i.m. Charles Ferdinand Smyth, born 9 January 1865 at Stephen’s Green; died February 1871 of rheumatic fever
29 June 1876, Hokitika, South Island, New Zealand – All went in search of the donkey, Dandybear, & found the truant half way on the road to Kaneiri. The children ride on this animal on saddles of home manufacture. I dressed up as Mrs Byrne in the evening to edify the children, but remained in cog. Took them on my knee & sang comic ditties but the innocents did not see through the disguise.
(From the journal of Victor Emmanuel Smyth)
When little Charlie took sick
he’d wake from sleep and scream
restless at night he tossed in our arms
we had no idea he’d go so soon he who
was never done talking who had
so many questions whose greatest delight
was to ‘play in the garden with Papa’
and if Papa wouldn’t, he’d kiss him and say
‘Do dear Papa’ with such emphasis on the ‘dear’
there was fear for his heart its painful
agitation affected his breathing
a blister was put to it a blister for the heart
all that fortnight he took just a little light biscuit
with blackberry jelly and small sips of water
he said ‘Mama I’m sick’ ‘Mama I’m tired’
How do we live in this world with such grief?
