THE PADDOCK
At last we’d stand there on our wall, and up
Would creep the waves....lick, lick.... and creep away.
“See that? They can’t get through.”....Then up they’d come
Again....stop short....and stay—but get no further.
“Ah, this wall’s going to hold!”—when suddenly!
Secretly undermined, the faithless sand
Gave way; and while, Splish! Splosh! down went the stones,
Down went our rampart, headlong down went we,
Kicking and spluttering, and only saved
By what we’d tried to stop—the tide came in!
Poor Miriam! what a bonny child she was!
Never sick then—while now she’s never well.
Aunt says she’s vext they ever moved to Town,
Mirrie does ail so....Oh, it seems a shame!
Some folks get all the luck, and then can’t use it.
Mirrie’s a little bit of Bush herself,
Can’t thrive outside of it—and she’s in Town,
While I....This world is very badly made!
....Miriam! What put you in my head? Why...
What!
Why not? Hurrah! Sail-O! Hope, hope at last!
I have it, O you blessed little creek.
Why not exchange us? Miriam come up-country,
I—get to Town! Oh! Oh!....
She loves the life,
She’s capital with children (Ah, my Andy!),
She’ll get her health again, they’ll all be happy:
172
