An' now it's bloody murder, but all the while they 'ear 'Is voice, the same as barrick drill, a-shepherdin' the rear. 'E's just as sick as they are, 'is 'eart is like to split, But 'e works 'em, works 'em, works 'em till he feels 'em take the bit; The rest is 'oldin' steady till the watchful bugles play, An' 'e lifts 'em, lifts 'em, lifts 'em through the charge that wins the day! The 'eathen in 'is blindness bows down to wood an' stone; 'E don't obey no orders unless they is 'is own; The 'eathen in 'is blindness must end where 'e began, But the backbone of the Army is the non-com- Keep away from dirtiness-keep away from mess, THE SHUT-EYE SENTRY EZ the Junior Orderly Sergeant SE 'Our Orderly Orf'cer's hokee-mut, For the wine was old and the night is cold, An' the best we may go wrong, So it was 'Rounds! What rounds?' at two of a frosty night, 'E's 'oldin' on by the sergeant's sash, but, sentry, shut your eye. An' it was 'Pass! All's well!' Oh, ain't 'e drippin' tight! 'E'll need an affidavit pretty badly by-an'-by. The moon was white on the barricks, The road was white an' wide, An' the Orderly Orf'cer took it all, An' the corporal pulled an' the sergeant pushed, But I'd shut my eyes in the sentry-box, Though it was 'Rounds! What Rounds?' What Rounds?' O corporal, 'old 'im up! 'E's usin' 'is cap as it shouldn't be used, but, sentry, shut your eye. An' it was 'Pass! All's well!' Ho, shun the foamin' cup! 'E'll need, etc. 'Twas after four in the mornin'; We 'ad to stop the fun, An' we sent 'im 'ome on a bullock-cart, With 'is belt an' stock undone; But we sluiced 'im down an' we washed 'im out, An' a first-class job we made, When we saved 'im, smart as a bombardier, For six o'clock parade. It 'ad been 'Rounds! What Rounds?' Oh, shove 'im straight again! 'E's usin' 'is sword for a bicycle, but, sentry, shut your eye. An' it was 'Pass! All's well!' 'E's called me 'Darlin' Jane'! 'E'll need, etc. The drill was long an' 'eavy, The sky was 'ot an' blue. An' 'is eye was wild an' 'is 'air was wet, But 'is sergeant pulled 'im through. Our men was good old trusties They'd done it on their 'ead; But you ought to 'ave 'eard 'em markin' time To 'ide the things 'e said! THE SHUT-EYE SENTRY For it was 'Right flank-wheel!' for ''Alt, an' stand at ease!' An' 'Left extend!' for 'Centre close!' O marker, shut your eye! An' it was, ''Ere, sir, 'ere! before the Colonel sees!' So he needed affidavits pretty badly by-an'-by. There was two-an'-thirty sergeants, There was just nine 'undred rank an' file There was me 'e'd kissed in the sentry-box, But I took my oath, which were Bible truth, There's them that's 'ot an' 'aughty, There's them that's cold an' 'ard, But there comes a night when the best gets tight, And then turns out the Guard. I've seen them 'ide their liquor In every kind o' way, But most depends on makin' friends With Privit Thomas A.! When it is 'Rounds! What rounds?' 'E's breathin' through 'is nose. 'E's reelin', rollin', roarin' tight, but, sentry, shut your eye. An' it is 'Pass! All's well!' An' that's the way it goes: We'll 'elp 'im for 'is mother, an' 'e'll 'elp us by-an' by! 'MARY, PITY WOMEN!' OU call yourself a man, You For all you used to swear, Nice while it lasted, an' now it is over Tear out your 'eart an' good-bye to your lover! What's the use o' grievin', when the mother that bore you (Mary, pity women!) knew it all before you? It aren't no false alarm, An' now you'll off an' run With some new fool in tow. Your 'eart? You 'aven't none. Ah, Gawd, I love you so! When a man is tired there is naught will bind 'im; |