With the Colors | Page 3

The Neighbors 82
Uncle Bill's Idea 83
'Lizabeth Ann's Picture 85
The Small Boy Explains 87
The Bold Lover 88
Imagination 89
Willing to Trade 91
The Lonely Child 93
Th' Little Feller's Gone 95
The Fisherman's Son 97
The Dog Confesses 99
Br'er Rabbit in de Bresh Pile 101
When 104
WITH THE COLORS
THE COLORS
It isn't just colors and bunting--?The red and the blue and the white.?It's something heaps better and finer,--?It's the _soul_ of my country _in sight!_
There's a lot of ceremony 'bout the Flag,?Though many half-baked patriots believe?Salutin' it and hangin' it correct?"Is only loyalty upon the sleeve."?But we who work beneath the Flag to-day,?Who'll honor it--and die for it, perhaps--?Get a slightly different view of the old red, white and blue Than is visioned by th' criticisin' chaps.
It isn't just for decoratin' things,?It isn't just an emblem, clean and bright,?No matter what its "hoist" or what its "fly,"?To us it means our country--wrong or right!?The sobby stuff that some good people spout?Won't help a man to understand this view,?But: Wherever that Flag goes, the man who follows, _knows_?That a better, cleaner citizen _goes too!_
It's not just a banner to look at,--?For which we're expected to fight;?It's something that represents _freedom;_?It's the _soul_ of my country--in sight!
LOYALTY
This is no time to quibble or to fool;?To argue over who was wrong, who right;?To measure fealty with a worn foot-rule;?To ask: "Shall we keep still or shall we fight?"?The Clock of Fate has struck; the hour is here;?War is upon us now--not far away;?One question only rises, clarion clear:?"How may I serve my country, day by day?"
Not all of us may join the khakied throng?Of those who answer and go forth to stem?The tide of war. But we can all be strong?And steady in our loyalty to them!?Not with unfettered thought, or tongue let loose?In bitterness and hate--a childish game!?But with a faith, untroubled by abuse,?That honors those who put the rest to shame!
There is no middle ground on which to stand;?We've done with useless pro-and-con debates;?The one-time friend, so welcome in this land,?Has turned upon us at our very gates.?There is no way, with honor, to stand back--?Real patriotism isn't cool--then hot;?You cannot trim the flag to fit your lack;?You are American--or else you're not!
THE OLD NATIONAL GUARD
You pull a lot of funny stuff about us, when there's peace, The jokes you spring are sometimes rough, and make a guy see red; But when there's trouble in the air you "vaudevillians" cease, And them that laughed the loudest laugh, salute the flag instead!
Oh, it's kid the boys along?When there's nothing going wrong;?But when your country's facin' war,?You sing a different song!
The khaki that they doll us in ain't seen war service--no!?The most of it has been worn thin a-loafin' 'round the mess; Folks