POETRY.

WHAT HE COULD DO.

[It has been suggested that Open Spaces and Waste Lands should be utilized for growing vegetables.]

JoHN Sum', Esquire, of Shepherd's Bush, Was sixty-six but hearty ; Of placid mind, untouched by strife Of politics and party.

He did his work and paid his way, Retired, and followed still a Phlegmatic dull existence in His neat suburban villa.

But when the news of battle came, And there was talk of fighting, And everybody offered help For wrong that wanted righting, John Smith began to palpitate, To long for deeds of daring; And eagerly he scanned the list

Of work that wanted sharing.

Alas! he was too old for this, For that be had no training, And military fame there seemed No chance of his attaining.

He sent ten guineas to a fund To help where help was needed.

But still his heart was sore; for work More personal he pleaded.

Then on a happy day he saw

A plan to help the nation—

Let open spaces be employed For useful cultivation.

John Smith surveyed his garden o'er— He had no other "spaces"—

Said he : "It's all that I can give; I'll put it through its paces."

He pulled up all his dahlias, Geraniums and pansies, His asters and chrysanthemums (Which were his special fancies). He dug it, trenched, manured it well With patent fertilizer; And studied up rotation crops Till none than he was wiser.

He planted beet and cauliflower And cabbage, kale (the curly), Some parsnip, carrots, Brussels sprouts, And greens, both late and early.

Potatoes, spinach, artichokes, And onions in great number, A corner of some useful herbs, Some salad and cucumber.

He weeded, hoed, and watered it, In wet or sunny weather, Of rheumatism never thought, And grew as tough as leather. And if his back and shoulders ached, He spurred himself with cheers And dug to "Rule, Britannia" or " The British Grenadiers."

Great armies and great navies met And filled the world with thunder, And Empires swayed and nations fought And kingdoms fell asunder. The noise of battle only served To make him work the harder, To give his share in case of need Towards the nation's larder.

• • • All honour to John Smith, Esquire !

His work, no doubt, is humble ; But everything he can he does, And does without a grumble. Let those who feel inclined to smile Reflectively inquire If they are doing all they can, As does John Smith, Esquire. E. BiKER.