arrested and Brought to Book. By H. D. Traill |
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THE PATRIARCH'S HOME-COMING. |
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 | Recaptured Rhymes |  |
70
THE PATRIARCH'S HOME-COMING.
(1881.)
Beyond the Vaal, in those wild lands,
The “simple scriptural people's” seat,
A farmstead in the gloaming stands
Alert its lord's return to greet.
The “simple scriptural people's” seat,
A farmstead in the gloaming stands
Alert its lord's return to greet.
The clean-swept floor, the dusted shelf;
The new-lit lamp's expectant look;
The trim array of shining delf;
The arm-chair in the ingle-nook;
The new-lit lamp's expectant look;
The trim array of shining delf;
The arm-chair in the ingle-nook;
The cosy curtains close drawn in;
The housewife listening at the door
With hand upraised to hush the din
Of younker-gambols on the floor;
The housewife listening at the door
With hand upraised to hush the din
Of younker-gambols on the floor;
71
All tell a tale of anxious love;
While, open on the window-seat,
A Bible's well-thumbed pages prove
Where fears and faith's assurance meet.
While, open on the window-seat,
A Bible's well-thumbed pages prove
Where fears and faith's assurance meet.
But hark! that sound! a horse's neigh,
The lowing of a startled steer,
The tramp of hoofs upon the way;
“It is! it is! my Piet is here!”
The lowing of a startled steer,
The tramp of hoofs upon the way;
“It is! it is! my Piet is here!”
O sanctity of wife-embrace!
Let none with supercilious shrug
Deride a simple scriptural race
Who thus can conjugally hug.
Let none with supercilious shrug
Deride a simple scriptural race
Who thus can conjugally hug.
And now when kissed were wife and child
“Say, Piet, 'tis not bad luck again?”
Cried anxious wife: the husband smiled
And pointed proudly at his train.
“Say, Piet, 'tis not bad luck again?”
Cried anxious wife: the husband smiled
And pointed proudly at his train.
72
“Look, Vrow!” he said: and at the view
She turned, her tears of joy to hide.
“I knew it would be so! I knew
The Lord,” she murmured, “would provide!
She turned, her tears of joy to hide.
“I knew it would be so! I knew
The Lord,” she murmured, “would provide!
“I prayed; and waited free from fear
Till he should bring you back once more
Victorious of your bow and spear,
Blest in your basket and your store.
Till he should bring you back once more
Victorious of your bow and spear,
Blest in your basket and your store.
“And lo! He puts some dozen head
Of noble beasts within your reach,
With many a fine large Kaffir maid
Well worth at least ten shillings each!
Of noble beasts within your reach,
With many a fine large Kaffir maid
Well worth at least ten shillings each!
“So now, my Piet, with heartfelt thanks
Break we the Christian's humble bread:
Tether the cattle in their ranks,
And put the hussies in the shed!”
Break we the Christian's humble bread:
Tether the cattle in their ranks,
And put the hussies in the shed!”
73
Then they two, with no formal grace,
But asking, as from hearts that feel,
A benediction, took their place
Before their frugal evening meal.
But asking, as from hearts that feel,
A benediction, took their place
Before their frugal evening meal.
And many a sympathetic prayer
From Radicals beyond the sea
Was breathed above the worthy pair
And blessed their simple scriptural tea.
From Radicals beyond the sea
Was breathed above the worthy pair
And blessed their simple scriptural tea.
| Recaptured Rhymes | |