Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/488

 'E 'ad n't 'ardly spoke the word, before a droppin* shell A little right the batt'ry an' between the sections fell; An' when the smoke 'ad cleared away, before the limber-wheels, There lay the Driver's Brother with 'is 'ead between 'is 'eels.

Then sez the Driver's Brother, an' 'is words was very plain, "For Gawd's own sake get over me, an' put me out o' pain." They saw 'is wounds was mortial, an' they judged that it was best, So they took an' drove the limber straight across 'is back an' chest.

The Driver 'e give nothin' 'cept a little coughin' grunt, But 'e swung 'is 'orses 'andsome when it came to "Action Front!" An' if one wheel was juicy, you may lay your Monday head 'T was juicier for the niggers when the case begun to spread.

The moril of this story, it is plainly to be seen: You 'av n't got no families when servin' of the Queen You 'av n't got no brothers, fathers, sisters, wives, or sons If you want to win your battles take an' work your bloomin' guns! Down in the Infantry, nobody cares; Down in the Cavalry, Colonel 'e swears; But down in the lead with the wheel at the flog Turns the bold Bombardier to a little whipped dog!

'VE you 'card o' the Widow at Windsor With a hairy gold crown on 'er 'ead? She 'as ships on the foam she 'as millions at 'ome, An' she pays us poor beggars in red. (Ow, poor beggars in red!)