POETRY.
IN FAIR NATAL.
THROUGH the long Tambonkie grass we rode at set of sun— Round the hill, across the spruit, we followed, one by one— And the cattle, lowing, went before and, ever where they trod,. Crushed the perfume from the grass ; it was breast high from the sod.
In the Swamp, away below us, flamed and blazed the Pokers' red
And the many spiked orchid proudly raised her scented head.. The grassbells rang a warning in their pink and purple. chime,
The reeds bent low to hear it, and swung the birds' nests to. the rhyme.
The spruit came gurgling down the Kloof between the Arnms gay, Where the ferns grow in the crannies of the rocks pink and grey.
From out its dull dark foliage the chestnut bloom was fair,
The moss, like greybeards hanging, on its stem straight and, bare.
The setting sun was gilding, all the Berg, with fiery light, The mist rose in the valley, dim and white.
We passed the big plantation where the wattle flow'rs smelt sweet,
The red dust was rising from the red road 'neath our feet.
We were near the Kraal at last, and we coo-eed, long and low— Cracked our whips, and, as the sun sank, the breeze began to blow—
The dogs barked as the cattle through the open gateway passed, The rails were shut behind them,—our work was done, at last..
" LoLni."
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