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The Country Children's Share.

There was a stir around the sofa, from the kitchen came a yell,
As father brought the paper from the train,
And read of how the "Ophir" was in port, all safe and well,
And His Highness had recovered from the strain.

All the smartest Police Court writers in the district near and far
Had been hovering in the city for a week,
For the writers love a pageant and their ears are all ajar
When any one stands up to preach or speak.

And the photo-man and artist had been pressed into the service
For to take a lasting picture of the scene,
As the throng passed on its way into the quay called Jervois,
Where the presentation ceremony should have been.

And as father read that paper his very eyes grew dim—
He looked beyond the youngsters into space;
For the language was a mystery—yes, even unto him—
They could see it in the lines upon his face.

But on he went again at last, and plodded to the end,
To let them know how tears of joy were shed
In the city where "money is no object" yet—to spend,
And where the streets are like a river bed.

He read of how the Duke was slowly driven
Through gaping crowds that gathered on the way,
Till little Billy sobbed, "He thought they might have given
The country boys a chance to see the play!"

But father went on reading in slow and solemn tone,
Where the paper told a very moving yarn,
And the disappointed youngster, with sundry howls and groans,
Was conducted by his mother to the barn.

When father turned the paper up unto the kids were shown
Some pictures of their Royal Mightinesses—
And they gazed with awe on one of the Duke standing quite alone
Contemplating his numerous addresses.

There were pictures of the Royal heir in all his naval glory
Being cheered throughout the dusty windy city;
And another—'twas a vision of a block and headsman gory,
Ending the story of the Citizens' Committee!