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The Effects of Good Government, or the Happy Change.

“I shall sing thee a ditty,”
Said a mother to her kitty,
As she dandled her high on her knee;
“It is best to be in cheer,
Amid plenty, my dear,
As it gives me more comfort in thee.
In England thy mamma and daddy were poor,
Little pleasure could there we enjoy;
And many were the pinchings we had to endure.
Which oft seem’d our loves to destroy.”

So we hasten’d to New Zealand,
In full hopes to find a freeland,
Where both taxes and tithes would be none;
Where of happiness, ’twas said,
To be quite a hot house bed,
But we found such a thing little known;
For our Governors ruled with a stiff iron rod,—
All labour was quite at a stand;
For nothing had they done to advance the public good,
Making sorrow prevail through the land.

Now then, dance high, my dovey,
We have alter’d times, my lovie,
Let us happy be now, as we may;
Once we could not get a sow,
Now your dad has brought a cow;—
Hearty thanks to our Governor Grey!
To face grinding tyrants no longer he toils,
For scarcely a living, though spare;—
Thus Providence over good government smiles,
And frees us from sorrow and care.

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Another spring, my dearie,
There is nought like being cheerie,
As the best thanks our gratitude can pay;
With—Long live our Governor!
Defended from the fates of war;
And blessings on kind Lady Grey!
O’er us long may he rule, and true happiness enjoy,
Like the sun shedding gladness around!
Making others rejoice, may his pleasures be high,
And his name through all ages redound.