Evening star., 1918-07-07
ny RIFLEMAN PATRICK MacGILL

6T7HE wounded soldier In hospital
blue. with an unlighted clay
pipe in his mouth and his two
orutches under his arms made his way
along the crowded pafement. Reach
ing point where carriers truck
was standing on the street, the man
came to a halt and looked at the
crowd which stood on top of the We
hicle. The driver stared at the man
in hospital blue.
'Wantin' to see these ERE YanksT'
asked the driver
Yes, II there's bit iv chance
goin,," said the wounded man. but be
The look iv things and be the size iv
the crowd It's job to see anything
today"
you'll be all right If you get on
top o. this" said the driver. pointing
to his vehicle. fright on top O. ERE
you can see all Lunnon it yer want
to. Ere. you kids, clear off and make
room for this wounded man." he said.
addressing the youngsters who had
perched themselves on the wagon.
BE aisy on Them said the wound
ed man. They've come out to sae the
sights and it's not in me to deprive
them iv their bit iv fun"
You take my place, soldier" said
one OF the youngsters, who could be
heard because his voice rose higher
than any Of the others. All of them
wanted to make way for the wounded
man.,
And I'll 'elp you up on top" said
the driver, getting off his seat and
hoisting the soldier on to the vehicle.
fhnrn,
down. felt in his pocket for match
TITS very kind iv We, driver" he
said when he had puffed Il few
mouthfuls Of smoke into the air. Pm
as snug as bird on a branch here"
We'll. I don't know wot kind o.
bloke I'D be II L let you stand
there on crutches when there was
room to spare" said the driver. Il
know wot 1t is to be knocked out
myself Got packet on the Somme,
! did, and Iumme! I'm not goin' ter
A civilian~on the wagon looked at
the soldier. u
You've done your bit anyway" he
said. "And now you're coming out
to have look at the men who are
coming along to fight in the country
you have left"
i've just come out to see the get
iv the Yankees" said the soldier.
Il suppose they'll be hearty men.
I've seen some iv them out there
and it's born fighters they were by
the look iv them"
Even as he spoke the first battal-
ion of Americans swung into sight
n band Of the United States regiment
playing in front. All London was
out to see them and people crowding
the tops of buses, cars and trucks
waved handkerchiefs and hats and
cheered to the echo.
Splendid men," said the civilian to
the soldier.
'If they weren't fine men they
wouldn't be here" said the soldier.
But for all that they look At for
any Job. Glory! but 1t makes me want
to get down from here and march be
the side Nv them up to the king. and
after that up to the trenches. 1t never
makes man with one leg gone as
sorry as when he sees other men
goin' out to the ructions."
But you have done your Bit" said
the civilian.
If We saw the sights that I've seen
In me time out there ye wouldn't say
that any man has done his bit as long
as there's live German pollutin' the
face iv Gods earth. Houses blown
people that lived in them. women
killed and innocent children killed!
All! ii makes the heart iv me sad
when see these fellows gettin' ready
to go out and me, meself, stayin' at
home here in the height iv comfort"
Battalion after battalion came along,
swinging with a mighty stride. while
the onlookers cheered them as they
passed. 1t was when the band of the
irish Guards came into view that the
wounded soldier spoke again.
GOD. Id He - step 1t to that