THE CONVICT AND THE PAUPER. 307 THE CONVICT AND THE PAUPER. (A BALLAD FOR HOME GOVERNORS.) O GIVE no more to flagrant Wrong Wherein the virtuous would delight; Why should we add to reckless Sin To govern men, or rule a land, Your convict's unrepented crime, That well deserved the hangman's rope, Is punished-in a brilliant clime, With all things new to new-born hope! And work meanwhile upon the roads! Go to send forth with costly care O'er wide Australia's happy lands,— Fetter'd, and drill'd, and prison-drest, Home-shame for such; to moil in muck, And living threescore years and ten! GOOD LUCK! (A BALLAD FOR THE GOLD-DIGGER). LUCK, boys, luck!—a nugget of gold Luck? Can I keep it by wallowing in vice,— BAD LUCK. Luck? My luck—good luck let it be,— Luck! good luck! This hillock shall give Luck! In yon little heap there hide My farm and its fields on a green hill-side, BAD LUCK. (A BALLAD FOR THE RICHER DIGGINS.) worse than what you say, Try to make the best of things, For never have I read in books, I wot you've come a longish way, And long'd in vain, from day to day, 309 But cheerly, man! the longer you have look'd for luck in vain It must be something nearer now ;so look for it again! The blackest cloud that ever was, eclipsing summer light, How looks it on its other side? all beautiful and bright! The darkest providence there is, beheld by Wisdom's eyes, Is merciful, and just, and kind, and excellent and wise! So, friend, though disappointed hopes be bitter in the mouth, Hope on! for Nature's very heart is hopeful in the South: Australia, with her tempered clime, and richly teeming soil, Will well repay with golden luck for hopefulness and toil. Try Labour No more lottery-work in digging pits for gold, But honest, well-paid labour, in the field and in the fold; The luck that lives on nuggets is but poorly off for health; But wheat, and fruits, and wholesome roots, are food as well as wealth! EPILOGUE. 311 EPILOGUE. I. FRIEND, one last word before we part,— II. Further the Book that made us great The Blessed Bible-that must be The Word to make and keep you free! Cherish it well; let no false priest Nor add, nor take away, one page |