Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/561

 INCLUSIVE EDITION, 1885-1918 543

STELLENBOSH

(Composite Columns}

General 'card the firin' on the flank, An' 'e sent a mounted man to bring 'im back The silly, pushin' person's name an' rank

'Oo'd dared to answer Brother Boer's attack: For there might 'ave been a serious engagement,

An' 'e might 'ave wasted 'alf a dozen men; So 'e ordered 'im to stop 'is operations round the kopjes, An' 'e told 'im off before the Staff at ten!

And it all goes into the laundry, But it never comes out in the wash, 'Ow we're sugared about by the old men ('Eavy-sterned amateur old men!) That 'amper an' 'inder an' scold men For fear o' Stellenbosh!

The General 'ad "produced a great effect,"

The General 'ad the country cleared almost; The General "'ad no reason to expect,"

And the Boers 'ad us bloomin' well on toast! For we might 'ave crossed the drift before the twilight,

Instead o' sitting down an' takin' root; But we was not allowed, so the Boojers scooped the crowd,

To the last survivin' bandolier an' boot.

The General saw the farm'ouse in 'is rear, With its stoep so nicely shaded from the sun;

Sez 'e, "I'll pitch my tabernacle 'ere,"

An' 'e kept us muckin' round till 'e 'ad done.