Page:A Treasury of South African Poetry.djvu/146

 The locust clouds have darkened heaven, The "rusted" fields to the flame are given; The war-cry is echoing wild and loud, For the war of the savage, fierce and proud, Has burst like the storm from the thunder-cloud— On Afric's Southern Wilds.

"Never despair, though the harvests fail; Though the hosts of a savage foe assail; Never despair, we shall conquer yet, And the toils of our earlier years forget. In hope's bright glory our sun shall set— 'Midst Afric's Southern Wilds."

Our toil-worn fathers are sinking to rest, But their children inherit their hope's bequest. Valleys are smiling in harvest pride; There are fleecy flocks on the mountain side; Cities are rising to stud the plains; The life-blood of commerce is coursing the veins Of a new-born Empire, that grows and reigns— Over Afric's Southern Wilds. Rev. H. H. Dugmore.