PREFACE
MANY of the verses in this volume appeared originally in the SYDNEY Bulletin, others in the Daily Telegraph, Town and Country Journal, Evening News, World's News, Australian Star, Amateur Gardener, and KALGOORLIE Sun, while eleven are reprinted from The Children of the Bush, published by Messrs. Methuen and Co., London.
The author acknowledges the courteous permission of the publishers of the foregoing to include the respective pieces here. Out of deference to repeated requests, one of the pieces omitted from the later editions of When the World was Wide is here restored to print.
THE CROSS-ROADS
ONCE more I write a line to you,
While darker shadows fall;
Dear friends of mine who have been true,
And steadfast through it all.
If I have written bitter rhymes,
With many lines that halt,
And if I have been false at times
It was not all my fault.
To Heaven's decree I would not bow,
And I sank very low--
The bitter things are written now,
And we must let them go.
But I feel softened as I write;
The better spirit springs,
And I am very sad to-night
Because of many things.
The friendships that I have abused,
The trust I did betray,
The talents that I have misused,
The gifts I threw away.
The things that did me little good,
And--well my cheeks might burn--
The kindly letters that I should
Have answered by return.
But you might deem them answered now,
And answered from my heart;
And injured friends will understand
'Tis I who feel the smart.
But I have done with barren strife
And dark imaginings,
And in my future work and life
Will seek the better things.
