The mirror., 1919-10-23
POE ny =.
Selected
Listen to the Tale Of Private
William Scott

i SO~~ -
he'd only got the chance,
For rotting men had been his job-he in
herited feud, you see;
But luck was on the other side, and now
he's home and free.
He never knew there was war till regis
tration day,
But things moved swiftly after that-they
moved Bill Scott away.
The first call took him on to camp-he had
the measles first,
He had the whooping cough and mumPs,
but found the itch the worstI
They got him Strengthened out at last
fresh air and wholesome grub,
stranger to a tub.
Corn pone and bacon, mountain dew and
'lasses was his fare,
Back in the cabin he called home, high up
on Baldy bare.
Day after day they drilled him we'll; his
shoulders lost their stoop:
He learned to sorter step in time-his legs
were like hoop.
The captain sometimes bawled him out for
failing to salute,
But the company all agreed on this, that
Private Scott could shoot.
One autumn day the orders came, his COM
pany must entrain;
They packed their dunnage bags and hiked
all in the pouring rain.
They reached the port-of name unknown
when suddenly ''Kerchoo!''
The nasal blast that blew the charge, the
onslaught of the flu.
As usual. all the deadly germs went after
Private Scott;
For when the flu had quit him cold pneu-
monia took shot;
And, muttering to his pillow in a language
unrefned,
There in the base lay Private Scott when
the armistice was signed.
And DOW he's home-a cheerful spot, tina,
cabin bare and bleak!
But somehow things are somewhat changed
they say. across the creek,
That Private Scott himself has changed
They say he puts on airs!
He's scrubbed the floors apd swept the
hearth and cleaned the dirty stairs.
He's broke the north side up for corn anc
plowed the furrows straight;
He's built rock fence round the yard and
hung rustic gate.
The cabins whitewashed in and out, anc
what seems worse, they say
Bill Scott brought home his army shoes
and wears them every day.
When Private Scott first went to camp h,
got no news from home;
He couldn't have read letter then had an!
chanced to come.
But seeing others read and pass them rount
at night,
Why, what does Bill Scott up and do bu
| learn to read and writer
When Rose, his girl, got that first scraw
it took her by surprise,
The schoolma' am read it to her, and be
cause no other eyes
Should henceforth see the tender words tina
William might indite,
Right then and there did Rose decide she'
also learn to write.
And so though Private William Scott wa
never sent to France,
Though fate had cuffed him sadly round
he had his fighting chance.
And though he got no D. S. M. and veal
no Croix de Guerre,
As citizen from now on you'll find Bi
Scott all there.
And though he never crossed the sea nc
saw single Hun,
He'll point moral to tale of what th
war has done.
He II never be content to live in ignorane
and dirt;
He's learned to change his ways and talk
likewise to change his shirt.
He's heard the speech of decent men.
heard them speak of law,
And potting men from ambush now SCENE
rather crude and raw.
I've kept this signal symbol last of all th
came to Bill:
They say he took his trusty Ak and buste
up his still!
Mary Lanier MagrSds
i the orchestra was of the usual good orde
ii The music programme follows: