Page:Digger Smith (C.J. Dennis, 1918).djvu/103

 An' as we talk, I sees along the road A strange bloke 'umpin' some queer sort uv load. I points 'im out to Smith an' sez, "'Oo's that? Looks like a soldier, don't 'e, be 'is 'at?" "Stranger," sez Digger, "be the cut uv 'im." But, trust a mother's eyes. . . . "It's Jim! My Jim!

My Jim!" I 'ears ; an', scootin' up the track Come Missus Flood, with Flo close at 'er back. It was a race, for lover an' for son; They finished neck an' neck; but mother won, For it was 'er that got the first good 'ug. (I'm so took back I stands there like a mug.)

Then come Flo's turn; an' Jim an' Digger they Shake 'ands without no fancy, gran'-stand play. Yeh'd think they parted yesterd'y, them two. For all the wild 'eroics that they do. "Yeh done it, lad," sez Jim. "I knoo yeh would." "You bet," sez Smith; "but I'm all to the good."

Then, uv a sudden, all their tongues is loosed. They finds me there an' I am intrajuiced; An' Jim tells 'ow it was 'e come to land So soon, while Mar an' Flo each 'olds a 'and. But, jist as sudden, they all stop an' stare Down to the 'ouse, at Dad Flood standin' there.