University of Virginia Library

ADDENDA.

THE DEDICATION OF “A SUMMER CHRISTMAS.”

THE STARRY SISTERS.

Glorious is that which dazzles from afar,
And mystery enthralls. Astronomy,
Can she with her poetic sister vie,
Who read by patient watching of a star
Not size and distance only but the war
Of fortunes good and evil? Do we buy,
With knowledge which will brook no augury,
A recompense for thirst men had of yore
In drinking from their futures? Jupiter
Retains his borrowed brightness, Mars his hue
Of soldier-red, but vanished from our view
The Horoscope and grey astrologer,
Though from the discrowned science great men drew
High inspiration in the days that were.

FORSTER'S “MIDAS.”

Finished the task, but then the writer's term
Was finished with it. Feebly had his hand
Writ the last words when to the shadowy land
He passed across, not with old age infirm
But having long within him borne the germ
Of sudden death. For else he would have scanned
Each line and word most critically, banned
Each loose idea, awkward phrase, ill form.
But, Reader, hold it sacred what he writ,
For hardly dry the writing when he died,
And therefore not he only uttered it
But death within him. Words thus sanctified
'Twere sacrilege to alter or omit;
As death hath ordered, so it should abide.

TO SIR SAMUEL WILSON,

of Hughenden Manor, Bucks, and Ercildoune, Australia.

Often by hostile critics carped at erst
You have lived down their censure. Now you stand
Known through the length and breadth of this great land
As one who toils for England's greatness first
Nor place and profit afterward, who durst,
When patriot hopes were low and hearts were fanned
By slander's breath to fury, join the band,
Of constant men that braved the wild outburst
Of wrath and hate by fickle millions hurled.
Yours is the steady purpose which has won
History's giants their glory in the world:
You proved its fibre 'neath a fiercer sun,
Where Melbourne's hall attests how well your will
Tamed Austral wilds with wealth your hands to fill.

TO J. HENNIKER HEATON, Esq.

An enterprising and successful colonist of New South Wales, and a munificent contributor to the Patriotic Fund, with which she is supporting her contingent to the seat of war.

Smiling, stout England sees her sons go forth
To seek their fortunes o'er the southern main:
It proves them worthy of the ancient strain
Which sallied out to conquer from the North.
And loves she, when they've well displayed their worth,
To hold them to her bosom once again,
Where, if their hearts beat high, they would remain
Rather than in the softest air of earth.
And Kent is proud of him who hewed his way
In the new land so swiftly, who doth yet,
Though his heart bids him in the old land stay,
The home of his adoption not forget,
But strains his purse to make her burden light
While she sends sons in England's ranks to fight.

PRIMROSE DAY.

WAR.