Part 18 (1/2)

_New Year's Day_, 1909

Mr McCarthy is associate editor of _The Sacred Heart_, Boston, and a most popular poet and lecturer

His dear little book, _Voices from Erin_, adorned with the Irish harp and the Aether by a series of true-love knots, is dedicated ”To all who in their love for the new land have not forgotten the old” There is one of these poems which is always called for whenever the author attends any public function where recitations are in order, and I do not wonder at its popularity, for it has the genuine Irish lilt and fascination:

”Ah, sweet is Tipperary in the spring time of the year, When the hawthorn's whiter than the snow, When the feathered folk asse and their winging to and fro; When queenly Slieve-na-mon puts her verdant vesture on, And sins to glance on the rivulets that dance; Ah, sweet is Tipperary in the spring!”

I have alanted to write a poeate; but not being a poet I have had to keep wanting; but just repeating this gaily tripping tribute over and over, I suddenly seized my pencil and pad, and actually under the inspiration, imitated (at a distance) half of this first verse

Hoeet to be at Breezy in the springtiate, And everything so new, so jubilant, so dear, And every little bird is a-looking for his h! Perhaps another ti into the exact rhythm

The Rev Williae, New Brunswick, was before that appointyman in Jersey City His wife toldto win a prize of several hundred dollars offered for the best poe, read it over, tore it up, and flung it in the waste basket Then he proceeded to write so far more serious and ies ere to choose the winner It was never heard of But his wife, who liked the rhythle, took it froether, copied it, and sent it to the committee It took the prize And he showedwanted to ohich he had purchased with this ”prize ”

1

Dark is the night, and fitful and drearily Rushes the wind like the waves of the sea, Little care I as here I sing cheerily, Wife at !

Ho

2

Flashes the firelight upon the dear faces Dearer and dearer as one go, Forces the shadow behind us and places Brightness around us ar!

Ho

3

Flashes the love-light increasing the glory, Bea of trust and content the sweet story, Lifting the shadows that over us roll; King, King, crown

4

Richer thantreasure, Served with a service no conquest could bring, Happy with fortune that words cannot , King, crown

WM RANKIN DURYEA, DD

[Illustration: THE SWITCH]

Breezy Meadows, ht I was so fortunate as to purchase it in a ten-ed to return to Nebraska, and coh on the place to feed a donkey I am sure this was not a personal allusion, as I saw the donkey and he did look forlorn

I was captivated by the big el, and looked no further, never dreareat surprises in store for me As, a natural pond of water lilies, some tinted with pink These lilies bloom earlier and later than any others about here

An unusual variety of trees, hundreds of white birches greatly adding to the beauty of the place, growing in picturesque cluroups and their white bark, especially white