Page:Digger Smith (C.J. Dennis, 1918).djvu/23

Rh Then come the war, an' Syd 'e 'as to go. 'E run 'is final up at Suvla Bay— One uv the Aussies I was proud to know. An' Jim's cracked 'ardy since 'e went away.

'Er Jim! These mothers! Lord, they're all the same. I wonders if Doreen will be that kind. Syd was the son 'oo played the reel man's game; But Jim 'oo sloped an' left no word be'ind, His is the picter shinin' in 'er mind. 'Igh-spirited! I've 'eard that tale before. I sometimes think she'd take it rather kind To 'ear that 'is 'igh spirits run to war.

"Before the war," she sez. "Ah, times was good. The little farm out there, an' jist us four Workin' to make a decent liveli'ood. Our Syd an' Jim! . . . Poor Jim! It grieves me sore; For Dad won't 'ave 'im mentioned 'ome no more. 'E's 'urt, I know, cos 'e thinks Jim 'urt me. As if 'e could, the bonny boy I bore. . . . But I must off 'ome now, an' git Dad's tea."

I seen 'er to the gate. (Take it frum me, I'm some perlite.) She sez, "Yeh mustn't mind Me talk in' so uv Jim, but when I see Your face it brings 'im back; 'e's jist your kind.