Project Gutenberg Australia a treasure-trove of literature treasure found hidden with no evidence of ownership

The River Steamer

Edward S. Sorenson

When the farm was new and lonely,
    And the riverside was wild,
Where the noisy scrub birds only
    Summer’s tardy hours beguiled,
Cheering ‘twas to see the veering
    Steamer smoke against the sky,
And we stood above the clearing
    Just to see the boat go by.

Planter, grubbing hand and chipper,
    All forgetting work and woes,
Waved a greeting to the skipper
    When they leaned upon their hoes,
And we watched her twist and shiver
    From wherever eyes could spy,
For ‘twas “smoke-o” ‘long the river
    When the boat was passing by.

‘Mid the corn or weed and thistle,
    Or the brush we had to clear,
‘Cross the bends the steamer’s whistle
    Was a pleasant sound to hear;
And her coming we could measure
    When we saw the herons fly,
Where the day’s event and pleasure
    Was to see the boat go by.

Time brought changes, and the forest
    ‘Long the riverside was cleared,
And the birds that called and chorused
    With the thickets disappeared;
But the reeds were kept a-shiver
    When two boats began to ply,
And ‘twas “smoke-o” long the river
    Now while each was passing by.

This site is full of FREE ebooks - Project Gutenberg Australia