'E knows each talkin' corpril that leads a squad astray; 'E feels 'is innards 'eavin', 'is bowels givin' way; 'E sees the blue-white faces all tryin' 'ard to grin, An' 'e stands an' waits an' suffers till it's time to cap 'em in. An' now the hugly bullets come peckin' through the dust, They moves 'em off by companies uncommon stiff an' slow. Of all 'is five years' schoolin' they don't remember much It looks like teachin' wasted when they duck an' spread an' 'op But if 'e 'adn't learned 'em they'd be all about the shop. An' now it's "'Oo goes backward?" an' now it's "'Oo comes on?" And now it's "Get the doolies," an' now the Captain's gone; 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-commissioned Man! Keep away from dirtiness—keep away from mess, THE SHUT-EYE SENTRY SEZ the Junior Orderly Sergeant To the Senior Orderly Man: "For the wine was old and the night is cold, "So, 'fore 'e gits to the sentry-box, 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, An' the Orderly Orf'cer took it all, An' the ten-foot ditch beside. An' the corporal pulled an' the sergeant pushed, But I'd shut my eyes in the sentry-box, So I didn't see nothin' wrong. Though it was "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. 'Very drunk. 'T was after four in the mornin'; An' we sent 'im 'ome on a bullock-cart, But we sluiced 'im down an' we washed 'im out, When we saved 'im, smart as a bombardier, For six o'clock parade. It 'ad been "Rounds! straight again! What Rounds? Oh, shove 'im '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' 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 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, But there comes a night when the best gets tight, I've seen them 'ide their liquor But most depends on makin' friends With Privit Thomas A.! When it is "Rounds! through 'is nose. What Rounds? 'E's breathin' '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!” You call yourself a man, 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! It aren't no false alarm, The finish to your fun; You-you 'ave brung the 'arm, An' I'm the ruined one; An' now you'll off an' run Your 'eart? You 'aven't none. Ah, Gawd, I love you so! When a man is tired there is naught will bind 'im; What 'ope for me or-it? You coward through and through! All the more you give 'em the less are they for givin'- You'd like to treat me fair? You can't, because we're pore? |