Digger Smith | Page 4

doin's an' about 'is grit,?'E's done a fair bit over 'is fair bit.?They are too old to fight, but, all the same,?'Is kind's quite young enough to play the game.
I've 'eard it called, this war--an' it's the truth--?I've 'eard it called the sacrifice uv youth.?An' all this land 'as reckernized it too,?An' gives the boys the praises that is doo.?I've 'eard the cheers for ev'ry fightin' lad;?But, up to now, I ain't 'eard none for Dad.
Ole Flood, an' all 'is kind throughout the land,?They ain't been 'eralded with no brass band,?Or been much thought about; but, take my tip,?The war 'as found 'em with a stiffened lip,?'Umpin' a load they thought they'd dropped for good,?Crackin' reel 'ardy, an'--jist sawin' wood.
Dad Flood, 'is back is bent, 'is strength is gone;?'E'd done 'is bit before this war come on.?At sixty-five 'e thought 'is work was done;?'E gave the farmin' over to 'is son,?An' jist sat back in peace, with 'is ole wife,?To spend content the ev'nin' uv 'is life.
Then come the war. An' when Syd 'esitates?Between the ole folk an' 'is fightin' mates,?The ole man goes outside an' grabs a hoe.?Sez 'e, "Yeh want to, an' yeh ought to go.?Wot's stoppin' yeh?" 'E straightens 'is ole frame.?"Ain't I farmed long enough to know the game?"
There weren't no more to say. An' Syd went--West:?Into the sunset with ole Aussie's best.?But no one ever 'eard no groans from Dad.?Though all 'is pride an' 'ope was in that lad?'E showed no sign excep' to grow more grim.?'Is son was gone--an' it was up to 'im.
One day last month when I was down at Flood's?I seen 'im strugglin' with a bag uv spuds.?"Look 'ere," I sez, "you let me spell yeh, Dad.?You 'umpin' loads like that's a bit too bad."?'E gives a grunt that's more than 'arf a groan.?"Wot's up?" 'e snaps. "Got no work uv yer own?"
That's 'im. But I've been tippin' that the pace?Would tell; an' when 'is wife comes to our place,?An' sez that Dad is ill an' took to bed,?Flat out with work--though that ain't wot she said--?I ain't su'prised; an' tells 'er when I'm thro'?I'll come across an' see wot I can do.
I went across, an'--I come back again.?Strike me! it's no use reas'nin' with some men.?Stubborn ole cows! I'm sick uv them ole fools.?The way 'e yells, "Keep yer 'ands off my tools!"?Yeh'd think I was a thief. 'Is missus said?I'd better slope, or 'e'd be out uv bed.
'E 'eard us talkin' through the open door.?"'Oo's that?" 'e croaks, altho' 'e tries to roar.?An' when 'is wife ixplains it's only me?To 'elp a bit: "I want no charity!"?'E barks. "I'll do me work meself, yeh 'ear?"?An' then 'e gits so snarky that I clear.
But 'e'll do me. I like the ole boy's nerve.?We don't do nothin' that 'e don't deserve;?But me an' Peter Begg an' ole man Poole,?We fairly 'as our work cut out to fool?The sly ole fox, when we sneaks down each day?An' works a while to keep things under way.
We digs a bit, an' ploughs a bit, an' chops?The wood, an' does the needful to 'is crops.?We does it soft, an' when 'e 'ears a row?'Is missus tells 'im it's the dog or cow.?'E sez that it's queer noises for a pup.?An'--there'll be ructions when ole Flood gits up.
It ain't all overwork that's laid 'im out.?Ole Pride in 'im is fightin' 'ard with Doubt.?To-day 'is wife sez, "Somethin's strange in 'im,?For in 'is sleep sometimes 'e calls for Jim.?It's six long years," she sez, an' stops to shake?'Er 'ead. "But 'e don't mention 'im awake."
Dad Flood. I thought 'im jist a stiff-necked fool?Before the war; but, as I sez to Poole,?This war 'as tested more than fightin' men.?But, say, 'e is an 'oly terror when?Friends try to 'elp 'im earn a bite an' sup.?Oh, there'll be 'Ell to pay when 'e gits up!
IV. DIGGER SMITH
Digger Smith
'E CALLS me Digger; that's 'ow 'e begins.?'E sez 'e's only 'arf a man; an' grins.?Judged be 'is nerve, I'd say 'e was worth two
Uv me an' you.?Then 'e digs 'arf a fag out uv 'is vest,?Borrers me matches, an' I gives 'im best.
The first I 'eard about it Poole told me.?"There is a bloke called Smith at Flood's," sez 'e;?Come there this mornin', sez 'e's come to stay,
An' won't go 'way.?Sez 'e was sent there be a pal named Flood;?An' talks uv contracts sealed with Flanders mud.
"No matter wot they say, 'e only grins,"?Sez Poole. "'E's rather wobbly on 'is pins.?Seems like a soldier bloke. An' Peter Begg
'E sez one leg?Works be machinery, but I dunno.?I only know 'e's there an' 'e won't go.
"'E grins," sez Poole, "at ev'rything they say.?Dad Flood 'as nearly 'ad a fit to-day.?'E's cursed, an' ordered 'im clean off the place;
But this cove's face?Jist goes on