Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-10-23

Along the block ouse fence
The beggar's on the peaceful tack,
Regardless of expense.
For countin what e eats an draws.
An gifts an loans as well.
'Es gettin 'alf the earth, because
e didn't give us ell!
All there, Pet! with your brand
new English plough,
Your gratis tents an cattle, an
your most ungrateful frow.
You've made the British taxpayer
rebuild your country seat
I've known some pet battalions
charge a dam sight less
than Piet!
Copyright, 1908, by Rudyard Kipling)
The colonials who served in South
Africa are praised in THE Parting of
the Columns" Two verses from it fol-
low:
There isn't much we 'aven't shared
since Kruger cut an run,
The same old work. the same old skoff
the same old dust and sun;
The same old chance that laid us out,
or wnked an let us through;
The same old life, the same old death.
lrOOl- Dy-ROOu luck 10 you.
Our blood as truly mixed with yours
all down the Red Cross train,
We've bit the same thermometer in
Bloemingtyphoidtein.
We've 'ad the same old temperature
the same relapses too
The same old saw-backed fever-chart.
Good by--good luck to you!
Copyright, 1903, by Rudyard Kipling)
THE Dirge of Dead Sisters is
stately solemn tribute TO the women
who nursed the sick and dying In
South Africa. Some stanzas from the
poem follow:
who recalls the twilight and the
ranged tents in order
(violet peaks uplfted through the
crystal evening air)?
And the clink of the iron tea cups and
the piteous, noble laughter,
And the faces of the Sisters with the
dust upon their hair?
(Now and not hereafter while the
breath is in our nostrils.
Now and not hereafter, ere the
meaner years go by
Let us now remember many honorable
women,
Such as babe us turn again when we |
were like TO die.)
TIL the pain was merciful and stunned
us into silence
When each nerve cried out on God |
that made the misused clay;
When the body triumphed and the last !
poor shame departed
These abode our agonies and wiped |
the sweat away
Who recalls the noontide and the flu /
nerals through the market
blanket hidden bodies, fagless, fol-
lowed by the fies)?
And the footsore firing party, and the
dust and stencn and stainless,
And the faces of the Sisters and the
glory in their eyes?
Copyright, 1908, by Rudyard Kipling) 4
The Englishman chastened by the
var is described in THE Return" part
f which follows:
'eace is declared, an l return
To 'Ackneystadt, but not the same:
learn
The size and meanin of the game
did no more than others did.
l don't know where the chance be-
gan;
started as a average kid :
| finished as thinkin' man. 4,
If England was what England seems,
An M 40 m ola nf
But only putty, brass an paint,
'Ow quick we'd drop 'er! But she amt!
efore my gappin' mouth could speak
| card it in my comrades tone;
saw it on my neighbours cheek
Before l felt it flush my own.
n last ii come to me-not pride,
Nor yet conceit, bat on the ole
+ such a term may be applied)
The making's of a bloomin' soul
Copyright, 1908, by Rudyard Kipling)
The married man is playfully de-
ribbed in a piece called The Married
an" sample stanza follows:
ne bachelor e fights for one
AS joyful as can be;
1T the married man don't call 1t fun,
Because e fights for three
" i'm and 'er and it
(An' two an one makes three)
wants to finish is little bit.
An e wants to go 'ome to lis tea.
Copyright, 1903, by Rudyard Kipling)
South Africa ideal'zed as a wonder
woman is the theme of one of the
ost interesting poems in the volume.
lie following stanzs.s are quoted from
e poem:
Lived woman wonderful.
MAY the Lord amend hertz
Neither simple kind nor true,
But her Pagan beauty drew,
Christian gentlemen a few
Holly to attend her.
Christian gentlemen, a few
From Berwick unto Dover;
For she was South Africa,
And she was South Africa,
She was South Africa,
Africa all over,
They esteemed her favor more
Than thrones foundation, -
For the glory OF her face IL