THE SHUT-EYE SENTRY

SEZ the Junior Orderly Sergeant
To the Senior Orderly Man:
"Our Orderly Orf'cer's hokee-mut,1
"You 'elp 'im all you can.

"For the wine was old and the night is cold,
"An' the best we may go wrong,
"So, 'fore 'e gits to the sentry-box,
"You pass the word along."

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 ten-foot ditch beside.

An' the corporal pulled an' the sergeant pushed,
An' the three they danced along,

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,

your eye.

shut

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';
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!

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'

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!

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 corp'rals forty-one,

There was just nine 'undred rank an' file
To swear to a touch o' sun.

There was me 'e 'd kissed in the sentry-box,
As I 'ave not told in my song,

But I took my oath, which were Bible-truth,
I 'adn't seen nothin' wrong.

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!

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!"

You call yourself a man,

For all you used to swear,
An' leave me, as you can,
My certain shame to bear?
I 'ear! You do not care-
You done the worst you know.
I'ate you, grinnin' there.
Ah, Gawd, I love you so!

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,

The finish to your fun;
You-you 'ave brung the 'arm,

An' I'm the ruined one;

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;
All 'e solemn promised 'e will shove be'ind 'im.
What's the good o' prayin' for The Wrath to strike 'im
(Mary, pity women!), when the rest are like 'im?

What 'ope for me or-it?
What's left for us to do?
I've walked with men a bit,
But this-but this is you.
So 'elp me Christ, it's true!
Where can I 'ide or go?

You coward through and through!
Ah, Gawd, I love you so!

All the more you give 'em the less are they for givin'-
Love lies dead, an' you can not kiss 'im livin'.
Down the road'e led you there is no returnin'
(Mary, pity women !), but you're late in learnin'!

You'd like to treat me fair?

You can't, because we're pore?
We'd starve? What do I care!
We might, but this is shore!
I want the name-no more-
The name, an' lines to show,
An' not to be an 'ore.
Ah, Gawd, I love you so!

What's the good o' pleadin', when the mother that bore you (Mary, pity women !) knew it all before you? Sleep on 'is promises an' wake to your sorrow (Mary, pity women !), for we sail to-morrow!

"FOR TO ADMIRE"

THE Injian Ocean sets an' smiles

So sof', so bright, so bloomin' blue;
There aren't a wave for miles an' miles
Excep' the jiggle from the screw.
The ship is swep', the day is done,

The bugle's gone for smoke and play;
An' black ag'in the settin' sun

The Lascar sings, "Hum deckty hai!"

For to admire an' for to see,

For to be'old this world so wide

It never done no good to me,
But I can't drop it if I tried!

I see the sergeants pitchin' quoits,
I 'ear the women laugh an' talk,
I spy upon the quarter-deck

The orficers an' lydies walk.
I thinks about the things that was,
An' leans an' looks acrost the sea,
Till, spite of all the crowded ship,
There's no one lef' alive but me.

The things that was which I 'ave seen,
In barrick, camp, an' action too,
I tells them over by myself,

An' sometimes wonders if they're true;

'I'm looking out.