Produced by Chuck Greif, MFR and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) “_Stella Australis_” _POEMS VERSES and PROSE FRAGMENTS_ _by_ _E. COUNGEAU_ [Illustration: text decoration] GORDON AND GOTCH, QUEEN ST., BRISBANE, Printers and Publishers 1914. _To Miss F. Vida Lahey, of Brisbane, this small volume is dedicated._ [Illustration: text decoration] In East or West though I abide, By peaceful vale or mountain side, Thy crystal rills and sunlit sea-- Dear land of beauty--calleth me. Preface. The _raison d’être_ of this small work was suggested to me at the time of the lamented death of King Edward of happy memory. I essayed to mark the date of his decease by writing a few lines in commemoration of the event, and from that time forward I have felt a desire to express my thoughts in verse, with the hope that Queenslanders, no less than others, may see beauty in everything God has made. I am conscious there are many defects, and ask the leniency of my readers. I would here acknowledge the kindness and courtesy of “The Brisbane Courier” for the production of my efforts in their valuable journal, which encourages me to trust that some little pleasure may be derived from their perusal. Such is the earnest wish of the Authoress. Contents PAGE Le Roi Est Mort 1 To Australia 2 Peace 4 Hope 6 To Selene 8 If I Might Choose 9 Queensland Pioneers 10 Ibrahim Pasha at Scutari 11 Loss of the “Yongala” 13 “The King” 14 The Brotherhood of Man 16 Isodore 17 Cleveland, Q. 19 The Haunted Chair 20 A Lonely Grave 23 The Seven Ages of Woman 25