Rhymes of the Rookies | Page 6

old home-folks,?They hates to see me go,?But I'd rather tote a rifle,?Than be shoulderin' a hoe.?When Uncle Sammy's needin' men--?And needin' 'em so much,?I 'lows how he can call on Bill,?To help 'im lick them Dutch.?For preacher sez: "God will protect?Me out thar," so, then, by Heck!?I am all O.K.?'Cause yisterday I gits insured,?And jined the church today.
The paper 'lows the fightin's bad,?As awful as can be--?Guns a-roarin'--blood a-flowin'--?And boats belo' thet sea.?But I'm ready--and I ain't a-feered?To die--if they do git me.?'Cause I ain't no skunking slacker,?If I am a "Georgia cracker,"?And if I don't come home no more,?The wolf won't come to my house door,?I am goin' when they say,?'Cause yisterday I gits insured,?And jined the church today.
"BEANS"
A dog there lived in many towns,?And he has wondrous wiles;?He travels in the Philippines,?And visits many isles.
"Ubiquitous" should be his name,?He's seen so many scenes,?But all his soldier friends prefer?To call him simply: "Beans"!
As a proper, first class passenger,?Is "Beans" name on ship's log;?You'd think his name was pedigreed--?The way he "puts on dog"!
Yet he is not a full blood pup,?But just a "yellow cur":?A "Nervy-Natty Gentleman"--?With all his fuzzy fur.
He chows awhile at Grande Isle;?And there he'll make a stay,?Until he tires of their mess;?Then promptly sails away.
He'll take a boat down Subic Bay,?To far Olongapo,?And when things get monotonous,?Then "Beans" is prompt-to-go!
He goes o'er to Corregidor,?And visits "C. A. C."?And if he don't like visiting--?He merely sails the sea!
He visits Fort McKinley,?And Cavite, too;?Now, where Beans has not been, forsooth,?I wish I only knew.
I know that all the sailors,?And all the soldier men?Do call him "Beans," and love him?For he is their dandy friend.
He wags his tail in greeting,?And barks at friends with joy;?But when his ship's a-sailing,?For Beans, it's Ship-A-hoy!
So here's to "Beans" old "Sea-dog,"?Who loves so well to roam;?I wish he'd try to settle down?And make our place his home.
ADVICE
Better start in soldiering and mind your P's and Q's,?Cut out going absent and ease up on the booze,?Don't kick because, you're on fatigue, but mind what you are about, For the Summary Court will get you?if?you?don't?watch?out.
Don't go a-missing reveille; and be in bed by check,?Don't buck against the captain, or you'll get it in the neck. Be sure to turn out promptly when you hear the sergeant shout, For the Summary Court will get you?if?you?don't?watch?out.
Because you've got some service don't think you know it all, You'll get your extras just the same if you should miss a call. Take what they hand you weekly. Don't grumble, frown or pout. For the Summary Court will get you?if?you?don't?watch?out.
THE SCENT OF THE COCOA
You have heard of the ancient incense;?Of the dew of Hermann you've read;?You have been told of the precious ointment?That poured down on Aaron's head;?But tell me--with all your knowledge,?Your theory, study and toil,?Have you heard of an equal or sequel?To the scent of the cocoanut oil?
At first it is always repulsive,?Makes you gag and back off in despair;?But when you've got the scent of the cocoa,?Just a scent, a mere whiff in the air,?Then you're gone, boy, yes, and forever,?Where'er in this world you may roam;?When you once get the scent of the cocoa?You forget all the precepts of home.
You forget those most noble teachings?Of fortitude, temperance and truth?When you once get the scent of the cocoa.?You're gone, boy, gone and forsooth?Though you try hard and strive to recover,?Pray to God and his angels as well,?If you've once got the scent of the cocoa?You're destined--your future is Hell.
But why should you be predestined?By the scent of an innocent oil??When you once get the scent of the cocoa?No more can you break from its toil?Than a gambler can break from his ventures,?The drunkard turn away from his rye.?When you once get the scent of the cocoa?The longing is there till you die.
The great world at large doesn't know all,?The guilty ones seldom confess?When you once get the scent of the cocoa?Wafted up from the bright passing dress?That their thoughts are not those of angels?Sweet and pure as the dew of the rose,?That it's not just the scent of the cocoa?But the perquisite that with it goes.
There are times when the righteous are doubtful,?There are times when no man doubts.?When you once get the scent of the cocoa?There's a man and his conscience at outs;?Reckless of moral destruction,?Fearless of anguish and pain,?When you once get the scent of the cocoa?'Tis that scent that you long for again.
One may part from the Orient gladly,?From its garlic and dhobie and goats;?But if he's once got the scent of the cocoa?As he sits and in reverie dotes,--?His thoughts will revert to the eastward,?To the land of yellow and brown?And he sighs for the scent of the cocoa,?And the sight of a pina gown.
MEN OF THE HOSPITAL CORPS
They, too, have heard the