POETRY.
THE MESSAGE OF THE BELLS.
RING out from all your rocking spires,
Let chime on chime repeat The news that lights the festal fires Along the crowded street!
A bright new word your voices say : For Mahon's in Mafeking ! And every boy's a man to-day And every man a king.
Lo, from that once-beleaguered gate The haggard warriors throng To greet the help that comes so late And mocked their hope so long : Till England's well-nigh forfeit pledge Her tarrying sons redeemed, And on the desert's quivering edge The foremost lances gleamed.
How wildly throbs each soldier breast I How kindles every eye !
As, in their tattered garments drest, The garrison go by.
Hark ! from a thousand manly throats The brave salute the brave, And o'er their heads the banner floats Their brothers died to save.
For these our English Spartans are : These men of dauntless cheer ! And khaki-clad for dusty war Leonidas is here ; Who facekhis hunters undismayed, And swept the pathway free ; And of a fenceless village made - His new Thermopylie. So clang it from your rocking spires, Let tower to tower repeat The news that lights the festal fires Along the crowded street!
Right welcome words your voices say : For Mahon's in Mafeking ! And every boy's a man to-day ; And every man a king.
EDWARD SYDNEY TYLEE.
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