A Summer Christmas and a Sonnet upon The S.S. "Ballaarat." By Douglas B. W. Sladen |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
 | A Summer Christmas and a Sonnet upon The S.S. "Ballaarat." |  |
Will asked the two betrothed to stay
After the rest had gone away,
Wishing to make apologies
About the bittern's obsequies,
And after these were laughed off, all
Lingered awhile about the hall.
It seemed so odd to Will to think
That Lil, who yet was on the brink
Of girlhood and of womanhood,
Was soon to leave their home for good.
To him she still was just a child
As bright, ingenuous and wild,
And he was curious to see
Her with her lover quietly
To form his own conjectures of
Their future happiness and love.
After the rest had gone away,
Wishing to make apologies
About the bittern's obsequies,
And after these were laughed off, all
Lingered awhile about the hall.
It seemed so odd to Will to think
177
Of girlhood and of womanhood,
Was soon to leave their home for good.
To him she still was just a child
As bright, ingenuous and wild,
And he was curious to see
Her with her lover quietly
To form his own conjectures of
Their future happiness and love.
Reader, observe the tender touch
Of nature which delights so much.
To Lil it was a luxury
To sit upon her lover's knee
Before her brother openly.
It showed her that the love she prized
Was regular and recognised.
She knew that if it did look bold
No human being would be told,
As far as Will's tongue was concerned,
And her soft heart within her burned
To symbolise in outward ways
The love which so fulfilled her days.
Of nature which delights so much.
To Lil it was a luxury
To sit upon her lover's knee
Before her brother openly.
It showed her that the love she prized
Was regular and recognised.
She knew that if it did look bold
No human being would be told,
As far as Will's tongue was concerned,
And her soft heart within her burned
To symbolise in outward ways
The love which so fulfilled her days.
| A Summer Christmas and a Sonnet upon The S.S. "Ballaarat." | |